So, Why Don't You Tell Me About Yourself?

"So, why don't you tell me about yourself?" is the most frequently asked interview question.

It's a question that most interviewees expect and the one they have the most difficulty answering. Though one could answer this open- ended question in a myriad of ways, the key to answering this question or any other interview question is to offer a response that supports your career objective. This means that you shouldn't respond with comments about your hobbies, spouse, or extra curricular activities.

Trust me, interviewers aren't interested. Interviewers use the interview process as a vehicle to eliminate your candidacy. Every question they ask is used to differentiate your skills, experience, and personality with that of other candidates. They want to determine if what you have to offer will mesh with the organization's mission and goals.

If answered with care, your response to the question, "So, why don't you tell me about yourself?" could compliment the interviewers needs as well as support your agenda. This is a question you should be prepared to answer as opposed to attempting to "wing it".

Follow the four easy steps outlined below to ensure your response will grab the interviewers attention.

1. Provide a brief introduction. Introduce attributes that are key to the open position.

Sample introduction: During my 10 years' of experience as a sales manager, I have mastered the ability to coach, train, and motivate sales teams into reaching corporate goals.

2. Provide a career summary of your most recent work history. Your career summary is the "meat" of your response, so it must support your job objective and it must be compelling.

Keep your response limited to your current experience. Don't go back more than 10 years.

Sample career summary:

Most recently, at The Widget Corporation, I was challenged with turning around a stagnant territory that ranked last in sales in the North-eastern region.

Using strategies that have worked in the past, I developed an aggressive sales campaign that focused on cultivating new accounts and nurturing the existing client base. The results were tremendous. Within six months my sales team and I were able to revitalize the territory and boost sales by 65%.

3. Tie your response to the needs of the hiring organization. Don't assume that the interviewer will be able to connect all the dots. It is your job as the interviewee to make sure the interviewer understands how your experiences are transferable to the position they are seeking to fill.

Sample tie-in: Because of my proven experience in leading sales teams, Craig Brown suggested I contact you regarding your need for a sales manager. Craig filled me in on the challenges your sales department is facing.

4. Ask an insightful question. By asking a question you gain control of the interview. Don't ask a question for the sake of asking. Be sure that the question will engage theinterviewer in a conversation. Doing so will alleviate the stress you may feel to perform.

Sample question: What strategies are currently underway to increase sales and morale within the sales department? There you have it - a response that meets the needs of the interviewer AND supports your agenda.

When broken down into manageable pieces, the question, "So, tell me about yourself?" isn't overwhelming. In fact, answering the question effectively gives you the opportunity to talk about your strengths, achievements, and qualifications for the position. So take this golden opportunity and run with it!

How to tell if you've made the right move

It's hard to tell if this is the job you thought it would be until you've been there a while, but that's what your probationary period is for. If it isn't everything you expected, it's better to know now while it's still easy to get out.

Many companies recycle job ads and job specs from one year to the next, so what you find yourself actually doing may be some way removed from what you expected. You should have cleared this up during the interview process, but you may have forgotten in the heady rush of landing the job. If what you find is not what you were expecting, talk to your line manager as soon as possible to resolve any difficulties you may be having.

How are things with your new colleagues?
Some workplaces can be very cliquey, and it can be hard breaking into the inner circle. If people are being actively obstructive or awkward, discuss the situation informally with your boss and see if you've been missing something. Sometimes, it may be some obscure form of test to see what you're made of. Other times it may just be plain rudeness, or people not being aware that you feel unwelcome.

You should also look outside the workplace to see whether the social life is all you'd hoped it would be. These things are rarely a major issue, but you should be aware of them. Don't think you have to sort any problems like this out on your own - that's the job of your line manager.

Are you getting the recognition you deserve?
This is very much a question of your new boss's expectations. If your goals are realistic, you've got a good chance of getting off to a good start; if not, you could quickly feel under pressure. With this in mind, make sure you are given clear key performance indicators and know what is expected of you. It's much easier to hit a target you can actually see.

Without overdoing it, make sure that you get recognition for any successful tasks or projects you've been involved with, and make sure your boss knows about your contribution. There are no prizes for sitting in the corner and letting everyone else take the credit.

You will have an assessment at some point during your probationary period – probably more than one – and this is a great time to clear up any misgivings you may have or to make sure your know what is expected of you and that it remains achievable. Don't be shy. Speak up and let your boss know how you feel about your new job.

What does the future hold?
No employer is going to broadcast to you in interview that the company is on the edge and in danger of going under. Equally, if your interviewer is an unpopular or incompetent boss, you're not going to know about that until you start work.

Other signs to look out for include the general atmosphere of the place. Is this a company going places, or beginning to panic? Do you colleagues talk about their recent successes, or are there darker mutterings around the corridors? What is the training and development situation? Did the HR people talk to you about it during your induction, or do people roll their eyes when you mention the subject?

Promises can be easy to make – actually seeing them through is much more difficult.

There can be a big difference between how your new boss presented himself during the interview, how the company presents itself through its website or job ads, and what you actually experience. If it doesn't feel right after the first couple of weeks or months, never be afraid to walk away. It's easier to do so during your probationary period and you've also got all the skills required to find a new job fresh in your mind.