Answering the Tell Me About Yourself

Question
Tell me about yourself .
This is tricky not to waffle or give unrelated information. You need to aim to
address your capability, commitment and cultural fit, here is a sample answer:
Good morning, my name is James Smith.* I am a qualified accountant with six
years post qualified experience gained within the pharmaceutical industry. I
worked with Glaxo Smith Klein* as an assistant accountant and I have spent the
past 4 years working with Pfizer* where my most recent role was as project
accountant. I managed the project finance team of 8 staff and Im proud to say
that I recently implemented a new financial management system saving the
company over 500,000 in year one.I have a reputation for my attention to detail
and delivering within strict deadlines and enjoy working with financial data. Going
forward I want to work in a challenging finance role within the same industry and
your organization is one in which I believe I could settle down and make a real
contribution.
How long have you been looking for a job .
The interviewer may be concerned that there is something wrong with you that
other employers have picked up on! Here is a sample answer:
After I was made redundant from my last job, I took the opportunity to take
some time out to examine my career goals and where I was going with my life. I
have just begun my search in the last few weeks. I have a definite goal in mind
and have been selective about the positions I consider. Your company and this
position are of great interest to me.
How did you prepare for this job interview .
The interviewer is gauging if you are interested enough to do some research or
are you going to wing it. Here is a sample answer:

When I was told about this position by Hamlin Knight I was immediately
interested. I checked out the company website and mission statement, looked at
the bios of company founders and executives and was impressed. Once I had the
interview appointment I looked at some industry press and Im sure Ill find out a
lot more in todays meeting. What is your salary expectation for this job . The
interviewer is trying to find out if they can afford you, or if they can get you for
less than budgeted.
Here is a sample answer:
Ill need more information about the job and the responsibilities involved before
we can begin to discuss salary. Can you give me an idea of the range budgeted for
this position?How do you keep current and informed about your job and the
industries that you have worked in .. The interviewer is trying to ascertain if
once you get the job you will continue to learn and grow,
stay challenged and motivated. Here is a sample answer:
I pride myself on my ability to stay on top of what is happening in my industry. I
do a lot of reading the business section of the newspapers and industry
magazines. I belong to a couple of professional organizations and network with
colleagues from these. I take seminars or training whenever they are of interest
or offer new information or technology. Tell me about a time when you had to
plan and coordinate a project from start to finish .This is a behavioural
questions, your interviewer is trying to seek an example of specific past
behaviour.
Here is a sample answer:
I headed up a project which involved customer service personnel and
technicians. I organized a meeting to get everyone together to brainstorm and get
their input. From this meeting I drew up a plan, taking the best of the ideas. I
organized teams, balancing the mixture of technical and non-technical people.
We had a deadline to meet, so I did periodic checks with the teams, After 3 weeks
we were exceeding expectations and were able to begin implementation of the
plan. It was a great team effort and a big success. I was commended by

management for my leadership, but I was most proud of the team spirit and
cooperation which it took to pull it off. What kinds of people do you have
difficulties working with . Your interviewer is trying to see if you are flexible and
can work in a diverse environment.

Here is a sample answer:

In my last 3 roles I have worked with men and women from very diverse
backgrounds and cultures. The only time I had difficulty was with people who
were dishonest about work issues. I worked with one woman who was taking
credit for work that her team accomplished. I had an opportunity to talk with her
one day and explained how she was affecting morale. She became very upset that
others saw her that way and said she was unaware of her behaviour or the
reactions of others. Her behaviour changed after our talk. What I learnt from that
experience is that sometimes what we perceive about others is not always the
case if we check it out.

Experience has shown me that most of my clients will open the interview with
some form of Tellme about yourself question. Your ideal answer should be a
prepared and well-thought-out initialmarketing statement of yourself and your
skills that are applicable for the open position.

