Monday Motivation: 4 Steps to Conquering the "Tell Me About Yourself" Challenge

Ever wondered why the seemingly simple question, 'Tell me about yourself,' can make or break your interview? Unravel the secrets behind this crucial question with Joshua Tinkey and Lynda Commale, who share their combined three decades of interviewing wisdom. You'll grasp the essential strategies to construct a compelling, tailored response that impresses hiring managers and showcases your skills effectively.

Tune in as we break it down into four actionable steps, ensuring thorough preparation and consistent practice. From understanding the hiring manager's true intentions to crafting a foolproof answer that covers all the bases, we've got you covered. Whether you're a newcomer to the job market or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with invaluable insights to help you confidently tackle your next interview and edge closer to your dream job. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your interview game and secure your success!

Try the 'present, past, future' formula as you craft your response.

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:49

Hey everyone and welcome to the Equipped Interview Podcast. With a combined 30 plus years of being interviewed and interviewing thousands of others, we're here to build your confidence, help you stand out and get your dream job. Your hosts are Joshua Tinkey and Linda Kamali. Let's get you equipped. As a reminder, in these short Monday episodes, we bring you some motivation to help you push through that sometimes stressful and frustrating time of interview prep. We share quick, hit, practical tips, reminders and steps you can take to get your week going strong. Either way, the goal is to keep it under five minutes and start your week strong.

Speaker 1: 1:23

For today's topic, we're going to make sure you really nail your answer to the question that you know is coming Tell me about yourself. You know they're going to ask it. They know they're going to ask it. So, if everyone knows, why do so many job candidates mess this up? Why do they waste the opportunity to share how their experience and skills relate to the exact skills the hiring manager is looking for? I've been on both sides, both as a candidate as a hiring manager, for a lot of jobs. I've experienced this question countless times in a lot of different forms and really want to just help you benefit from that experience. So I'm going to cover two areas today. One what is the hiring manager looking for here? What are they actually trying to get at with this question? And two, I'll share four simple steps you can follow to consistently stand out from everyone else as you answer this question.

Speaker 1: 2:08

So first, why is this question even asked? When a hiring manager asks you or says, hey, tell me about yourself, he or she isn't interested in learning everything about you. The truth is, hiring managers want to determine as quickly as possible what does this candidate bring to the table, or does this person have the skills I'm looking for? Or can I see myself working with this person? Sound simple to answer? I mean sure, I mean it can be. All you have to do is directly answer those questions as part of your response, right, but directly share what skills you have, how you've used them and how you plan to leverage them in this new role. Of course, that assumes you know what the skills are that they're looking for. So part of your must-do interview prep needs to include writing down those top three skills or competencies you think the hiring manager is looking for.

Speaker 1: 2:53

Now second part how should you answer the question? It's almost like cheating. You know they're going to ask you the first question, but you may get asked a slightly different version, and I don't want that to trip you up. Either way, it's the same question. No matter how they ask it, the hiring manager is looking for the same thing. You should prepare, no matter what. So don't be surprised if you get asked things like tell me about yourself, or what's your background, or why are you interested in this job, or why did you apply for a role in this department? Tell me about XYZ. That first question is all about the same thing, no matter what.

Speaker 1: 3:27

So here are four ways you can confidently respond to any one of those questions. Step one craft one response that answers all of those questions I just listed a second ago. You don't know which angle they're going to take on the question, but it doesn't matter. Don't let it trip you up. No matter what they ask, provide the response you've prepared. Don't let yourself be caught off guard. Prepare one answer that covers your background, yourself, your skills, your passion, etc. And I'm going to get into those next.

Speaker 1: 3:54

Step two practice, practice, practice. Okay, that's pretty obvious, but practice out loud, seriously, practice in the car, at home, wherever, the more the better. Many people overlook the opportunity to use their commute or, if you're not doing a commute anymore, other easy ways to practice the time. Just get it done. Why is it worth making this its own step? Think about it. This is your first impression and remember they know that. You know that they're going to ask the question right. So it's critical to demonstrate not only that you have the right skills, but that you understand the dynamics of an interview and you've put in the time. You're not caught off guard. Nerves can absolutely play a factor in an interview, so practicing over and over and over again will build your muscle memory of your response. So, while it might not come out exactly as how you prepared it, it'll definitely be better than if you hadn't practiced out loud at all.

Speaker 1: 4:46

Step three focus on the right content so the interviewer doesn't need to know every bullet point on your resume, your life story, your favorite color, foods you're allergic to. What you should share is your passion for the position and that you have the specific skills the hiring manager is looking for. Be intentional. Share why you're a good fit for the role. This is your time. So how should you structure your content for the question? Follow these quick hit steps.

Speaker 1: 5:12

Try the what's called a present, past, future formula. I'll link to it in the show notes, but essentially it puts a different spin on your experience. Most of your competition and probably what you have done most interviews to date, is take the interviewer on a chronological timeline. I used to do this, then I did this, now I'm here. If you want to stand out, do something different. Start with right now, the present, the skills you use today in your current job. Go back to the past. Talk about what got you here, your education, what you learned, how you got here, and then what you're looking for in the future. So you end on a positive note. What you're looking for.

Speaker 1: 5:45

Next, list the top three to five skills you believe the hiring manager is looking for. I mentioned that just a second ago. Make sure you share that. Your experience that you have includes at least a couple of those key skills. Remember this isn't a time to just share your background. It's a time to demonstrate that you have what they're looking for. Don't make them connect the dots. Connect the dots for them. Next, include language that focuses on what you bring to the table rather than what you'll get out of the job. So avoid phrases like hey, I'm really interested in this position because I've always wanted to learn about X, y or Z. Instead, talk about in my current role. I excel at X, y or Z and I want to bring that to you and your organization. Share your excitement and your passion. The last thing a hiring manager wants is someone going through the motions and is just kind of there. They might have equally skilled candidates. Someone who brings some passion and engagement along the way can put you over the top.

Speaker 1: 6:38

Lastly, step four be succinct. The vast majority of interviewees spent way too long answering this question. Again, this is your first impression, so no need to bore the interviewer before things really get going even and leave a bad taste in their mouth. As you prepare, and since you're practicing out loud from step two time yourself, make sure it's no longer than two, two and a half minutes. If you're consistently going longer, the solution is not to speak more quickly, kind of like what I'm doing right now, to keep mine in five to seven minute range.

Speaker 1: 7:08

Don't do what I'm doing. If you're taking too long, that means you have too much content and need to cut it down. So, trust me, you'll absolutely stand out if you can succinctly share your skills, the ones they're looking for, your passion, and do all of that in under three minutes. I hope you enjoyed this quick hit Monday motivation episode. Stay tuned for our regular episodes coming later this week and another Monday motivation episode next Monday. That's all for today, but let's keep the conversation going. Check out equippedinterviewcom. Be intentional, do the work and build your confidence to stand out in your next job interview. Thank you,