Hi,
I am very much confused when people ask me in interviews, "Tell me about yourself." So, can anybody help me out with the best answer? I think this answer decides the outcome of the interview result.
Thanks...!
Regards,
Annapurna
From India, Bangalore
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I am very much confused when people ask me in interviews, "Tell me about yourself." So, can anybody help me out with the best answer? I think this answer decides the outcome of the interview result.
Thanks...!
Regards,
Annapurna
From India, Bangalore
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Hi Annapurna,
This is a very common question at an interview. The answer certainly does NOT decide the result. It is designed to see your oral communication ability, self-criticism, confidence, and how you view yourself, as well as giving you an opportunity to expand on what you have written about yourself in your resume. Most people will write a CV/Resume and print off several copies to send out. Over a period of time, they actually forget what they have written and are often caught out when answering this question. The ideal answer should be one of positives as well as a couple of minor negatives. I hope the above helps.
Regards, Harsh
From United Kingdom, Barrow
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370This is a very common question at an interview. The answer certainly does NOT decide the result. It is designed to see your oral communication ability, self-criticism, confidence, and how you view yourself, as well as giving you an opportunity to expand on what you have written about yourself in your resume. Most people will write a CV/Resume and print off several copies to send out. Over a period of time, they actually forget what they have written and are often caught out when answering this question. The ideal answer should be one of positives as well as a couple of minor negatives. I hope the above helps.
Regards, Harsh
From United Kingdom, Barrow
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Tell me about yourself.
TRAPS: Beware, about 80% of all interviews begin with this “innocent” question. Many candidates, unprepared for the question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story, delving into ancient work history or personal matters.
BEST ANSWER: 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:
1. Do all the homework you can before the interview to uncover this person's wants and needs (not the generalized needs of the industry or company)
2. 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.
Hope this information helps you.
Shubha
From India, Bangalore
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TRAPS: Beware, about 80% of all interviews begin with this “innocent” question. Many candidates, unprepared for the question, skewer themselves by rambling, recapping their life story, delving into ancient work history or personal matters.
BEST ANSWER: 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:
1. Do all the homework you can before the interview to uncover this person's wants and needs (not the generalized needs of the industry or company)
2. 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.
Hope this information helps you.
Shubha
From India, Bangalore
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Dear,
That is the question basically asked at any interviews. The reason to ask "Tell me about yourself" is to make yourself comfortable for the remaining time of the interview and to help the interviewing officer get an idea about you.
I suggest having pre-meditated answers for this. The preparation you do for this question will not only help you answer in interviews but also in any situation where you are required to introduce yourself. Importantly, remember that most face-to-face interview questions will be based on the answer you provided to the previous question.
Tips for "Tell me about yourself":
1) Do not be ordinary in answering this question. This question will set the mood for the interviewing officer.
2) Tell something interestingly, like starting from your name and its meaning, strengths, weaknesses, birth, primary & higher secondary education at school, achievements at school, followed by college education and achievements, and other activities.
3) Tell about your hobbies, interests, and any relevant experiences.
By following these tips, you can make a strong impression during the interview. Good luck!
From India, Bangalore
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That is the question basically asked at any interviews. The reason to ask "Tell me about yourself" is to make yourself comfortable for the remaining time of the interview and to help the interviewing officer get an idea about you.
I suggest having pre-meditated answers for this. The preparation you do for this question will not only help you answer in interviews but also in any situation where you are required to introduce yourself. Importantly, remember that most face-to-face interview questions will be based on the answer you provided to the previous question.
Tips for "Tell me about yourself":
1) Do not be ordinary in answering this question. This question will set the mood for the interviewing officer.
2) Tell something interestingly, like starting from your name and its meaning, strengths, weaknesses, birth, primary & higher secondary education at school, achievements at school, followed by college education and achievements, and other activities.
3) Tell about your hobbies, interests, and any relevant experiences.
By following these tips, you can make a strong impression during the interview. Good luck!
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear,
That is the question basically asked at any interviews. The reason to ask "Tell me about yourself" is to make yourself comfortable for the remaining time of the interview and to give the interviewing officer an idea about yourself.
I suggest you have pre-meditated answers for this. The preparation you do for this question not only helps you to answer at interviews but also at any situation where you are required to introduce yourself. Importantly, remember that most face-to-face interview questions will be asked based on the answer you provide to the previous question.
Tips for "Tell me about yourself":
1) Do not be ordinary in answering this question. This question sets the tone for the interview.
2) Tell something interesting, like starting from your name and its meaning, strengths, weaknesses, birth, primary and higher secondary education at school, achievements at school, then move on to college education and achievements, other activities. Proceed to your professional experience and achievements, and conclude with information about your family members.
