Ace your next job interview with this answer

Ironically, the most distressing question that can either make or ruin the entire job interview usually comes at its very beginning.

"Tell me about yourself"

Many jobseekers are unsure about the best way to approach this question, and feel nervous about setting the wrong tone for the rest of the interview. The majority of answers include a timeline of professional experience with functional descriptions complemented by details of educational background.

If you were the interviewer, would such answer be what you wanted to hear?

Job interview mantra: give them what they want to hear

It is useful to remember that what they want to hear may not always coincide with what you would like to tell about yourself.

When preparing for a job interview, try to "zoom out" and hear yourself from outside. If you need, record your answer and play it to yourself. Whatever you do, try to evaluate your words from the prospective employer's standpoint.

How to construct an effective answer

As harsh as it may sound, employers are not really interested in yourself as much as they are curious about the value you can add to their business. Understanding this reality can point you towards you key self-selling points.

Instead of focusing on the timeline, think about your profile in terms of added value that would be relevant to the targeted job. What have your skills and actions helped your past employers accomplish? Here are a few ideas:

• Have you been able to resolve any long-lasting business challenges?
• Have you improved certain organizational processes?
• Have you generated additional business profits or saved costs?
• Have you attracted new profitable projects?
• Have you established relationships with many new clients? Have you contributed to improving client retention and loyalty?

Compare these two examples:

The second answer has a much greater impact. It portrays the candidate as a change agent whose actions, knowledge and skills have resulted in positive business outcomes.

Additional answer tips

• When talking about previous accomplishments of added value, mention what helped you achieve those results. Refer to your key strengths and takeaways that have the highest relevance for the desired job. Do not wait until the interviewer asks you about them specifically. Your strengths represent a big part of who you are, and it is reasonable to include them as part of the "about yourself" story.
• Keep your answer concise - about 1 to 2 minutes. Eliminate all smaller details. It is better if the interviewer asks you to dive into a specific part, rather than you take too long to make the most crucial point of your talk.
• Remember: you are at a job interview, and this implies minimal amount of personal information. The focus of your answer is the professional side of your personality.

Now is your time to practice!