How to Answer the “So tell me about yourself” Question
You can almost guarantee that in your next interview or networking session, this prompt will come up. It seems simple enough to talk about yourself, but really excelling at this response sets the other person’s first impression of you. It can also set the tone for your confidence in the rest of the interview. A common mistake interviewees make is not preparing for this question because of the myth that you know the topic of your life better than anyone else. This is true; however, the lack of preparation for a succinct, tailored response means a lot can go wrong here. You want to tell an engaging story while hitting all relevant points. To hit the relevant points you need to understand what the interviewer is looking for when asking this question.
They want to know;
1. Your relevant educational and professional background
2. The key skills and expertise you have which directly relate to this opportunity
3. What you are looking for in your next role and why this role appealed to you
Read a more detailed outline of each point and a sample response here. Interview preparation is one area our mentors can help you in your search for a career after the military. Practice makes perfect, and a mentor in your desired career field could help you tailor your response and start off your next interview strong.