Talk About Yourself

Most of us shy away from talking about ourselves. When someone says “ Tell us aboutyourself” don’t we all get rather flustered? This is the end result of a lifelong of conditioning, where parents have taught us not to “blow one’s trumpet”, not to boast, not to talk too much about oneself…

This is a common enough question at any interview, and your answer carries a lot of weight. So, if you are one of those who blush, stutter or stammer when asked this question, read on…

Dealing with the question…

• Remember, the person who asks you the question, probably has your CV right there in front of him.
• He does not want to hear what is already there on your CV
• Do not get disconcerted or nervous
• Practice answering this question, before you face the situation.
• Sound confident, even if you are not

Evaluation Process

By asking this question, the person is probably evaluating you for any of the following:

• Confidence
• Your ability to think “out of the box”
• Imagination
• Your ability to deal with the unexpected
• Communication skills
• People’s skills
• Attitude
• Personality

A great opportunity for you…

Actually being asked to speak about yourself may sound unnerving, but this is a wonderful opportunity for you! See how you can use it to your advantage!

• Plug in all information of importance, that you could not fit into your CV
• Talk about your interests, hobbies, additional courses you may have taken etc
• State how you acquired more than academic knowledge at the institution you studied at.
• Talk about people / leaders who may have influenced you
• Talk about your strengths as a learning process: marketing skills, problem solving or management skills etc
• Talk about your value system: how you appreciate punctuality or value time
• Make sure your opening line is clear, concise and rehearsed. Eg. “ I have been fortunate to have studied at a premier institution….”
• Practice your opening line in front of a friend, to get genuine feedback
• Remember it is important NOT to blow your own trumpet, boast, or sound pompous

So, are you ready to talk about yourself?