WHY THIS QUESTION MATTERS: TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF?
This question presents powerful opportunity to showcase “you” and your unique value. Without a framework to guide your response, nerves can lead to a rambling monologue of all your accomplishments. In coaching, I have observed clients getting swept up in their answers, losing focus, and failing to connect with their audience. What the interviewer is really looking for is your story how you can fill this role, who you are, what drives you, and how this aligns with the company’s need and purpose. This is your opportunity to tell a compelling story so the interviewer sees you in that spot with a memorable, stand‑out narrative that rises above the other applicants.
UNVEILING YOUR PURPOSE DRIVEN NARRATIVE
A coaching client, interviewing for a pivotal role, faced a common challenge: the dreaded “Tell me about yourself” question. Despite listing impressive accomplishments, she felt her response lacked the desired impact.
We delved deeper, uncovering the missing piece: her why. As she shared her story, her eyes lit up. She recounted hiding behind her mother’s skirt as a child and, one summer, surprising everyone by taking a job at a grocery store. There she discovered a joy in helping and supporting customers. This pivotal experience ignited her passion, leading her to a successful career in sales and marketing. Known as a superstar collaborator and ability to connect people, she is a true team player. As she shared her story, her energy and enthusiasm radiated in our coaching session.
She shared her story in her interview. The impact was undeniable. She shared how the interviewers responded with smiles and engaged follow-up questions, setting a positive tone for the rest of the conversation.
Stories have a way of shifting minds and tugging at hearts, creating a deeper connection and transforming the energy in the room.
FRAMEWORK TO TELL A POWERFUL STORY
To craft a truly impactful response, start by identifying your “why” and what truly inspires you. Each of us lives within a pattern that reveals our purpose and potential. Your story, like any other, contains its own unique plot, characters, and themes. This exercise is an opportunity to become the author of your own narrative.
Consider the following two steps to stay on theme:
Identify Your Core Purpose:
- Reflect on Your Journey: Take a moment to reflect on the key events, both the peaks and valleys, that have shaped your life and career. Make a list by year of these key events in your life: the peaks are those cherished moments of great joy, hope and accomplishment and the valleys are those moments of disappointment, hard times, resiliency. For each event describe the situation, the role you played, who was there, what values were you honoring and how it felt. What is the underlying motivation that drives your actions and decisions?Identify the thread that brought you through those highs and lows. What were the similarities? How did these experiences impact you? What did you gain or lose? How did moving from point A to point B change or shape you? Why should we care?
- Discover Your Driving Force: Identify the driving force behind your actions, your interactions and why you do what you do. Identify the strengths that brought you here.
- Align with the Role: Tie these to the company’s need and purpose and start to frame your story. How does your purpose connect with the specific requirements and goals of the position you’re applying for?
Structure Your Story:
- Start with Your “Why”: Share who you are and what inspires you, your purpose and how this aligns with this role and the reasons behind your career choice.
- Highlight Key Experiences: Select relevant experiences that demonstrate your skills, abilities, and values.
- Connect the Dots: Explain how these experiences have prepared you for this role and how they align with the company’s mission.
- Conclude with a Strong Finish: Summarize your key qualifications and reiterate your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Remember:
- Practice Makes Perfect: Rehearse your response “I’m someone who…” and your story — rehearse out loud, with your coach, a peer, in the mirror, as if in response to a question. Practice out loud. You need to visualize yourself saying it and have your mind and body in sync to convey your answer.
- Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through and speak with confidence.
- Tailor Your Story: Customize your response to each specific job application, highlighting the most relevant aspects of your experience.
By following these guidelines and infusing your story with passion and authenticity, you can effectively answer the “Tell me about yourself” question and leave a lasting impression on your interviewer.
Ready to craft your own compelling story? Let’s work together to unlock your potential and elevate your career. As a coach, I can help you through your transition build the confidence you need to succeed. Contact me today to schedule a consultation.