3) This approach will give you enormous confidence to answer any other questions they may ask. These basics are also crucial in Defence Services Interviews.
All the best
From India, Bangalore
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
That is the question basically asked at any interviews. The reason to ask "Tell me about yourself" is to make yourself comfortable for the remaining time of the interview and to give the interviewing officer an idea about yourself.
I suggest you have pre-meditated answers for this. The preparation you do for this question not only helps you to answer at interviews but also at any situation where you are required to introduce yourself. Importantly, remember that most face-to-face interview questions will be asked based on the answer you provide to the previous question.
Tips for "Tell me about yourself":
1) Do not be ordinary in answering this question. This question sets the tone for the interview.
2) Tell something interesting, like starting from your name and its meaning, strengths, weaknesses, birth, primary and higher secondary education at school, achievements at school, then move on to college education and achievements, other activities. Proceed to your professional experience and achievements, and conclude with information about your family members.
3) This approach will give you enormous confidence to answer any other questions they may ask. These basics are also crucial in Defence Services Interviews.
All the best
From India, Bangalore
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Ms. Annapurna,
Acknowledging the valuable in-puts received from some of our other fellow professional, I'd want to share my thoughts too on this.
Interviewing can be made interesting, in fact, an experience that there is enough of information shared and obtained. It can be free-wheeling of thoughts, which taking the data to make assessments. Looking for a win-win situation for all, an experience worth remembering whichever the result goes. The person being interviewed goes with a good feeling that the time spent was worthwhile, and can be a goodwill ambassador, even if the interview doesn't go in his/her favor.
I wonder how many can really experience such interviews or claim to conduct such types of interviews when filling in vacant positions is always in a hurry.
The basic premise of every job-interview is to assess the candidate on several parameter, which begin with the following
Do You Fit? - Every organization's first thought is about fitment and potentially fit in a certain department. The interviewer is trying to pinpoint not only whether you match up well with both the company's and department's activities but also whether you'll complement the talents of your potential coworkers.
Do You Understand the Company and Its Purpose?
How Do You Stack Up Against the Competition?
Do You Have the Right Mind-Set for the Job and Company?
Do You Want the Job?
Do You Have the Skills to Do the Job?
Against this back drop - opening the interview with Tell me about Yourself - Interviewers use this as an opener as it could tell them what are the soft skills you have and what will you need to succeed in the job and organization, such as the ability to work well on teams or the requisite common sense to figure things out with some basic training. therefore could be the most comfortable opener or ice-breaker.
The interviewer wants to see how articulate you are, how confident you are and generally what type of impression you would make on the people with whom you came into contact on the job.It also gives the interviewer get a sense of what you think or ought to be important. Most find this question to be a particularly difficult one to answer. That is a misplaced view. This question offers an opportunity to describe yourself positively and focus the interview on your strengths. Be prepared to deal with it. These days, it’s unavoidable. Like me, most interviewers start off their interviews with this question. A lot of interviewers open with it as an icebreaker or because they're still getting organized, but they all use it to get a sense of whom you are.
My experience suggests highlight your most important accomplishments, and, be brief.
A word of caution, please do not drop-names. Usually knowing someone at a company where you’re seeking employment is a good thing. It might seem like a good idea. Name-dropping is a technique that might seem smart during an interview, but think twice before you work a name into the conversation. HR folks can sabotage a search if they feel one-upped. By dropping names without any tact could rub a human resources official the wrong way and it might even cost you the job. Experts say that most good hiring managers will see right through it and the ploy could backfire drastically
Having said all this I think this is the stupidest question to ask, reason being, your c.v. tells the interviewers everything they want to know about your job. Two factors emerge then, that the interviewer hasn't seen your profile or the interviewer wants to examine your thought organization process.
You might follow these links to get a little more insight into what has been said here.
10 of the MOST STUPID interview questions EVER
Tell Me About Yourself -- Interview Question | Monster
Warm regards,
TSK. Raman
Mob.: 08374111185
http://www.facebook.com/raman.bharadwaj.16
✿ܓ beknown.com/raman-bharadwaj
✿ܓ LinkedIn : http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view...83&trk=tab_pro
From India, Hyderabad
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Acknowledging the valuable in-puts received from some of our other fellow professional, I'd want to share my thoughts too on this.
Interviewing can be made interesting, in fact, an experience that there is enough of information shared and obtained. It can be free-wheeling of thoughts, which taking the data to make assessments. Looking for a win-win situation for all, an experience worth remembering whichever the result goes. The person being interviewed goes with a good feeling that the time spent was worthwhile, and can be a goodwill ambassador, even if the interview doesn't go in his/her favor.
