The most dreaded of all questions; "tell me about yourself"…?

Open-ended interview questions. They are an interviewer's favorite, and the interviewee's most dreaded. There is one question that stands out from all the rest in the most open-ended question category: "Please tell me about yourself?" When those 4 words are uttered there is both delight (from interviewer) and sheer horror (from interviewee).

Every interviewee expects this question. No interview would be complete without it. It's right up there with, "Why should we hire you?" So, why is this such a tough question to answer if everyone knows that it is going to be asked? Well let's look at it.

Sometimes you don't know if they are asking you as a casual question in order for them to learn about all your interesting points. Do they want to know about you personally or professionally? What if you answer and tell them about you professionally, when really they just want to know what you do on your weekends? This confusion causes many to start rambling on about their children, Aunt Edna, and what team they like. Forget it.

Simply put, and to avoid all future confusion, this is never a personal question when asked in an interview arena. Answering it like if you were on a date with a "Well, on Saturdays I like to sit around with my buds, drink some brews, and watch a good game" could keep you their permanently- on the couch - with your friends - drinking brew because you will not be getting a job anytime soon.

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Interviewers rarely asked casual questions. Every question is designed to eliminate you from the horde of resumes they are ploughing through. Their questions are crafted to differentiate skills, experience, and personality differences amongst the candidates. They want to determine if you have what it takes to melt into the company's goals and direction.

There are four easy steps to follow when answering this question:

  1. Give a brief professional introduction of yourself. Highlight your professional attributes.
  2. Give a summary of your duties at your current/last place of employment. Don't give more than a 10 year history.
  3. Spell out everything. Don't assume your employer will be able to put all the dots together. Relate how your experiences are transferable to the position they are seeking.
  4. Ask engaging questions. If you leave the interview without asking any questions, you can almost be assured that you are walking away from your chances for a job.