The interviewer asks ‘Tell me about yourself’ here’s what not to say.

“So, tell me about yourself?” Don’t fail the interview before it’s even started!

I’ve used this opening question myself thousands of times as an interviewer. I can get a pretty accurate read on a candidate in just the first few minutes with this unstructured question.

Avoid giving these red flag answers:

I’ve had people drone on for 10 straight minutes without coming up for air.

After 5 I’ve already stopped listening. Read the room! No one wants your entire life’s story. 2–3 minutes for any answer is plenty.

‘What do you want to know?’

This response tells me that you are not comfortable without a lot of structure. I want someone who can think on their feet, not someone who needs a lot of hand holding.

You’ve provided your resume already. Don’t take this as an invitation to recite it for me.

Use this time to create a short narrative about why your career transition is a huge advantage for the role. Or why your experience is a perfect match for the job description.

Name, title, job you’re applying for, and that’s it. Boring!

I want to hire interesting people that our team-members will enjoy working with. SCUBA diver? Volunteer with the Humane Society? End your answer with an ‘in my spare time I like to…’ conversation opening so the interviewer can ask a follow up question to make a human connection.

Remember to smile, make eye-contact, and get ready for a great interview!