How to master the Tell me about yourself question - CareerEnlightenment.com

How to master the Tell me about yourself question There tends to be a few go-to questions that interviewers love to pull out the bag.  One is guaranteed to come up straight away, acting as the ice-breaker: Tell me about yourself.It can be so easy, especially when youre pumped with adrenaline, to spurt out your life story and enthuse about your hobby as a stamp collector.  However, the interviewer is looking for something slightly different!With enough preparation (and some relaxing breathing techniques!), youll be able to offer the interviewer what theyre looking for so that youre one step closer to landing that dream job.What do they mean?A potential employer isnt interested in where you grew up or how many dogs you have, theyre interested in your  working  life.  Its the perfect way for them to get familiar with you and gently ease you into the interviewing process.List your biggest accomplishments  Its important to have a few of your biggest  achievements prepared before going in.  Employers  â€œwant to hear stories that poi nt to a specific and relative outcome or accomplishment, experience, or even a failure they can measure against their perceived needs,” writes Allan Hay in  Memory Mining. Perhaps it was  when a boss praised you and you received a promotion or that time when you solved a problem.If you are a recent graduate then dont fret!  Take an example from an extracurricular activity or a project you were involved in.  If youre applying for a media job then mention working at your student newspaper or at the radio station.  This is also the perfect time to discuss your volunteer work it demonstrates the seriousness of your character and your commitment to helping the community.The S*T*A*R approachIts important to not just list a success story and leave it at that.  Thats why the tried and tested approach of STAR is so successful.  Although its used for a lot of behavioral questions (you know, those Tell me a time when ones), it can also really help structure your answer here too.STAR is an acronym for four key concepts. Situation:  Set the scene for your story.  For example, a time you worked together as a group or solved a conflict.Task: Next, describe your responsibility within that particular situation.  What was required of you?    Perhaps you had to complete a group project under a tight deadline and had to tackle some obstacles.Action:  You then describe how you completed the task.  Perhaps you were the project manager and went the extra mile to create high-quality work, despite having little time to do it.  Its important to focus more on what you did here rather than your coworker or team. Want to Read More Articles Like This One?Sign up here to receive weekly updates from Career Enlightenment, and never miss another powerful job searching tip! SUBSCRIBE! You have Successfully Subscribed!We hate spam too. Unsubscribe any time. Result: Finally, explain the outcome or results of the project.  Did you learn anything from it?    Be sure to emphasize you r accomplishments and how the experience helped you.However, there are a couple of things to consider whilst using this technique.   Its important to speak specifically rather than in general terms.  Include how many people were in your group, how long you had before the deadline and then quantify your success.  If you remain generic then the example will not have that much of an impact.Additionally, its important to remember to tailor the answer to the company.  Always try and match your answer to the job description and the values that the business upholdsWrapping up The best way to close your answer is to explain why youre interested in the position.  Remember its  them, not you.  Its important to always have the interviewers interest at the forefront of your mind.Additionally, youll want to stress that  the position is in line with your plans and career goals.   It proves that the candidate has done their homework and that youve considered the requirements necessary for the role.Be sure to go through your answer a few times before attending the interview.  It shouldnt sound too rehearsed but flow naturally.  If you have that sorted then youll be on to a good start!