3 Ways to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” for a Job Interview English
Have you ever answered the first question badly in a job interview in English? And because of this, did you feel uncomfortable or nervous for the rest of it?
Do you want to avoid this scenario in your next English job interview?
I have interviewed over 100 candidates for my Language School since setting it up in 2007. Without fail, the first question I ask during the interview is:
“Tell me about yourself?”
After one minute of the candidate answering this question, I have normally made up my mind if I want to hire this person or not.
First impressions count.
Therefore this is one of the most important questions during a job interview in English because:
1 it is normally the first question the interviewer asks, which means it is your opportunity to make a positive first impression;
2 first impressions will always have a lasting effect despite how the rest of your interview goes;
3 if you get off to a good start in your interview, your nerves will settle and you will feel more confident answering the rest of the questions.
Get Prepared for Your Job Interview In English
Always prepare as well as you can to answer this question before you go into your English job interview.
If you spend time preparing your answers to possible questions, you instantly have an advantage over other candidates. This is because most people don’t prepare properly, and consequently, don’t answer the questions as well as they can.
The interviewer is looking for information related to the job you are applying for, so avoid the mistake of talking about something irrelevant to the job. Being relevant will help you give a positive impression.
Make sure you answer objectively and do not waffle.
It can give a bad the interviewer a bad impression if you are not objective, give irrelevant information and take too long to answer the question.
How to Answer “Tell me about yourself”
To help you prepare for your next job interview in English, I’m going to show you 3 simple, yet powerful answer formulas. You can model and copy these for your next English job interview.
Choose one which you feel comfortable with and adapt it to your experience, situation and the job you are applying for.
Formula 1: Past experience. Achievement. Strengths. Current situation.
This type of answer combines a little bit about your past, your success, what you are good at, and what you are looking for.
Example Answer / Useful Phrases
Past experience
“I have been working in the [your sector, e.g. banking sector] for the past 5 years. My most recent experience has been as the [position] at [company], where my responsibilities were [describe responsibilities].
Achievement
“During this time I helped the company achieve a 50% increase in profits, along with establishing the brand as the ‘top of mind’ amongst consumers.”
Strengths
“I consider myself extremely committed, creative and a motivational leader.
Current situation
“What I am looking for right now is a company established in the (your sector), that values customer satisfaction, as well as, employee development.”
Formula 2: Achievement(s) and how this positions you for the role
Here you can talk very briefly about an achievement and how it links to the job you are interviewing for.
Later on in your interviewer will probably ask you about your greatest achievement, which you will talk about in more depth. So if you decide to use this combination, it is important to be brief.
Example Answer / Useful Phrases
Achievement
“The last company I worked for was [company], and I left there feeling very proud of what I achieved. During the last 2 years, I reduced the costs by 20% and increased revenues by $3 Million.
Position for role
“The insights and knowledge I gained from this experience alone, makes me feel really excited about the opportunity at [interviewing company] and how I could develop as a [interviewing position].”
Formula 3: Present. Past. Future.
For this combination, you can be very objective by answering the question in 3 sentences if you choose, like the example answer below.
One sentence for talking about your present situation, as well as one for your past experience and what you are looking for in the future. You can also add more details if you feel three sentences are too short.
Example Answer / Useful Phrases
Present
“I’m currently a [your job position] at [your company], where I deal with [relevant responsibilities].
Past
“Before that, I worked at [company] where I handled [relevant responsibilities].
Future
“And now I am really excited about this opportunity with [interviewing company] because it gives me the chance to develop / progress / learn more about [area of work].”
Conclusion
In my experience hiring people and speaking with recruitment specialists, it’s clear that first impressions count in job interviews.
By preparing adequately to answer “Tell me about yourself”, will give you a great chance to make an initial positive impression.
And settle nerves for the rest of the interview.
So for your next job interview in English, use one of these 3 simple formulas. Adapt it to your situation and practice saying it until you feel comfortable. Follow this advice and be sure to get off to a fantastic start!
