I remember being asked “Tell me about yourself” in some of my earlier job interviews and thinking:
Okay…but what exactly do you want to know? 😂
Do you want to know about my personality?
My education?
My entire work history?
What I like to do outside of work?
It sounds like such a simple interview question, but when you don’t understand what the interviewer is actually asking, it can suddenly feel incredibly broad.
After going through many interviews over the years—and helping other people prepare for their own careers—I started looking at this question differently.
They don’t need your entire life story. They need you to connect the dots.
Tell Them Your Career Story
When an interviewer asks you to tell them about yourself, think of it as an opportunity to introduce your career story.
Your résumé already gave them the highlights.
In fact, your résumé did its job well enough to get you into the interview.
Now you get to add context.
What have you done?
What skills have you developed along the way?
What connects your experiences?
What value do you bring?
And how does all of that relate to the opportunity you’re interviewing for now?
Once I understood that, this question became much less intimidating.
Instead of trying to figure out everything I could possibly tell someone about myself, I could focus on the parts of my story that helped them understand who I am professionally and why my experience matters.
Connect the Dots for Them
Your career story may not look perfectly linear.
Mine certainly doesn’t.
I’ve held different positions throughout my career, and in the video below, I walk through some of the actual jobs I’ve held and explain how I think about connecting those experiences when answering this question.
The important part isn’t simply listing every position.
It’s helping the interviewer see the thread between them.
Maybe your common thread is leadership.
Maybe it’s teaching.
Maybe it’s solving problems.
Maybe it’s working with customers.
Maybe it’s creating systems.
Maybe it’s helping organizations communicate more effectively.
Your job titles may change while some of the value you bring remains remarkably consistent.
That’s part of your career story.
Remember: This Is Also Personal Branding
I like to say that you can be personally professional in an interview.
You don’t have to sound robotic or strip away everything that makes you you.
But “Tell me about yourself” isn’t primarily an invitation to share your entire personal history.
It’s another opportunity to market your professional value.
Your résumé was the first opportunity.
The interview is your second.
Use that time to help the employer understand how your skills, knowledge, abilities, personality, and experience could benefit the role and organization you’re hoping to join.
Try Past → Present → Future
One simple structure you can use as you prepare is:
PAST: What relevant experiences helped you get here?
PRESENT: What are you doing now, and what strengths or expertise do you currently bring?
FUTURE: Why does this particular opportunity make sense as your next step?
You don’t have to tell them everything.
You need to tell them enough to make the story make sense.
Watch Me Walk Through My Own Answer
In my latest video, I use my actual career history to show you how I think through the “Tell me about yourself” question, including what I would mention, what I might leave out, and how I connect my experiences into one career story.
So if this question has made you nervous in previous interviews, use your next interview as an opportunity to prepare differently.
Before you walk into the room, know your story.
Know your thread.
Know your value.
And practice connecting the dots between where you’ve been and where you’re ready to go next.
Your experience is the story. Your value is the message.
You’re not behind. You’re becoming. 👑
xoxo
— Ask Chauntel
Ready to Connect the Dots on Your Resume with My Digital Resume – Career Clarity Reset: http://www.askchauntel.com/products