How to answer “Tell me about yourself?”

By leahlambart
5 July 2019
How to answer ‘Tell me about yourself’

There is one almost certainty when it comes to your next interview, and that is, that the first question will be ‘Tell us about yourself?” or something similar, such as “Talk us through your background?”   

This question may sound like just an icebreaker, but you should treat it as a fantastic opportunity to really impress the interview panel in the first few minutes of the interview, which provides an excellent foundation for the remainder of the interview.   

Many of our clients find this question one of the most difficult to answer, as there is ambiguity around whether the response should focus on professional and/or personal information. Our advice is to focus on providing the hiring manager with information that is relevant to the role, which in most cases is related to professional experience.  

In our interview coaching sessions we share a simple strategy with our clients to help them prepare a response with a clear and concise structure.    

A simple strategy  

Make the most of the “Tell me about yourself” question with this simple structure:   

  • A brief, high-level summary of your professional experience to date 
  • Share information from one or two of your most relevant or recent positions including the key skills you developed in these roles and any key achievements  
  • Briefly describe what you believe to be your key strengths that are relevant to the role  
  • Explain why you want this particular job 
  • Explain why you believe you would be a perfect fit for this role

An example ‘tell us about yourself’ using this response might look like the following:

“First of all, thanks for inviting me to interview today. I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with you today.

As you can see from my resume, I have been working in Human Resources for six years, commencing my career with Company A as an HR Assistant before being promoted to the position of Human Resources Advisor after three years.  In my current role as HR Advisor, I have had great exposure to broad HR areas including employeerelations, industrial relations, grievances, change management as well as advising the business on relevant HR policy/practices and legislation.  I was also instrumental in developing and implementing a new employee on-boarding process, which has had great feedback from new employees. My strengths are in my relationship-building and coaching skills and I have successfully managed stakeholders across three key areas of the business advising on key staffing issues.

I am now looking to take on greater responsibility, to get involved in HR strategy and to lead a small team, which is why I have applied for the HR Manager role that you are advertising.  I believe that my specific retail industry experience and my extensive knowledge of IR/ER will make me an ideal candidate for this role. I also believe that my values are aligned to your organisation as my personal values are integrity, teamwork and accountability which I have actively demonstrated in my current role”.

If you follow this simple structure and tailor your response around the specific needs of the company then you will create a professional impression from the very start of the interview.

We would love to know if you have found this article to be useful.  For further information on interview coaching or mock interviews, please contact us on enquiries@relaunchme.com.au or connect with us through our Facebook / Instagram account.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An example ‘tell us about yourself’ using this response might look like the following:

“First of all, thanks for inviting me to interview today. I was delighted to have the opportunity to meet with you today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see from my resume, I have been working in Human Resources for six years, commencing my career with Company A as an HR Assistant before being promoted to the position of Human Resources Advisor after three years. In my current role as HR Advisor, I have had great exposure to broad HR areas including employee relations, industrial relations, grievances, change management as well as advising the business on relevant HR policy/practices and legislation. I was also instrumental in developing and implementing a new employee on-boarding process, which has had great feedback from new employees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My strengths are in my relationship-building and coaching skills and I have successfully managed stakeholders across three key areas of the business advising on key staffing issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am now looking to take on greater responsibility, to get involved in HR strategy and to lead a small team, which is why I have applied for the HR Manager role that you are advertising. I believe that my specific retail industry experience and my extensive knowledge of IR/ER will make me an ideal candidate for this role. I also believe that my values are aligned to your organisation as my personal values are integrity, teamwork and accountability which I have actively demonstrated in my current role”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you follow this simple structure and tailor your response around the specific needs of the company then you will create a professional impression from the very start of the interview.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We would love to know if you have found this article to be useful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For further information on interview coaching or mock interviews, please contact us on enquiries@relaunchme.com.au or connect with us through our Facebook / Instagram account – @relaunchmecareerconsulting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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