If you had a job interview for an internship or a first job, there is a good chance that the recruiter will have asked you this question: “tell me about yourself”. Experts from Yale have tried to provide an answer that will satisfy the recruiter during this stressful part of the recruitment process, to say the least.
” Tell me about yourself “. According to some studies, this is the question that comes up most often in job interviews. The recruiter often begins the exchange with this sentence which invites the candidate to reveal their background, but which also calls for telling their personal story.
Know how to present yourself in an interview
Tell me about yourself: a question that requires knowing how to pitch yourself
Knowing how to present yourself in a job interview is an art. You must provide concrete elements which provide information on your profile, but also highlight salient skills or experiences which are decisive for the position and which make a difference. This moment in your interview will allow you to show the recruiter that you are made for the position for which you are applying. You must therefore present yourself in a professional manner and it is important to know yourself well, to know how to give examples of your accomplishments and to highlight skills from your past experiences.
Preparing for the interview
Preparing properly for a job interview is key. Before the interview, you should definitely research the company and the position you are applying for. This will allow you to understand the skills and qualities that the company is looking for in a candidate. Then, you just need to think about how you can demonstrate that you have these skills and qualities, and how you can articulate them during your presentation.
The structure of his presentation
When you are asked the question: “Tell me about yourself”, the recruiter wants to learn more about you, but you should not give a presentation! A good presentation must be structured, clear and concise. You can start with an introduction that gives an overview of who you are and what you are currently doing: recent graduate, still studying, etc.
Then comes the time to talk about your past experiences, your skills and your achievements. Don’t forget to give concrete examples that prove that you have these skills. Finally, you can finish with your future aspirations and how the position you are applying for fits into these expectations.
It is important to make a clear and concise presentation. Do not lose the recruiter in technical jargon, but do not overuse colloquial language which should be avoided in the professional context. You must adopt a neutral and humble manner, and avoid speaking as if you were speaking to a friend. Additionally, authenticity is key. This is the best way to make it clear that you are the right candidate, without overdoing it.
Practice your pitch to learn how to talk about yourself in an interview
Of course, it’s important to learn how to talk about yourself by practicing with friends and family. They know you, know a lot about your professional background and the career you have led. They can therefore give you relevant feedback to attract your future employer and try to land the job of your dreams.
Tell me about yourself: the perfect job interview answer according to Yale
The office Career Strategy of Yale helps university students find employment. He therefore looked into the subject to imagine the best answer possible in a job interview. Their first tip is to tell a story that describes your motivation. You must explain in a few sentences how you became interested in this sector of activity.
Yale experts explain that it’s important to give a fairly concise answer that lasts less than two minutes. The introduction to your presentation should be short (no more than one sentence). The idea is to look back at the challenges faced by the candidate and how he managed to overcome them. You should also talk about the significant steps that allowed you to develop the skills necessary for this job offer: choice of courses, professional experience, etc. Finally, you must explain, in a few words, how this experience matches the needs of the company.
Authenticity is a crucial point! Some recruiters agree that the candidate’s sympathy and his ability to remain sincere and fair are all levers that helped convince them.
How to introduce yourself in two minutes? The example of Yale experts
“ I graduated from Yale a year ago. I specialized in data science and environmental engineering, but I developed a particular interest in fashion and sustainable development. These sectors align perfectly with my passions.
I became interested in sustainable development because I want to work in a company whose mission is to promote a new textile economy that works towards a cleaner world. When I learned that the fashion industry would be responsible for 25% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, I decided to organize a donation campaign on my campus to combat waste. clothes.
We raised over $10,000 and donated a truckload of clothing. This is one of my proudest achievements today. At my last company, I also helped develop technology that transforms leftover cotton into new materials that can be used in industry.
I am very excited to work with you. This would allow me to use my knowledge and experience to educate consumers on these critical issues. »
How to attract the interest of recruiters?
You must start by reviewing your CV and identifying the different elements of your professional or academic life that you want to highlight. Yale experts have established several questions to ask yourself before preparing for the interview: What sparked your interest in this industry? What experiences have allowed you to develop key skills for this position? What have you learned about this field? What do you hope to learn through this possible professional adventure?
Finally, it is important to structure your remarks and to practice. But you also have to stay natural and not memorize your story word for word.
Tell me about yourself: mistakes to avoid
Like any interview question, there can be wrong answers. Therefore, you must avoid certain mistakes that can cost you dearly, or even prevent you from choosing the position of your dreams.
Tell me about yourself, yes, but don’t tell me about your life
The first trap to avoid is that of telling your life story. Indeed, some candidates do not hesitate to go into personal details which are of no interest to the recruiter. This has several deleterious effects: it eats up your presentation time which you spend on unnecessary details. This can give the impression that you are trying to drown out the fish and that you are not necessarily the ideal candidate for a position.
This question is used to reveal your personality, but the recruiter does not want to know your personal life. It is important to take advantage of this presentation to demonstrate your spirit of synthesis, your ability to take a step back from your profile or your skills via concrete examples. It is important to mention elements that are related to the position you are applying for.
Lack of preparation for the interview: the number one enemy of the presentation
Many candidates think they can improvise an answer to the question “Tell me about yourself.” However, without preparation, it’s easy to get lost in thought and give a disorganized response. As mentioned, the structure is decisive and this demonstrates that you have a spirit of analysis and synthesis which are skills often requested on the job market.
Before the interview, it is important to take the time to think about what you want to say and how you want to present yourself. Prepare a concise answer, but be careful not to make your answer too short! The length of the answer to this question from the recruiter is decisive. A response that is too long can lose the attention of your interlocutor, while a response that is too short prevents you from properly promoting your profile. The ideal answer is between two to five minutes.
Do not adapt your answers to the company
This is the ultimate interview and pitching mistake. Indeed, you must find out about the position and the company and adapt your answers accordingly. The question “Tell me about yourself” is no exception! If the job you are applying for does not offer you management missions, there is no point in talking about your past leadership experiences. On the other hand, you can rather promote your ability to work in a team or to have multicultural exchanges.