The answer to this question should be a three-part, pre-planned marketing

statement that can moreor less be reused from interview to interview. Even if you
are not asked the dreaded question,preparing for it usually sets you up to open
the interview confidently, intelligently, and impressively.
PART ONE of that three-part marketing statement is a one-sentence summary of
your careerhistory. For example, let me share with you a former candidates
opening sentence:I am a five-year veteran of public accounting with substantial
experience working with publiclytraded manufacturing clients.
Your whole career needs to be condensed into one sentence that encapsulates
the most important aspects of your career. You should attempt to leverage this
experience in order to make your nextcareer step.
PART TWO of the pre-planned marketing statement will be a one-, maybe twosentence summary of a single accomplishment. This statement should capture the
clients attention! It immediately follows your initial career summary sentence
from above. This accomplishment should be one that the client will be interested
in hearing, one that is easily explained or illustrated, and one that clearly
highlights your bottom line impact. When done correctly this will build
interviewer intrigue about the accomplishment so that he/she inquires further,
giving you an opportunity to further discuss your career success. The above
candidates accomplishment sentences were:
Recently, as a Manager in a Big Five public accounting firm, I had hands on
experience workingwith US GAAP, FASBs, and SEC reporting issues. One of my
clients was under an SEC investigationand I was able to work with the client and
the SEC to verify the financial information provided in the10K and 10Q. My work
resulted in validating the financial reports that the client had published.
PART THREE, the final piece of the marketing statement, is probably the most
fluid piece. It needs to be a one-sentence summary of specifically what you want
to do next in your career. The reason this third part is difficult is that it needs to
specifically address what you want to do next, AND it needs to change from

interview to interview to make sure it matches exactly what the client will be
interviewing you for. The above candidates final statement was:
For the next step in my career, I would like to move out of public accounting and
build on mycareer as a financial reporting manager with a publicly traded
company.
We expect managers to work more than 8 hours a day, do you have a problem
with that .
The interviewer is trying to see if you are a workaholic or a person that requires
balance. Here is a sample answer:I have no problem working long hours. I have
worked 12 or 14 hour days.What I have found works for me is to work smarter,
not necessarily longer. My goal is to get the job done, whatever it takes, in the
most efficient manner.
When have you been most satisfied in your career .
The interviewer is trying to ascertain what motivates/de-motivates you. Here is a
sample answer:The job before the one I am currently at was my most rewarding
experience for me. I worked in a wonderful team environment. There was a lot of
camaraderie. I worked with a team of four people and we did some really original
thinking. It is that kind of environment that I want to be involved in again.
Why do you want this job .
The interviewer is trying to see if you are using a shotgun approach to your job
search or do you really know what you want. Here is a sample answer:Ive been
very careful about the companies where I have applied. When Hamlin Knight told
me about this position, I knew I had found what I was looking for. What I can
bring to this job is my 7 years of experience and knowledge of the industry, plus
my ability to communicate and build customer relationships. That, along with my
flexibility and organizational skills makes me a perfect match for this position. I
see some challenges ahead of me here and thats what I thrive on. I have what
you need, you have what I want.
We are ready to make an offer, are you ready to accept today .

Your interviewer doesnt want you to go away and change your mind. Here is a
sample answer:
Based on my research and the information I have gathered during the interview
process, I feel I am in a position to consider an offer. I do, however, have a
personal policy that I give myself at least 24 hours to make major life decisions. I
could let you know by tomorrow. There is no way to accurately predict the
questions that you will be asked by an interviewer, but you can be ready and
prepared by thinking about the factors that might concern an employer before
the interview

The Toughest Question in the Interview

By Don Straits, CEO and Dragon Slayer, Corporate Warriors
When you, as a job seeker, are asked the most common, and toughest, interview
question, "Tell me about yourself," your answer can make or break you as a
candidate. Usually job seekers will respond with their "30 second commercial,"
and then elaborate on their background. While almost every career book and
career counselor will tell you that is the appropriate response, I totally disagree.
Many people fail in their job search because they are too often focused on what
they want in a job including industry, type of position, location, income, benefits,
and work environment. Their "30 second commercial" is centered around this
premise. The commercial describes the job seeker's career history and what they
are looking for. Too often, this is in direct contrast to what employers are looking
for.
There are two dominant reasons why job seekers are successful in the job search.
The first is focusing on the needs of the organization. The second is focusing on

