by Jed Eane

Created on: June 30, 2010   Last Updated: July 01, 2010

Undoubtedly, the most difficult question to answer in an interview is the one that goes something like: "So tell me about yourself.” The reason this question scares a lot of candidates is that they're not sure how to approach it. Whereas other interview questions can be answered in a more of less formulaic way, this question seems to demand a little more imagination and forethought. However, the secret to answering this question correctly is to be prepared for it and to know what the interviewer is trying to achieve by asking it.

What The Question is About

The reason this question is asked at interviews is to help the interviewer assess you as a person. It lets the interviewer see how confidently you can talk about yourself, and how focused you are on your career aspirations. In asking this question, the interviewer wants to see how you can relate certain aspects of your career to the job on offer, how well you know what’s involved in the advertised job, and how much you want it. This question is nearly always posed at the beginning of an interview and largely determines its success: answer well and you have a very good chance of being hired or at least being invited for a second interview; answer it badly, and it will take something akin to a miracle in order to turn the interview around in your favor. 

So while you may know that you need to be prepared for this question, how exactly do you prepare for it?

What The Question is Not About

First, this question is not about any aspect of your personal life; it relates entirely to the job offer. The interviewer doesn’t want to know about your marital status, how many children you have, or where you went on vacation last year. The interviewer wants to know what you did before in your previous job, how it changed you, and how it positioned you for the future, and, most importantly, how you can relate what you’ve done to date in your professional life to the qualities needed for the advertised job.

Make it Short and Snappy

While most people dread this question, it does actually present a candidate with the perfect opportunity to put him or herself in good light. But to do this you need to be well prepared. When thinking about what to say in your answer, remember that you won’t be expected to talk for very long (nor will the interviewer want you to!). Make your answer short, no longer than one to two minutes. However, you should be prepared to provide more

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