By Mitch Byers, KERA 90.1 commentator
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-480873.mp3
Commentary: Tell Me About Yourself
Dallas, TX –
David just completed his Master's degree. On a recent job interview the first question asked was "Tell me about yourself." He found the question awkward - he was not sure how to answer it. David's response to this often asked interview question is critical. Research has shown that hiring managers begin to formulate hiring decisions as early as four minutes into the interview.
Let's say David takes five minutes to answer the "Tell Me About Yourself" question and the hiring manager doesn't like his answer. Like the Titanic, he just hit an iceberg.
Let's assume that David did OK on his first interview and has been invited back for his second interview. This time, he wants to plan ahead for how he answers the question. David wants to avoid the two major pitfalls of answering the "Tell Me About Yourself" question.
The first pitfall is not sharing relevant information. David may be sharing what he feels is important career news with the hiring manager, but they may not see the value of his information. While he is talking about international trends, they may be wondering how to keep their regional distribution plant open.
The second pitfall relates to sharing relevant information. David does not want to provide details that are not yet asked for. If David begins talking about details too early in the interview, it won't take long before the eyes of the hiring manager begin to glaze over.
David rehearses his answer to assure he is sharing relevant information and avoiding unnecessary details. His response: "As an overview, I have over six years in the retail industry, with a focus on sporting goods. What started as a part-time job has developed into a rewarding career. Over time, I have progressively taken on more responsibility and during the last 14 months have served in the capacity of Store Manager. Now that I finished my master's, I feel I am ready to contribute at a higher level."
In less than a minute, David answers the "Tell Me About Yourself" question. David may have wanted to provide details about his ability to build creative displays. But how effective would that be if they were more interested in knowing how he was going to reduce the high turnover rate? David would have hit an iceberg. David glided by the iceberg by answering the "Tell me about yourself" question briefly.
Now, David needs to ask the interviewer to guide him to an area that is important to them. David simply asks, "What areas can I provide more information?"
Following a brief answer with a qualifying question provides David an opportunity to address an area of hiring importance. When asked about reducing high turnover, David can mention his ability to mentor and train staff and his track record for keeping turnover below industry standards. Maybe later in the conversation there will be the opportunity to discuss his experience building displays.
David started the interview off on a positive note by providing a brief a brief overview of his background, and then asked a question to help guide the conversation. By getting past the "Tell Me About Yourself" question quickly, he gave himself a real chance of being hired.
Mitch Byers is a staffing specialist from Dallas. If you have opinions or questions about this commentary, call (214) 740-9338 or email us.