What is the interviewer trying to achieve by asking you to “Tell him about yourself”? His ultimate goal for this interview is to find out enough about you to decide if you’re a good fit for the job opening. He is hoping that this question will get you talking. His first impression of you will be all about your answer to this question. Your answer here will also set the tone for the interview and let you lead with your strongest selling points.
You must keep it focused and short, ideally less than a minute, and no more than 2 minutes. You won’t be able to fit all of your great qualities and resume high points into 2 minutes, so you’ll have to spend some time thinking about how to present yourself in a way that starts the interview on the right note.
A great answer will address the following:
There are three components:
- Who You Are — Your first sentence should be an introduction to who you are professionally, an overview statement that shows off your strengths and gives a little sense of your personality too.
Example : “I’m an HR manager with 8 years of experience managing all aspects of the HR function — from recruiting to training to benefits — for Fortune 500 companies.” - Expertise Highlights — Don’t assume that the interviewer has closely read your resume and knows your qualifications. Use your elevator pitch to briefly highlight 2-4 points that you think make you stand out.
Example : “I have spent the last six years developing my skills as a customer service manager for Megacompany Inc., where I have won several performance awards and been promoted twice. I love managing teams and solving customer problems.” - Why You’re Here — End by telling them you want the position and why.
Example : “Although I love my current role, I feel I’m now ready for a more challenging assignment and this position really excites me.”