This document provides tips for answering the common interview question "Tell us something about yourself." It recommends that job seekers know themselves well, including their strengths, weaknesses, skills, and value. Thorough preparation is key, including practicing your answer at least 25 times while standing and dressed professionally. You can create a PowerPoint or set of notes highlighting your top credentials and qualifications. It's important to let go of old hesitations about talking about yourself and instead see it as an opportunity to educate the employer about your fit for the role. With practice and preparation, you can feel more comfortable effectively sharing your qualifications in the interview.

1. Tell us something about yourself
How to crack the ultimate question “Tell us something about
yourself”
Tell us something about yourself? Sounds familiar? The chances of finishing an
interview without this is almost impossible. Sometimes, clients share with me that they
are “uncomfortable” talking about themselves and their brand. When career transition
arrives (voluntarily or involuntarily) how, then, does one compete in such an intensely
competitive job market? After all, don’t hiring managers expect job seekers to be
articulate, organized and well-prepared?
“Talking about myself has always been taboo” one job seeker stated.
“You shouldn’t brag about yourself” claimed yet another.
“I don’t like to talk about myself – it’s weird and uncomfortable. I have a tendency to
shut down.”
If you do not like talking about yourself, here are a few ideas to help you
get more comfortable with the process:
Know Yourself

2. The main reason “Tell us something about yourself” is asked is for the employers to
guage your capacity. Know everything there is to know about yourself – your features,
your faults, your benefits and your value. Do this task before you go to market and
explore options. As harsh as it may sound, hiring managers aren’t therapists. They don’t
have time to pull content from you. They don’t have time to figure you out (or help you
figure yourself out). They don’t have time for you to contemplate why they should hire
you. You either know your stuff or you don’t. You either share it freely – or you don’t.
You either know your brand’s value and worth – or you don’t. So, use your time wisely
and well when you are invited to interview for a job. Share the very, very best of what
you have to offer.
Practice for the question “Tell us something about yourself”
Rehearse your lines until you know precisely what you wish to say about yourself and
your candidacy without looking at your notes. Practice at least 25 times. Practice
standing in front of a mirror. Practice standing up to rehearse your lines. Dress in your
finest attire as you practice. Practice pays – it just does!
Create a PowerPoint about the product
Develop 10 or 12 slides that capture the best of you, your credentials and the value you
offer to an employer. Preparation is key in all things job search. If you do not know
PowerPoint, find 10 – 12 pieces of paper. Fill each sheet of paper with one piece of
relevant, essential information that you want a hiring manager to know about you. When
you have completed this task, you will then have 10 – 12 compelling pieces of evidence
that prove you are a worthy contender for a job of interest. Prepare a great pitch for
yourself and make them feel compelled to take you.
Let go of old scripts
Don’t have in mind things such as “I hate talking about myself”. Instead, write a new one
that works to your advantage. Think thoughts that work for you, not against you. How
about telling yourself: “It is my job to speak knowledgeably about myself in order to well
educate an employer about my gifts, talents, abilities and value.” Educate, teach, train
and inform a hiring manager about your assets. Also, know your weaknesses in
preparation for the job interview.
Make it easy for the employer to know you
In a job interview, refrain from saying “Oh, I really don’t like talking about myself” or “Oh,
it is very uncomfortable to speak about myself.” Instead, thank the prospective employer
for the opportunity to share your story. Give the hiring manager ample reason(s) to hire
you, not dismiss you from the pool of candidates.

3. In short, do yourself a favor and get comfortable speaking about the amazing brand –
you. Prepare well. Practice much. Practice often. You will know when you are ready to
get in the job search game. Not only will an employer notice how prepared you are, as
importantly, you will notice. And ever so slowly, you will find yourself getting more
comfortable talking about yourself — not in a braggadocious way, but in a manner that
shows a hiring manager that you are well-prepared, organized and articulate. There is
this article by Big interview that explains dos and donts during an interview.