Tell Me About Yourself: Key Interviewing Tips

After coaching 200+ clients in 2023 and more now, I want to share insight on interviewing or self-presentation that empower the job seeker and career builder. Applicable to networking.

I do a lot of mock interviews and my favorite ask is “Tell me about yourself.” It gets the conversation going and helps me get to know the person I’m practicing with. Plus, it’s the question that stumps many, including career coaches.

As the interviewer, I want to know:

1) How articulate you are

2) Your background for context

3) Truthfulness of your application, and

4) Whether you are a good fit for my team/needs.

The POV from which you share about yourself is important. You are the hub of the wheel that holds all the spokes (your previous jobs) together. The employer wants to hire you, the producer of all things you did.

Describe yourself first. Instead of starting with your last role at company X, begin with something like this, in 2-3 minutes (any longer the listener glazes over):

1. I’m a _____ professional with expertise in a, b, c (relevant to the role at hand), seeking [role] in [industry].
   • Frames the conversation by asserting a claim. Practice — this is where embodiment is needed. You wear what you say.
2. I’m passionate about this work because [3 reasons, your why].
   • Asserts your motivation. Research the company and highlight values that resonate with you.
3. What make me stand out as a candidate are [3 relevant, key skills or accomplishments].
   • Showcases your unique background. The intention is to makes it easy for the interviewer to invite you for the next round.
4. I’ve done [the above] at [list of your previous employers].
   • Reinforces you’ve sharpened the key relevant skills and honed your passion in past jobs.

Then, check in with your interviewer and offer to go into details as needed. They are likely to ask you to go over your resume. Having set the tone about your candidacy with the above outline, you can use your work experience to support your claims.

More tips:

• Focus on relevant accomplishments that show you are a good fit for the role.
• Use S.T.A.R.T. to organize your answers (I added a T):
  • Situation (the problem, why it is important/you are using as example)
  • Tasks (your role in the scenario)
  • Action (what you did to address the problem)
  • Results (impacts of your action)
  • Tie-in (how does this relate to the role you are applying for or the organization)
• 1 + 3: Answer the question first, then follow up with 3 reasons, examples.
• Always end on the positive: interviewers want to know how you recover from challenges, mistakes, conflicts. Be authentic and end with your learnings or how you improved. If applicable, tie the learning to the role you are going for.
• Have 3-4 examples for behavioral interview questions, using START format. Often we overcome a challenge by using several skills: i.e., leadership, collaboration, and problem solving. One example can showcase multiple desirable qualities. You don’t need to have a specific answer for each behavioral question. I had an engineer client who memorized ~100 answers. Not the best way to go.
• Use ChatGPT, Gemini to generate relevant interview questions for practice
• Panel interviews: Research each panelist on LI and company website so that you can address their specific needs. Leave time for Q+A — interaction is key.
• Tech interviews: practice with your tech contacts. Get used to explaining your thought processes. Important to learn to bounce back if you can’t answer a question or make a mistake.
• Don’t bring up salary, benefits — get the offer first.
• Maintain eye contact, smile, practice at the bathroom mirror! Give your face and mouth the muscle memory of talking about yourself this way.

There is more — I’m writing a workbook with a section on interviewing. Stay tuned.

It’s best to connect within and organically exude positivity about yourself. Speaking with confidence is a great career and life skill.

I love co-creating self-presentations with clients. Happy to connect at a free Spark time to discuss how I can help as a coach. You can also ask me quick questions on LinkedIn and I’ll post answers there.

My best on your quest,

Sue

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