You’re aiming for about 30 seconds from start to finish. Once you’ve got a rough version on paper (or screen), it’s time to start narrowing, focusing, and distilling. Start by addressing those four subjects in a draft version of your answer. – Keep Your Answer Short, to About 30 Seconds or Less What makes you interested in the company.What made you want to apply for the job.Your most recent background that is applicable to the job.No matter how a hiring manager phrases it, focus on these four aspects in your answer: And maybe throw in something that helps showcase your personality.”īut that’s obviously too long a statement to make, so employers often shorten it to a much broader question.

“Tell me about yourself” is probably better phrased as, “Tell me what brought you to apply for this job, and some of the main qualifications that make you stand out.

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” – Relate Your Answer to the Job at Hand Successfully responding to this question involves tying your answer in with the role you’re applying to and preparing a response ahead of time. “It’s important to remember that the reason this question is asked is because employers are really looking to see how you would fit into the specific role at the company,” says Toni Frana, a FlexJobs career expert. The “tell me about yourself” interview question can be nerve-wracking because it’s so open-ended-and this often makes job seekers feel unsure of how to answer.

Be honest, in reading that, did you automatically start to feel a little anxious? There’s a reason this question (though really more of a statement!) is so difficult to tackle.

Y (please tell me why)