Tell Me About Yourself - A Good Answer To This Question

𝙏𝙝𝙚 3 𝙎 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙪𝙡𝙖.

I was in a panel of interviewers few weeks ago and everyone, I mean, everyone failed this question. 

At some point, I told one of the guys to spare me his whole life story and just tell us about himself. Sadly, none could impress us.

Imagine this: You submitted a resume, prayed and even fasted to be called upon for an interview. 

Now you got a phone call for that long awaited interview and right before the manager, you're asked, hi Grace, 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳.

It's not a time to tell them your state of origin, country, marital status, course of study, University, family background and your whole life's story. 

No interviewer has time for this. I'm talking by experience. When you do this, you have just succeeded in sending a wrong impression in just a first meeting...if there'll be a second one.

Tell me about yourself is an indirect way of asking you to tell them what value you have to bring to the table and the problems you can solve. 

It's important to be yourself but more important to be your best self and avoid me, me, me.

How do you capture the interest of your interviewers ?

Use this 𝟑 𝐒 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚.

1: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮.

You applied for the job of a content creator and this question comes. Talk briefly about what you have done using the clause, "I have been."

Example: I have been writing content for the last 5 years and I specialise in helping companies and entrepreneurs growing their social media platforms.  In the last 4 years, I've helped thousands of clients in over 15 different industries and on average,  I've been able to help my clients really increase sales, engagement and grow their communities by two to five hundred percent in less than 6 months and that's what I'm passionate about. I have listed some of those clients I have worked with in my reference letter.

You see, you have just told them about your success without bragging.

2: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮.

Tell them what you can do. Watch this.👇

My real strength is my ability to truly understand what your audience want. I'm sure of my reputation to creating engaging and compelling contents that I know your audience will love, share and engage immediately.

3: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮.

In the last step, talk about how you'll apply your success, strength and personality into the new office and company. See this.👇

What I'm looking for is a company that I could add value to, produce a positive return on investment for and join their strong team to take the company to its zenith. Is this what your company is looking for?

Did you noticed that I ended with a question? Imagine an interviewee asking such a question🤔.

Doesn't that seem like you know who you are, what you carry and you are not desperate?

In communication, one of the secrets I've known is that, 𝐖𝐡𝐨𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬 𝐚 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. Because you are in an interview hall doesn't make you less. Flow with a mild smile on your face. The goal is to slay them with sense and capture their interest.

It's okay to write what you have to say and memorise it weeks before the set date. Just be sure you don't send a bad impression.

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Avoid appearing like a beggar.

Don't panic.

Don't come desperate.

Don't act emotional.

Don't brag.

Don't tell your whole family history.

Act like when they deny you the job, they have just said no to gold.

Smile with swag.

Talk sense, win with words and live a lasting impression.

Be yourself but be your best self.

Don't be your own obstacle!

Mary Kay

(Young Adults Ministry)