the needs of the people within that organization. In this article, we are going to
examine how to focus on the needs of the people within organizations. This will
assist in rethinking your response to that all-important question, "Tell me about
yourself."
In order to learn how to respond to the needs of the interviewer, let's first learn
more about ourselves. We can then apply that knowledge about ourselves to
knowing how to understand and respond to the needs of others.
Most social psychologists recognize four basic personality styles: Analytical,
Amiable, Expressive, and Driver. Usually, each of us exhibits personality
characteristics unique to one of the styles. However, we also possess
characteristics to a lesser degree in the other styles. To determine your unique
style, you can take a Myers-Briggs assessment or go to the following site for a free
Keirsey Temperament Sorter assessment test: www.keirsey.com
Here are the characteristics that are most commonly associated with each of the
styles:
Analytical:
Positive Traits: Precise, Methodical, Organized, Rational, Detail Oriented
Negative Traits: Critical, Formal, Uncertain, Judgmental, Picky
Amiable:
Positive Traits: Cooperative, Dependable, Warm, Listener, Negotiator
Negative Traits: Undisciplined, Dependent, Submissive, Overly Cautious,
Conforming
Expressive:
Positive Traits: Enthusiastic, Persuasive, Outgoing, Positive, Communicator
Negative Traits: Ego Centered, Emotional, Exploitive, Opinionated, Reacting
Driver:
Positive Traits: Persistent, Independent, Decision Maker, Effective, Strong Willed
Negative Traits: Aggressive, Strict, Intense, Relentless, Rigid

Gaining an in-depth understanding of your personality style has enormous value

in your career as well as your personal life. However, our focus today is learning
how to use this knowledge to make you more successful in your job search.
Once you have learned about your own style and have studied the other styles, I
encourage you to have a little fun in trying to determine the styles of others.
When you meet someone for the first time, try to identify his or her style within
the first two minutes. You can often identify styles by observing a person's
demeanor, conversation, body language, appearance, and possessions.
To demonstrate what I mean, let's take some examples from the business world.
While there are always exceptions, generally speaking the styles fit the example.
Analytical Style: Financial Manager (or programmers, engineers, and
accountants). They like systems and procedures. They are slow to make decisions
because they will analyze things to deathbut their decisions are usually very
sound. They prefer working independently and are usually not very good in team
environments, but they are also dependable. They buy cars with good resale
value and great gas mileage. They are conservative dressers. At the party, they
want to know why so much money was spent on Michelob when we could have
purchased Busch. They come to the party with their laptops.
Amiable Style: Human Resources Manager. Very people-focused. They are
dependable, loyal and easygoing; very compassionate. They will give you the shirt
off their backs and the last nickel in their pockets. They are good listeners and
value team players who don't "rock the boat." They are usually conformists and
followersrarely leaders. They avoid conflict and are not good decision makers.
They drive four-door sedans or mini-vans to take the kids to sporting events. They
usually clean up after the party is over.
Expressive Style: Sales Manager. Very outgoing and enthusiastic, with a high
energy level. They are also great idea generators, but usually do not have the
ability to see the idea through to completion. Very opinionated and egotistical.
Money motivated. They can be good communicators. They prefer to direct and

control rather then ask and listen. They drive red convertibles with great stereos;
to heck with the gas mileage. They come up with the idea for a company party,
but never help clean up. They are on their way to another party.
Driver: Corporate CEO. Intelligent, intense, focused, relentless. They thrive on the
thrill of the challenge and the internal motivation to succeed. Money is only a
measure of success; it is not the driving factor. They are results/performance
oriented. They have compassion for the truly disadvantaged, but absolutely no
patience or tolerance for the lazy or whiners. They drive prestige cars, not
because the car attracts attention, but because it was a wise investment. They
want to know why we had a party; what were the benefits of the party, and did
we invite the banker?
Ok, now you are really getting some insight into your style and the style of others.
It is time for the interviews. Throw out your 30-second commercial. Think on your
feet.
You will be interviewing with the human resource manager, the finance manager,
the sales manager, and the CEO. The first question each of them will ask you is:
"Tell me about yourself." How should you respond? Remember the second reason
for succeeding in a job search: focus on the needs of the people in the
organization. Here are just a few examples of how to respond to that question:
"Tell me about yourself?"
Response to Finance Manager: "I have been successful in my career by making
well-thought-out decisions based on careful analysis of all factors. I approach
problems with logic and sound reasoning. I would enjoy working with you in
developing the appropriate systems and procedures to make our two
departments function efficiently together."
Response to Human Resource Manager: "My career has been characterized by my
ability to work well with diverse teams. I seek out opportunities to involve others
in the decision-making process. This collaboration and communication is what has

