So, tell me about yourself."
This may just be the most common, and the most intimidating, phrase you'll hear during your job search, from informal chats to formal job interviews. And be prepared, because you're going to hear it all the time in networking situations.
Why is this question so hard? Because "tell me about yourself" sounds like a book-length essay question, but people expect a response that's only a few sentences long. And, in this stage in your life, "So, tell me about yourself" is real-world-speak for, "So, tell me why I might be helping you get a job someday."
By taking the time to learn the key elements of introducing yourself, you'll be able to impress anyone you meet in a professional situation, from a networking event to an internship coordinator to a hiring manager at the company of your dreams.Luckily, you've already read about many ways to narrow down your interests and position yourself as a mature professional, so all you need to do now is put all of those elements together.
For help with this task, I turned to Laura Allen, founder of 15SecondPitchT, a company that trains people how to sell themselves more effectively. According to Laura, the best answers to "So, tell me about yourself" demonstrate confidence and leave the other person wanting to know more about you.And, a successful answer combines preparation and presentation-it's not just about what you say, but how you say it.
According to Laura, "Whatever you do, don't wing it!"
