How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" | balance career interview questions
Interviewerswillsometimesstartaninterviewwithanopen-endedquestionlike,"Tellmeaboutyourself."Thisquestionisawaytobreaktheiceandmakeyoufeelmorecomfortableduringtheinterviewprocess[1].However,somepeoplemightfindthis—andotherinterviewquestionsaboutyou[2]—slightlystressful.Ifyou’resomeonewhodoesn’tlikebraggingaboutyourself,thesekindsofquestionscanbedifficulttoanswer.Butthey’reagoodwayforthehiringmanagertogetinsightintoyourpersonality[3],soitpaystopreparetoanswerthem. WhattheInterviewerReallyWants...
Interviewers will sometimes start an interview with an open-ended question like, "Tell me about yourself."
This question is a way to break the ice and make you feel more comfortable during the interview process[1]. However, some people might find this—and other interview questions about you[2] —slightly stressful. If you’re someone who doesn’t like bragging about yourself, these kinds of questions can be difficult to answer. But they’re a good way for the hiring manager to get insight into your personality[3], so it pays to prepare to answer them.
What the Interviewer Really Wants to KnowInterviewers ask these kinds of questions in order to determine if youre a good fit for the job[4]. They’re looking not only for indications that you’re qualified to do the work, but that you’ll gel with the team and the company culture[5].
For example, a startup that lets employees bring dogs to work and has beers on tap in the breakroom will be inclined to hi...