How to Answer 'How Would You Describe Yourself'

“So, Emily, tell me about yourself.” Do you struggle with answering this question? I've got a simple formula to help. A job interview typically starts with, "Walk me through your resume" or "Tell me about yourself." These are simple questions but they can be difficult to answer. Most people start “at the beginning” and dive into their past, telling a narrative that leads them to the present day. DON'T DO THIS. Your response can become long and boring. We want to make this answer SUCCINCT and RELEVANT so that the interviewer can ask follow-up questions. ✅ Try using the 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵-𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘵-𝘍𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢 to answer “Tell me about yourself” in just a few effective sentences … 👉 PRESENT: 1-3 sentences about what you’re currently doing. 👉 PAST: 1-3 sentences about what you did before that. 👉 FUTURE: 1-3 sentences about what you’d like to do next. Here's my example: “I’m currently a career coach helping mid-career professionals find their 'next act' career and land jobs they love. I also teach career development at Boston University. Before that, I was a business coach helping startups raise millions of dollars in funding and appear on ABC’s Shark Tank. Next, I’d like to expand my digital courses and online reach so I can help more people find meaningful work. See how simple and effective that is? This works for job interviews and everyday networking too. ✅ You can have many versions of the Present-Past-Future formula, depending on who you’re talking to or what you’re trying to do next. ✅ If you're using the Present-Past-Future formula in a job interview, keep your answer relevant to the job you're applying for: • Share your background/experience that highlights the skills they are looking for. • When you discuss "the Future," describe the job you're applying for: "Next, I'd like to work at a company like [name of company] where I can make an impact [doing the job description and/or contributing to the company mission]." I'm rooting for you. 👊 ♻ Please repost if you think this advice will help others. ***** Hi, have we met? I'm Emily and I'm on a mission to get the #greenbannergang back to work, one actionable step at a time. #jobsearch #jobhunt #jobseekers #jobinterview #interview #networking

I’ve landed interviews at Salesforce, Google, Shopify, Stripe, Slack, and many other great companies over the last few years. There is a formula to standing out in the interview process, but I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you. This is the most difficult job market I’ve ever seen. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average unemployement duration was 19.4 weeks in November. That’s nearly 5 months. FIVE MONTHS! Interviewing for jobs has to be one of the most soul sucking, emotionally draining and physically exhausting experiences of your career. However the good news is that landing an interview is a skill that can be developed and there are real tactics and strategies you can deploy to increase your chances of landing your next job. The first tip is to create a crystal clear career highlights story. You’ll use this story more than any other throughout the interview process and it’s in response to one of the most difficult questions you’ll face: “So, tell me about yourself.” The reason this question sucks is because it’s so broad. It presents the candidate with an opportunity to ramble. The framework I like to use to answer this question is the 3x3x3 method. What it is: 3 things to know about you. 3 last career change decisions. 3 minutes or less. By giving someone a numbered list, you’re making it easy for them to follow along with your story. You’re telling them what they need to pay attention to in advance and this way they get to anticipate where you’re at in your response. My three things are usually: 1) I’m a writer and storyteller at heart with degrees in journalism and film. This stems from my intellectual curiosity and desire to help people. 2) I’m someone who is prone to action over analysis. Im a doer who likes to get shit done. 3) I prefer to work on hard things. I know how to solve problems, especially in ambiguous situations but the more challenging the task the better. Next I use my last three career pivots to demonstrate the three qualities in my “three things to know” response. I know they’re going to ask about my decision to leave my current role or why I was laid off or whatever the reason is I’m currently interviewing at, so I package this up as neatly as I can and deliver it in under three minutes or less. Why three minutes? People have ridiculously short attention spans. Now here’s where I want to help you out. I’ve got bandwidth in the next few weeks to schedule a free 15 minute call. We’ll map out your 3x3x3 story and I’ll give you whatever advice I can about finding your next role. Comment or message me directly if you’re interested in chatting. There’s no catch. There’s nothing I need from you. I just know how isolating it feels to be going through this process alone and no one should feel afraid to ask for help. I plan on sharing more tips and advice on the interview process over the next few weeks so feel free to follow me for more candid advice like this!

I start almost every screening call the same way: “I’d love to start by just learning a little bit more about you and why you're interested in this role.” I do this for a few reasons: ✔️ It gives me a quick overview of your experience and what you’re looking for. ✔️ It helps me understand what’s important to you in your next opportunity. ✔️ It sets the tone for a more natural, conversational interview and usually, I can find something in common or connect with a part of your story in a genuine way. But I also know this is a question many candidates dread. Where do you start? How much detail is too much? Here’s a simple structure to keep it concise, relevant, and impactful: ✅ Your background: A quick snapshot of your career, what you do and your area of expertise. ✅ Key experience: Highlight 1-2 relevant experiences or skills that align with the role. ✅ What you’re looking for: Share what excites you about this opportunity and why it’s a great fit. Example: “I have five years of experience in [industry], most recently working in [role] where I focused on [key skill]. I really enjoy [something about your work], and I’m looking for a role where I can continue to grow in [specific area]. This opportunity stood out because [reason you’re excited about the company or role].” Simple, right? A strong response here sets the stage for a great conversation. Do you have a go-to way of answering this question? Or does it still stress you out? #interviewtips #jobsearchtips