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Career development

 17h

​How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself

handle.co.uk
How to Answer "Tell me About Yourself"

You've just sat down in an interview, and the first question lands: '"So, tell me about yourself." Fifteen words in, you can already feel your story slipping away...

It's one of the most common, and deceptively simple, questions you'll face in a job interview, networking event, or creative meetup.

At our recent Career Discovery Session, we explored what it really takes to get started in agency life, from creative briefs to career confidence. One thing we would have loved to include, but ran out of time for, was our 'Pitch Yourself' exercise, a practical way to build a short, memorable personal introduction.

How the Exercise Works:

* STEP ONE: First find someone to run this exercise with (they become the talent acquisition partner working for your perfect company, hiring your perfect role)

* STEP TWO: Your partner asks you one question: "Tell me about yourself."

* STEP THREE: Answer with a concise 30 second response as if you were in a real interview.

* STEP FOUR: Discuss it together: what worked well, what could be clearer, and how it felt to talk about yourself.

* STEP FIVE: Repeat the exercise another 3, 4, or 5 times. The aim isn't to be perfect, it's about getting comfortable speaking about yourself. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes.

* BONUS STEP: Try the same exercise but using two other frequently asked questions:

Next steps...

What are you waiting for? Find a partner, ask the questions, and give it a go.

You'll be surprised how quickly your confidence grows and how this simple exercise will help create the perfect foundation for any video or IRL interview.
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  • Calvin Mulligan

    87
    6m

    Presumably, the "tell me about yourself" question is in relation to a particular job or role, thus enabling the candidate to tailor his/her pitch... accordingly. It was customary in the past in this regard to encourage job seekers to practice their "elevator pitch". Such an exercise forces the candidate to focus on something equivalent to a professional mission as it would relate to the desired role or job ("Assisting organizations mine the gold in their data") and the capabilities he/she is ready to apply to fulfill it. The "elevator" part means limiting the pitch to the time it might take for one to ride with a hiring manager from the ground floor to an imaginary floor of an office building. (Let's say about 30-45 seconds). Practicing enables you to find the necessary economy of language that conveys your message succinctly.

    In relation to the pitch, one can facilitate connection by creating business card with one's name, contact information and professional mission on the front and credentials encapsulated on the back. After giving your elevator pitch, you could give your card to the contact while indicating your readiness to meet for a coffee conversation regarding any job opportunities on the horizon that may be a fit.


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  • Tony Briscoe

    1
    2h

    I asked this question and the response, “I don’t like that question because I don’t know who I am, can you ask me something else?”

  • Jeremy Singer

    10
    13h

    You are here for a job interview. What can you tell me about yourself that might give me more information about your personality, as it may affect... your job performance. I do programming, data analysis, scientific programming. That's all in my resume. What makes my personality a fit for this job?
    In my case, I am looking for contracts because I am project oriented. I am not interested in a long career at your organization. I want to solve interesting problems, and I like variety. I have a wide variety of interests, which is why I chose to be an English major, but I discovered that I love doing science and fighting disease, so I got my Master of Science in Bioinformatics. If you have a mission like that, that would encourage me to do more for you! I communicate well orally and in writing. I think clearly and express myself clearly.
    I play classical violin, chess, and Tai Chi.
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  • Ali Turns

    1
    15h

    I employ people and I have never asked that question and I see it's value. I am an artist and I interview other artists we are all about the... work(samples, photo's, colors etc.) Conversation just evolves and you connect in spirit. But, I am going to use the next time I do an interview. Learn something new everyday! more

    1

  • ALEKE JEREMIAH

    16h

    My name is Jeremiah Aleke. I have experience as a customer service representative, data entry specialist, and online sales professional. I excel at... managing data accurately, supporting clients efficiently, and using digital tools to improve workflow. I am excited to apply for a role at Grainrip because I want to contribute my skills to a dynamic team while growing professionally.”
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