enabled me to achieve success in my department. People are the most valuable

resource of any organization."
Response to Sales Manager: "Throughout my career I have always adhered to the
principle that everyone in the organization must be sales-focused. My
department is always trained in customer service, providing outstanding support
to the sales team and to our customers. Without sales, the rest of use would not
have a job. I look forward to helping you drive sales in any way possible."
Response to CEO: "I have achieved success in my career because I have been
focused on the bottom line. I have always sought out innovative solutions to
challenging problems to maximize profitability. Regardless of the task or
challenge, I always established benchmarks of performance and standards of
excellence. I have never sought to maintain the "status quo." An organization that
does not change and grow will die. I would enjoy working with you to help define
new market opportunities in order to achieve the organization's goals."
In each instance, we responded to the "needs of the individual." It is almost
guaranteed that, when you respond appropriately to the diverse needs of the
different managers, you will become the standard by which all of the other
candidates will be measured.
I challenge you to learn about your personality and leadership style, learn about
the styles of others, and learn how to think on your feet when responding to
questions. Whether you are seeking a job or you are gainfully employed, by
understanding the needs of others you will become a more valuable person,
employee, manager and leader.

Tell me about yourself ?

Start with the present and tell why you are well qualified for the position.
Remember that the key to all successful interviewing is to match your
qualifications to what the interviewer is looking for. In other words you must sell
what the buyer is buying. This is the single most important strategy in job hunting.

So, before you answer this or any question it's imperative that you try to uncover
your interviewer's greatest need, want, problem or goal.
To do so, make you take these two steps:
Do all the homework you can before the hr interview to uncover this person's
wants and needs (not the generalized needs of the industry or company)
As early as you can in the interview, ask for a more complete description of what
the position entails. You might say: I have a number of accomplishments I'd like
to tell you about, but I want to make the best use of our time together and talk
directly to your needs. To help me do, that, could you tell me more about the
most important priorities of this position? All I know is what I (heard from the
recruiter, read in the classified ad, etc.)
Then, ALWAYS follow-up with a second and possibly, third question, to draw out
his needs even more. Surprisingly, it's usually this second or third question that
unearths what the interviewer is most looking for.
You might ask simply, "And in addition to that?..." or, "Is there anything else you
see as essential to success in this position?:
This process will not feel easy or natural at first, because it is easier simply to
answer questions, but only if you uncover the employer's wants and needs will
your answers make the most sense. Practice asking these key questions before
giving your answers, the process will feel more natural and you will be light years
ahead of the other job candidates you're competing with.
After uncovering what the employer is looking for, describe why the needs of this
job bear striking parallels to tasks you've succeeded at before. Be sure to illustrate
with specific examples of your responsibilities and especially your achievements,
all of which are geared to present yourself as a perfect match for the needs he
has just described.
What are your greatest strengths ?
You know that your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's greatest
wants and needs before you answer questions. And from Question 1, you know
how to do this.

Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest
strengths. You should also have, a specific example or two, which illustrates each
strength, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive
achievements.
You should, have this list of your greatest strengths and corresponding examples
from your achievements so well committed to memory that you can recite them
cold after being shaken awake at 2:30AM.
Then, once you uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs, you can
choose those achievements from your list that best match up.
As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see
in their employees are:
A proven track record as an achiever...especially if your achievements match up
with the employer's greatest wants and needs.
Intelligence...management "savvy".

Honesty...integrity...a decent human being.

Good fit with corporate culture...someone to feel comfortable with...a team
player who meshes well with interviewer's team.
Likeability...positive attitude...sense of humor.
Good communication skills.
Dedication...willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
Definiteness of purpose...clear goals.
Enthusiasm...high level of motivation.

