In this blog, we are going to give you brilliant answers to the interview question, tell me about yourself! Right at the very start of your job interview, the hiring manager will say to you, tell me about yourself. How you answer this first question could be the difference between a pass or fail, so make sure you keep reading if you want to pass your interview and beat the competition!
To help you answer the interview question, TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF to not only get the highest scores possible but also impress the hiring manager, we will cover the following 3 things in this post:
#1. We will explain why the hiring manager will say to you at the start of your job interview, “tell me about yourself”. There are 2 reasons why they will ask you this tough question.
#2. We will then tell you the 4 things you should include in your answer to the “tell me about yourself” interview question, including a brilliant easy-to-remember structure you can use.
#3. We will then give you two brilliant, top-scoring answers to the question, “tell me about yourself”. One answer is for experienced candidates, and the other is for fresh graduates and those candidates who are new to the workplace. All you have to do is choose the one answer option that is most suitable for you.
Why Is The Hiring Manager Asking You This Question?
REASON #1
Getting you to talk about something you should know a lot about yourself, will help reduce your nerves. You will be the most nervous at the start of your job interview, so when the hiring manager says to you, tell me about yourself, it gives you the opportunity to talk. Make sure you practice your answer to the tell me about yourself interview question several times before your interview.
REASON #2
The second reason the hiring manager is going to say to you, “tell me about yourself”, is because it quickly allows them to assess your communication skills and determine whether or not you are going to be a good fit for their team. That is why your answer must be confident and contain 4 key areas.
4 Important Areas To Include In Your Answer
1. SKILLS – Talk about the skills you have that match the job description.
2. EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE – Briefly mention the educational qualifications you have and also any relevant experience you can bring to the company.
3. ACHIEVEMENTS – Talk quickly about any significant achievements you have gained in your work or personal life. If the hiring manager sees you are a high achiever with a track record of success, they will definitely be more likely to hire you.
4. Tell the hiring manager the TYPE OF PERSON YOU ARE and what you will do for their company.
So, to recap, the 4 things you should talk about in your answer to the first interview question, “tell me about yourself”, are Skills, Education and Experience, Achievements and the Type of person you are.
Those 4 things stand for SEAT – S.E.A.T and you can easily remember them because you will be sitting on a SEAT at your interview!
Example Answers
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF ANSWER #1 (EXPERIENCED CANDIDATES)
“Thank you for this opportunity. I am a positive, supportive, and dynamic employee with the skills to match the job description. I am a fast worker and good communicator, will solve problems quickly, and have the relevant customer service skills to make a difference in the position.
I graduated from college with qualifications in subjects that will benefit me in this role. I have experience managing multiple tasks in teams, and am competent in using all Microsoft Office applications.
I have a track record of achievement. I have won several sporting events with my team, and I have won Employee of the Month in my previous job.
If you hire me, I will be a great role model for the company brand and take responsibility for my ongoing professional development, so I am always a great asset to the team. I promise to commit to the company long-term to ensure you see a great return on your investment and assist you in becoming the market leader.”
TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF ANSWER #2 (FRESH GRADUATES AND NO EXPERIENCE CANDIDATES)
“My name is [INSERT YOUR NAME], and I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to be interviewed for a position at your company today. I recently graduated from college with qualifications in Mathematics, Psychology and Computer Science. During my time at college, I learned the important values of discipline, maintaining high standards, and providing support to other students in their pursuit of success. My personal characteristics can be summarized as positive, enthusiastic, determined, and resilient. I am always eager to take ownership of challenging situations as they arise. Approaching my career with an open mind, I come to you as a blank canvas, free from preconceived notions about the workplace. I am excited about the prospect of being trained to excel as a valuable member of your team. If I am fortunate enough to join your organization, I am committed to building a long-term career here. My goal is to become a dependable and trustworthy employee who consistently adds value to the business and supports its daily operations.”
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