Job interviews can be nerve wracking for even the most confident applicant, especially when they get to the dreaded “tell us about yourself” question. But as much as we don’t like this question, we know it’s going to come up, so it’s best to be prepared in advance.
According to personal branding expert Natasa Djukanovic, it’s all about crafting a good “elevator pitch” about yourself, which should convince the interviewers to hire you. She recommends having your elevator pitch ready to go at a moment’s notice, and practicing it with a friend so it sounds natural and not like a forced sales pitch.
Here are her three tips for nailing the “tell us something about yourself” question.
- Brief is better - Djukanovic advises being as specific as possible and communicating the value you can provide using an example that relates to the job. She also says you should keep your pitch on point and shorter than 30 seconds. “You don’t need to say everything,” she reminds, “you just need to get someone interested.”
- Focus more on which problems of theirs you can help solve - You want to make them think they need you, so tailor your “about me” answer to what the company’s needs are.
- Believe in yourself and act confident - It’s not always easy to do when you’re feeling anxious, but try to get over your nerves and lack of confidence and tell yourself you’re the best person for the job. If you believe it, they will too.
Source: Hello Giggles