“Tell me about yourself” or some variant of this is usually the first question interviewer asks after exchanging pleasantries.  Everyone knows this question will be asked, yet many candidates struggle to answer this question properly and miss a wonderful opportunity to make a good first impression.

In this article, we will learn how to answer it succinctly and use this question in our favor.

Before answering the question, let’s firstly understand the motive of interviewer in asking this question 

This is the easiest question to break the ice and start the interview.  While interviewer is scanning through your resume, he wants to get basic insights about you as a professional

·        He wants to know about your professional self

·        He wants to know if you are confident and clear

·        He wants to gauge your thought process, your communication skills 

What interviewer doesn’t intend to know in this question is the following

·        Your hobbies

·        Your family members and history

·        Your city

·        Your general background / anything which is not relevant to the job (e.g. I was born and brought up in…)

·        Your schooling details (e.g. I did my 10+2 from…)

Your answer shouldn’t include these points by default. If some interviewer has interest in knowing any of the above points, then let him ask explicitly.

Many candidates answer like this

“I am Sachin Dayal and I belong to Delhi. I was born and brought up in delhi and completed my engineering in electronics from NIT, Silchar. I did my schooling from KV, Delhi and was a district topper in 10+2. I have 4 members in my family. My dad is an assistant engineer and my mom is a manager in a pvt bank. My sister is pursuing her 10+2.  I like music and I am avid cyclist.  I founded cyclists club in my college”

This could be a good introduction when meeting your new peers but it is not good for an interview.

Now that we know the intent of the question, lets get to next step – what to include in your answer

·        Your professional summary

1 line about your latest qualification and/or college e.g. I am B.Tech (Electronics) from <Univ>. If you are sitting in a campus interview you don’t need to talk about it.

Industry Experience i.e. internship, projects e.g. I have done my major project in solar panel design and have done internship with ABC Ltd 

·        What makes you stand out

Your top 1-2 strengths along with examples e.g. I am good at interpersonal relations and worked as campus coordinator for techfest’18

What are you passionate about? e.g. I am excited about clean energy and regularly give sessions on new advancements in this area. 

·        How you are going to fit

Why you will be happy at this company e.g. As your company has a great product in <this area> OR as your company is a market leader in <this area>, it aligns well with my natural interests. That’s why I feel it will be a good fit for me.

Few important points, before we put the answer together 

• Research about the company – be clear why you want to join this company
• Understand job description/ work profile and tailor your message accordingly i.e. highlight the strengths and professional summary which are relevant to the job 
• Keep your answer short and let interviewer ask follow-up questions.  This answer will set the tone for your interview. So frame your answer to ‘lead’ interviewer to a direction in which you want to field more questions
• Practice with your friends – your answer ideally shouldn’t be more than 6-7 statements and shouldn’t take more than 60-75 seconds.

Now let’s put it together – assume you are appearing for an off-campus interview

I am Sachin Dayal and  pursuing B.Tech (electronics) from NIT, Silchar. I have done 6 months internship with ABC semiconductors and developed my major project in VLSI design.  I am passionate about nanotechnology and have secured 2^nd prize while presenting paper on the same at the Techfest’17.  As <your company> has many products in this area, I feel it will be a good fit for me.

You can customize your own variant based on the points explained above and deliver the message confidently, with a smile and in a human (non robotic) way.

Remember, everyone is nervous in interviews. The key is to prepare well.

Have a good career.