Confident...healthy...a leader.
What are your greatest weakness ?
Disguise a strength as a weakness.
Example: I sometimes push my people too hard. I like to work with a sense of
urgency and everyone is not always on the same wavelength.
Drawback: This strategy is better than admitting a flaw, but it's so widely used, it
is transparent to any experienced interviewer.
BEST ANSWER: (and another reason it's so important to get a thorough
description of your interviewer's needs before you answer questions): Assure the
interviewer that you can think of nothing that would stand in the way of your
performing in this position with excellence. Then, quickly review you strongest
qualifications.
Example: Nobody's perfect, but based on what you've told me about this
position, I believe I' d make an outstanding match. I know that when I hire people,
I look for two things most of all. Do they have the qualifications to do the job well,
and the motivation to do it well? Everything in my background shows I have both
the qualifications and a strong desire to achieve excellence in whatever I take on.
So I can say in all honesty that I see nothing that would cause you even a small
concern about my ability or my strong desire to perform this job with excellence.
Alternate strategy (if you don't yet know enough about the position to talk about
such a perfect fit):
Instead of confessing a weakness, describe what you like most and like least,
making sure that what you like most matches up with the most important
qualification for success in the position, and what you like least is not essential.
Example: Let's say you're applying for a teaching position. If given a choice, I like
to spend as much time as possible in front of my prospects selling, as opposed to
shuffling paperwork back at the office. Of course, I long ago learned the
importance of filing paperwork properly, and I do it conscientiously. But what I

really love to do is sell (if your interviewer were a sales manager, this should be
music to his ears.)
Tell me about something you did or failed to do that you now feel a little
ashamed of ?
As with faults and weaknesses, never confess a regret. But dont seem as if youre
stonewalling either.
Best strategy: Say you harbor no regrets, then add a principle or habit you
practice regularly for healthy human relations.
Example: Pause for reflection, as if the question never occurred to you. Then say
to hr, You know, I really cant think of anything. (Pause again, then add): I
would add that as a general management principle, Ive found that the best way
to avoid regrets is to avoid causing them in the first place. I practice one habit
that helps me a great deal in this regard. At the end of each day, I mentally review
the days events and conversations to take a second look at the people and
developments Im involved with and do a double check of what theyre likely to
be feeling. Sometimes Ill see things that do need more follow-up, whether a pat
on the back, or maybe a five minute chat in someones office to make sure were
clear on thingswhatever.
I also like to make each person feel like a member of an elite team, like the
Boston Celtics or LA Lakers in their prime. Ive found that if you let each team
member know you expect excellence in their performanceif you work hard to
set an example yourselfand if you let people know you appreciate and respect
their feelings, you wind up with a highly motivated group, a team thats having
fun at work because theyre striving for excellence rather than brooding over
slights or regrets.
Why are you leaving (or did you leave) this position ?
(If you have a job presently tell the hr)
If youre not yet 100% committed to leaving your present post, dont be afraid to
say so. Since you have a job, you are in a stronger position than someone who
does not. But dont be coy either. State honestly what youd be hoping to find in a

new spot. Of course, as stated often before, you answer will all the stronger if you
have already uncovered what this position is all about and you match your desires
to it.
(If you do not presently have a job tell the hr.)
Never lie about having been fired. Its unethical and too easily checked. But do
try to deflect the reason from you personally. If your firing was the result of a
takeover, merger, division wide layoff, etc., so much the better.
But you should also do something totally unnatural that will demonstrate
consummate professionalism. Even if it hurts , describe your own firing candidly,
succinctly and without a trace of bitterness from the companys point-of-view,
indicating that you could understand why it happened and you might have made
the same decision yourself.
Your stature will rise immensely and, most important of all, you will show you are
healed from the wounds inflicted by the firing. You will enhance your image as
first-class management material and stand head and shoulders above the legions
of firing victims who, at the slightest provocation, zip open their shirts to expose
their battle scars and decry the unfairness of it all.
For all prior positions:
Make sure youve prepared a brief reason for leaving. Best reasons: more money,
opportunity, responsibility or growth.