Tell me about yourself. This question makes us cringe a little bit, but every employer will ask you this in some form during an interview. Why? Well because they want to see what YOU bring to their company. You might be wondering (or tempted) to tell your life story and be more personal, but don’t! When an interviewer says, "Tell me about yourself," what he or she really wants to know is how your experience applies to the job you're interviewing for.

Stick to talking about what it is you do or have done as it relates to the job. You can think about some past experiences that are relevant to the job you’re applying for, and select 3 or so strengths you possess which you feel are important to this job. This could be experiences, traits, skills, etc. This will help you let the interviewer know more about yourself, but also cleverly state why you are a good fit for the role. Selling yourself is key, so always be thinking in the back of your mind, “Would I hire myself?” Let’s take a look at an example:

Interviewer: Ok Joe, can you tell me more about yourself?

Joe: I have been working as a stocker for Target for over 2 years. My most recent experience has been writing and keeping track of inventory orders on our database systems. One reason I particularly enjoyed my position were the challenges that went along with it such as anticipating inventory needs. I also loved that I was able to use my organizational skills daily whether it was through taking inventory or rotating stock.

Next, mention your strengths and abilities: Joe: My real strength is achieving goals. I pride myself on following through, maintaining company standards, and meeting deadlines. When I commit to doing something, I make sure it gets done, and on time.

Conclude with a statement about your current situation: Joe: What I am looking for now is a company that values commitment, offers a strong team and a place where my work efforts are valued"

Before you head into the interview PLAN what you are going to say. This little speech is called your elevator pitch. Once you have written it down, practice it at home with family, in front of the mirror, or even consider recording yourself. Get comfortable speaking about yourself and why you are a great fit for the company and your confidence will shine through!

Check out [this video] (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kayOhGRcNt4) for some more tips on how to successfully tell employers about yourself.

Good luck! : )

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