‘Tell me about yourself?’ It’s a query job seekers need to answer well

Q I’m a recent grad from university and I’m currently interviewing for potential positions. I never know how to answer the question “tell me about yourself?” Can you help me with this? A The “tell me about yourself?” question when being interviewed is often one of the first questions asked. And, if answered well, sets the stage for a great interview and if answered wrong, can cost you the job.

Your potential employer is asking you this question for a reason; they want to see how you handle yourself with a broad, open-ended question. This will say a lot about how you might handle yourself when working for them. Here are some tips:

Always take the time to prepare — seasoned interviewers can tell who has prepared for an interview and who hasn’t. This demonstrates a high level of professionalism and leadership.

Find out about the company, job description and requirements as best you can.

Don’t tell your life story — keep what you share relevant to the position you are applying for.

Think about your education, experience, skills, strengths and professional goals that are aligned with what the employer is looking for.

Come up with two to three examples in each area that you can talk about.

As you have only recently graduated from university and may not have as much work experience yet, a great way to demonstrate leadership skills is by talking about leadership roles you are in, or have been in, for any extracurricular activities you participate in.

Keep your answer between two and three minutes. Practice saying it out loud before you go. A clear and concise response to this question will make a great first impression and first impressions matter.