Navigating the "Tell Me About Yourself" Question

The Traveling Introvert

1. Introduction

• Discussion context: a question from a summit attendee about answering "Tell me a little about yourself"
• Opinion on the question: Viewed as a lazy question
• Relevance: Common in interviews, podcasts, and networking events
• The challenge with the question: Vague and non-specific

2. Issues with the Question

• Lack of specificity: Burden on the responder to guess the intent
• Signal sent by the responder: Impression of unpreparedness
• Missed opportunity: Potential insight lost with a vague question

3. Importance of the Response

• Critical role in what happens next in an interview
• Recommendation to use a framework

4. Suggested Framework

• Present-Past-Future or Past-Present-Future structure
• Present
• : Brief explanation of the current role or recent work
• Past
• : Highlight relevant experiences or accomplishments
• Future
• : Connect skills to the role and express enthusiasm

5. Tailoring the Response

• Relevance to the job and company
• Focus on 2 or 3 key points aligned with the role
• Preparation in advance for the question

6. Including a Hook

• Start with a compelling sentence or story
• Example: Personal anecdote linking to professional values

7. Avoiding Pitfalls

• Keep it concise: Aim for a 60 to 90-second response
• Avoid rambling
• Avoid reciting the entire resume
• Highlight non-resume items: Charity work or extra projects

8. Positive Conclusion

• Ending on a positive note
• Transitioning to other questions or parts of the interview
• Example concluding statement to signal an end and transition smoothly