Welcome to the second article in our new interview question series. If you're interested in the background of this series, I recommend reading last week's article on "How Would Your Friends Describe You." This week, we will delve into a question that you are likely to encounter in some form during interviews: "Tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief."
Before we explore the five key aspects interviewers evaluate with the "Tell me about yourself" question, let's first understand why interviewers ask this question in the first place. The question serves as an icebreaker and allows the interviewer to gain initial insights into the candidate's qualifications, experience, communication skills, cultural fit, and motivations. By providing a brief overview of your background, you set the context for the rest of the interview, helping the interviewer tailor subsequent questions and assess your suitability for the role.
One critical aspect interviewers evaluate when asking this question is your communication skills. Effective communication is crucial in the workplace, as it enables collaboration and integration of different aspects of a project. By clearly and concisely presenting your background, qualifications, and experiences, you demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively. Read more about another essential skill for your career here.
Reverse Psychology: To highlight the importance of context, imagine a scenario where you respond to this question by discussing an unrelated topic, such as real estate investing, while applying for a director-level position in the medical device industry. Such an answer would indicate a lack of understanding and contextual awareness, which are essential for effective communication in a professional setting.
Tip: Understand the context. A good communicator always understands the context in which a question is being asked. To ensure you answer in a manner that aligns with the context, it is crucial to clarify any uncertainties about the question's scope or intent before responding. By doing so, you demonstrate your attentiveness and ensure that your answer is relevant to the position at hand.
This question provides the interviewer with a broad understanding of your educational qualifications, professional experience, and any notable accomplishments, which you are definitely going to touch on knowing the context of the question using the tip above. Interviews are dynamic situations. An overview of your background helps the interviewer form a context for the rest of the interview and guides them in tailoring subsequent questions.
Imagine deliberately omitting significant accomplishments or failing to provide a comprehensive overview of your background. By doing so, you risk diminishing the impact of your profile and potentially leaving out relevant experiences that could strengthen your candidacy.
To provide a well-rounded overview, focus on the most relevant aspects of your education and experience. It is also beneficial to structure your response in a way that highlights your most recent and relevant experience at the end, leveraging the recency effect to leave a lasting impression.
Going back to my original example here is a better answer for if I was applying to be a director in the medical device industry. “I graduated Magna Cum Laude with my degree in biochemistry, before graduating I started working as a pharmaceutical chemist. I learned a lot of important project management skills in that position which I then took and continued to develop as I moved to a clinical trial company. After some time working in the clinical trial industry I began working at a medical device company which further expanded my skills and experience while leveraging the skills I had already developed.” Since my background is in the medical device, clinical trial and pharmaceutical industry I always answer with my degree first. It is relevant, but it is the oldest experience. I end the question with my work experience at the medical device company because it is the most recent, but also the most relevant as I am applying to work as a director in the medical device industry.
By asking about your background, interviewers can assess whether your skills and experience align with the requirements of the role. They are looking for a connection between your background and the job's responsibilities, seeking evidence that you possess the necessary qualifications and expertise. The question of if the HR/Recruiters truly understand the transferable skill in the position is a different story which we won’t be getting into.
Consider how you could respond in a way that undermines your relevance to the position. This could involve downplaying your responsibilities, exaggerating unrelated experiences, or failing to highlight transferable skills.
To address this aspect effectively, emphasize your transferable skills and accurately represent your responsibilities. By demonstrating how your skills in one context can be applied to solve problems in another, you showcase your adaptability and highlight the value you can bring to the role. If you have gotten into an interview you are likely past the initial gate keepers which are the HR/Recruiters which can be done by highlighting those transferable skills on your resume so ensure you reinforce them in the interview.
Your response to this question can provide insight into what drives and motivates you professionally. Interviewers are interested in understanding your career aspirations, your passions, and how well you align with the organization's mission and values.
To demonstrate a misalignment in motivations, you can answer in a way that contradicts the organization's mission and values. Portraying a lack of passion or aspiration for the role can also indicate a mismatch in motivations.
Motivational Alignment. To succeed in this aspect, showcase your alignment with the company's mission and values. Share how the organization's work and values resonate with your aspirations and passions, highlighting your genuine interest and dedication to the role and the company.
The question can also provide clues about how well you might fit within the company's culture. Interviewers may be looking for indicators of your ability to work collaboratively, adaptability, and other traits that align with the organization's values and team dynamics.
To demonstrate a poor cultural fit, you can answer in a way that suggests a lack of collaboration, adaptability, or a misalignment with the company's values. Similar to the motivational answer shows friction between the company culture and yourself.
Remember cultural fit is a two-way street. While the interviewer assesses your fit within the company's culture, you also want to evaluate whether the company's culture aligns with your own values and work preferences. Asking thoughtful questions about the company's culture and values during the interview can help you gather more information to make an informed decision about whether it's the right fit for you. Do go into the interview at least knowing the high level values and mission statements.
Mastering the "Tell me about yourself" interview question requires a comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors interviewers assess. By showcasing your communication skills, providing a relevant overview of your background, demonstrating the relevance of your experience to the position, sharing your motivations, and aligning with the company's culture, you can craft a powerful response.
Remember, reverse psychology allows you to identify and avoid common pitfalls that could hinder your chances of success. By strategically addressing each aspect, you increase your likelihood of impressing interviewers and positioning yourself as a strong candidate for the role.
So, the next time you encounter the "Tell me about yourself" question, approach it with confidence, armed with the knowledge and techniques discussed in this article. Good luck!
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