Transcript: Tell me about yourself
Every interview is different, but you are almost always guaranteed to get asked, “Tell me about yourself". How you answer this question can set the tone for the interview, so you should have a polished response ready to go.
Often applicants don’t know how to respond and start talking about where they were born or how many siblings they have. This is a natural response when telling someone something about you, but you want to remember that this is a job interview. This question gives you the perfect opportunity to talk about who you are professionally, the strengths or competencies you possess, and why you are interested in the company.
A great way to respond to this interview question is to use the following model: Present, Past, Future.
Present: Introduce yourself professionally. What is the title of your current role, or what are you studying and when do you graduate. For example: “I am studying Communication with an emphasis in Visual Media and will graduate at the end of this month. I have had several experiences working as a graphic designer. Most recently, I have been working on rebranding one of the departments at my university. I’ve been creating designs, webpages, and videos to include in the new branding and redesign of their website.”
Past: Share how you got where you are today. For example: “I found out I really liked creating digital graphics when I took an introductory Visual media course. I decided to switch my major to Visual Communication and kept my eye out for any opportunity I could find to create designs. I practiced and refined my skills in Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. I found that I had a natural talent for it and worked hard to excel in this area.”
Future: Share what your future goals are and why the company or role is of interest to you. For example: “I have been researching what direction I want to go in my career and your company continues to stand out to me because of the way you...(mention something that stands out to you). When I saw you had an opening, I knew I wanted to be part of your team. I admire the work your company does and want to be involved.”
After you have highlighted yourself professionally, you can also mention a hobby or interest to show your personal side. It helps to do some research on the individuals interviewing you ahead of time to find out if you have any common interests. If so, share that common interest in your interview to build rapport. If you don’t have any common interests, that is okay, share something you enjoy.
Keep your response short, about 1-2 minutes, and relevant to the position. By following these tips, you can give a powerful answer and set the tone for the rest of your conversation.
Good luck with your interview!