How to describe yourself in job interviews

Preparing for an interview is one of life’s key skills, and it’s just like learning how to pass an exam. It’s as much down to preparation and knowing how to respond to a question as it is knowing the right answer. Learning how to interview means you can really create a lasting impression, from the first question you are asked.

“Tell me about yourself”

We’ve all experienced the dread of arriving for an interview and being ushered into a meeting room beforehand. Those few minutes waiting for the interviewer to arrive can be incredibly nerve-racking, even if you have had plenty of interview training. It’s important to get off on the right foot, so your first answer is often crucial. And more often than not, that first question will be something along the lines of “Tell me about yourself.”

First opportunity

This is an ice-breaker, but it’s also a key question. It’s your chance to give the interviewer, in one response a summary of who you are as a person, and what you offer as a prospective employee. How you answer, what you say and the way in which you say it speaks volumes.  So, it’s crucial you know in advance what your answer would be. Don’t think you can just wing it. This is not the time or place to ramble on and lose interviewer.

So what to say?

First of all, it’s best to put yourself into the shoes of the interviewer. Consider what kind of candidate they are looking to hire. Most likely it’s someone who possesses relevant experience, who has a range of interpersonal and transferable skills, who gets on well with a range of people, who is productive, forward-thinking, well-liked, a fast learner and able to adapt quickly and slot into the company without too much supervision.

You will have time in the interview to go into everything in detail, so this is not the time to list your five greatest successes in the workplace. But when planning for the interview, think about what you are like as an individual away from work, and what you have done, where you have excelled, and how you feel you have benefited your previous employers. Then come up with a few sentences that encapsulates that.

Staying relaxed

It’s important to come across as confident but relaxed. If you just recite the sentences you’ve come up with like a robot then your interviewer might be put off. With that in mind, focus on te following:

You have the interview, so that must mean they think you’re a good candidate

Nothing you have said so far is counting against you, so you don’t need to play catch up

In fact, because you’ve prepared for this question, you’re about to score a hit at your first attempt

It’s also important to maintain eye contact with your interviewer throughout the interview. This will make sure they remain engaged with what you are saying and also help you remain switched on when they are speaking. If you can make the interview feel like a discussion rather than an inquest then you will have made a brilliant impact, and one your interviewer will not forget.