It can be difficult to interpret the common interview question, Ӕell me about yourself.ԠIs it a simple icebreaker meant to make you feel more comfortable? Or is it the most difficult question of all meant to establish the interviewҳ course towards success or failure?ʯel Schwartzberg forȡrvard Business Reviewೡysനis question is deceptively easy precisely because of its open-endedness.Ӊt only seems simple. Receiving such an open invitation invites more perils than opportunities, because youҲe given no framework for your response נjust a blank, clue-free canvas,Ԡhe wrote.ȯw, then, should you answer a question that is - by design - so free-wheeling? In a nutshell, think about your answer as a slightly longer elevator pitch or career story: mention෨at makes you unique, your achievements, and your professional history௮ly as they relate to the job at hand.ȥre, weҬl talk about the doҳ and donҴs for answering the dreaded Ӕell me about yourselfԠquestion concisely and relevantly.вepare your response to this question beforehand; you know theyҲe going to ask itOne of the surest ways to start your interview off on the wrong foot is to talk too long or too briefly when answering a question like this one. Specifically, you donҴ want to talk for more than 90 seconds without re-engaging your interviewer with a question like Ӊs this the level of detail you are looking for?Ԡor Ӊs this the type of example youҲe interested in?ԠAdditionally, make sure your response runs no longer than three and a half minutes.Ԩat time limit doesnҴ mean you should೰eed through multiple examplesࡳ quickly as possible, however. Rather, choose only two or three examples that you can describe succinctly but that provide support for whatever quality you are describing.ԡlk about who you are beyond your resume and LinkedInSome executive candidates think that this question should result in a simple reiteration of where theyҶe worked and the positions they have held. This isࡠmisuse ofࡠresponse, especially because most hiring managers will have your resume right in front of them!ɮstead, focus on describing your most significant accomplishments as they relate to success in the role youҲe interviewing for. Even if you feel proud of a particular win, it isnҴ relevant here unless you are able to connect it to the role at hand.Ưcus on why your background would make you successful for this roleSchwartzberg recommends using the job posting to identify three key attributes in someone who fulfills this role. For instance, the company may want a ӳelf-starterԠwho can ӳolve problems'' and Ӣuild connections across sectors.ԠOnce you have these characteristics listed, add them to your point-making sentence - Ӕhey are looking for someone who is a self starter who can ӳolve problemsԠand Ӣuild connections across sectors.Ԏow you can use this sentence to identify the anecdotes and accomplishments that convey that you fit what theyҲe seeking.dd something personalOne of the aspects that your resume and even, to some extent, your LinkedIn page canҴ convey is who you are as a colleague and employee. Are you reliable? Passionate? Energetic?ӯ, add in something personal, even if itҳ only a minor aspect of your complete response. Avoid detailing your entire life history, but mention something about who you are outside of work, like a hobby, something about your family, or a passion.Ӂs the CEO of the worldҳ largest executive search firm, I have conducted thousands of interviews over the past 20 years. The best נand most memorable נanswer I have ever received to that question was: щҶe climbed the highest mountains on every continent, including Everest,Ԡsaid Gary Burnison.ͥntion how this role connects to and furthers your careerIt may not feel like a natural segue to respond to Ӕell me about yourselfԠto include information about your possible঵ture೥lf, but this is nevertheless an important component of answering this question well.ࠆirst, describe your long-term goals in a general sense, like you want to develop your expertise as a product manager or build on your core value of providing excellent customer service. Then, move into talking about why you applied for the role and mention how it will help you further those objectives.ճing Ӕell Me About YourselfԠas an Argument YouҬl Prove in the InterviewSince itҳ almost always asked first, or at least early, in the interview, you can use this question to argue why your background, skills, and personality make you the ideal candidate for the role. Essentially, you want to preview who you would be if hired; then, you can support that snapshot of yourself with more evidence throughout the interview.ɴ can give you peace of mind to remember that your answer is only an introduction - you canҴ win the job with one perfect response! Instead, youҬl be able to use the rest of the interview to create a clearer, more holistic portrait of yourself.Preparing for a job interview? Go and check our latest executive jobs