I wonder how many can really experience such interviews or claim to conduct such types of interviews when filling in vacant positions is always in a hurry.
The basic premise of every job-interview is to assess the candidate on several parameter, which begin with the following
Do You Fit? - Every organization's first thought is about fitment and potentially fit in a certain department. The interviewer is trying to pinpoint not only whether you match up well with both the company's and department's activities but also whether you'll complement the talents of your potential coworkers.
Do You Understand the Company and Its Purpose?
How Do You Stack Up Against the Competition?
Do You Have the Right Mind-Set for the Job and Company?
Do You Want the Job?
Do You Have the Skills to Do the Job?
Against this back drop - opening the interview with Tell me about Yourself - Interviewers use this as an opener as it could tell them what are the soft skills you have and what will you need to succeed in the job and organization, such as the ability to work well on teams or the requisite common sense to figure things out with some basic training. therefore could be the most comfortable opener or ice-breaker.
The interviewer wants to see how articulate you are, how confident you are and generally what type of impression you would make on the people with whom you came into contact on the job.It also gives the interviewer get a sense of what you think or ought to be important. Most find this question to be a particularly difficult one to answer. That is a misplaced view. This question offers an opportunity to describe yourself positively and focus the interview on your strengths. Be prepared to deal with it. These days, it’s unavoidable. Like me, most interviewers start off their interviews with this question. A lot of interviewers open with it as an icebreaker or because they're still getting organized, but they all use it to get a sense of whom you are.
My experience suggests highlight your most important accomplishments, and, be brief.
A word of caution, please do not drop-names. Usually knowing someone at a company where you’re seeking employment is a good thing. It might seem like a good idea. Name-dropping is a technique that might seem smart during an interview, but think twice before you work a name into the conversation. HR folks can sabotage a search if they feel one-upped. By dropping names without any tact could rub a human resources official the wrong way and it might even cost you the job. Experts say that most good hiring managers will see right through it and the ploy could backfire drastically
Having said all this I think this is the stupidest question to ask, reason being, your c.v. tells the interviewers everything they want to know about your job. Two factors emerge then, that the interviewer hasn't seen your profile or the interviewer wants to examine your thought organization process.
You might follow these links to get a little more insight into what has been said here.
10 of the MOST STUPID interview questions EVER
Tell Me About Yourself -- Interview Question | Monster
Warm regards,
TSK. Raman
Mob.: 08374111185
http://www.facebook.com/raman.bharadwaj.16
✿ܓ beknown.com/raman-bharadwaj
✿ܓ LinkedIn : http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view...83&trk=tab_pro
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi, Annapurna,
This question is to create a first impression on the employer. You confirm what is written in the CV while answering this. Always go through your CV once before attending any interview. Your communication skills, how you behave, i.e. body language, etc., are studied. There is nothing to be confused about this as it is only a self-introduction. It helps the person who is interviewing not to go through the CV, and once he is impressed in the first instance and requirements, he may continue to view the CV and take it further. Be bold and answer straight. Do not be nervous. Cut short your answer by answering the question. Do not unnecessarily elaborate on everything, thinking that they will be impressed. Make your position easy if you get the employment there. After all, if you are selected, you will work with the person, or else it is like a train passenger who will be let off after the interview.
From India, Madras
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This question is to create a first impression on the employer. You confirm what is written in the CV while answering this. Always go through your CV once before attending any interview. Your communication skills, how you behave, i.e. body language, etc., are studied. There is nothing to be confused about this as it is only a self-introduction. It helps the person who is interviewing not to go through the CV, and once he is impressed in the first instance and requirements, he may continue to view the CV and take it further. Be bold and answer straight. Do not be nervous. Cut short your answer by answering the question. Do not unnecessarily elaborate on everything, thinking that they will be impressed. Make your position easy if you get the employment there. After all, if you are selected, you will work with the person, or else it is like a train passenger who will be let off after the interview.
From India, Madras
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Well,
This is a common question from the interviewer as, through this question, the interviewer wants to know the background of the candidate as well as their way of presenting, communicating, etc. Based on that, they move to further rounds, etc.
The better you present yourself as per your CV, the better your chances will be to move further.
From India, Lucknow
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This is a common question from the interviewer as, through this question, the interviewer wants to know the background of the candidate as well as their way of presenting, communicating, etc. Based on that, they move to further rounds, etc.
The better you present yourself as per your CV, the better your chances will be to move further.
From India, Lucknow
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