Here’s how you should *actually* answer the number one job interview question
When you search the internet about job interview preparation, you get countless suggestions from old-fashioned white dudes who all work in finance or consulting and want to offer the same script on how to stand out in an interview. But for all of us other folks, and especially for us folks who work in industries where culture and people matter, there’s a different and better way to stand out from the crowd. And you’re in luck, because I’m going to show you exactly how to do that for the most common and most difficult question to answer in an interview: “Tell me about yourself.”
What “Tell me about yourself” is really asking.
Think about job searching a bit like dating. They’ve seen your profile, but they don’t really know what you’ll be like in person. They want know if a) you’re a good, trustworthy person, b) whether you are prepared for the job and c) whether you are willing to do the job (which, in a lot of cases, is related to whether you are passionate about the job). So this is your opportunity to make an enthusiastic first impression and show them your personality and passion. Here’s a guaranteed way to bring that out in that first crucial question.
Think about what exactly you’re passionate about within the job description.
Why did you choose this job? What about it made you light up? (And if the answer is nothing, ahem, maybe you should be looking at another job.) Tell the job poster what exactly you’re excited about and why, mentioning what in your career and life path led you to this. Personal stories are NOT OFF THE TABLE HERE!! In fact people love to see that you’re personally passionate about their mission. (A job I once got, from which I got one of the largest offers and salary bumps in my career, had to do with physical therapy and pain management. The hiring manager and I connected on our mutual experience with pelvic pain and the struggle to find someone to help us! If there truly is a personal connection, make sure you share it.) Be sure to also mention your experience where appropriate, sharing what you loved about similar work you’ve done, or talk about what aspects of your previous jobs sparked your passion and how that led you here.
Practice and take notes ahead of time so you can keep your answer short, but enthusiastic.
But, and this is important, even if you write out your answer while you’re preparing, don’t use that in the actual interview and read it word-for-word. Let it be natural. Pick out the top 3-5 most important things about the job (use the job description for hints - sometimes the order of the description will indicate what’s most important to them, the repetition of information, or the job posting will actually spell out the company and team’s passions). And then figure out why those things are also appealing to you, how they relate to your experiences, what experiences of yours are most compelling for you to share, and how to share those experiences without going too far into detail. Spend time saying it out loud until you feel like it’s in your muscle memory, and write down high-level notes so that you can glance at quickly if you forget something.Be honest and true to yourself.
Believe it or not, everyone can discern whether you are truly passionate about the job or you’re just faking it. Unless you’re a sociopath, that is. But - assuming you’re not a sociopath, dishonesty or fakeness can make you seem “off” to the interviewer (sometimes, you just don’t know why, but a person gives you an off feeling). So, it’s important to BE YOURSELF. Don’t just say what you think they want to hear. Be honest and authentic about what it really is about this job that sparks a light within you (without saying anything about the money, of course).
Above all, remember to approach job interviews as a mutual conversation and never go into interview preparation trying to win at all costs. In many ways, you’re offering your time (kindly and graciously) to help your future employer fill a role. They already think you are a great candidate, and remember that they’re probably more in need of help than you are that particular job. Remember that, take a deep breath, and remain calm, confident, authentic, and humble through the process. If it’s mean to be, it will be.
XOXO,
Resham
