Read More: How To Answer Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question

Read More: How To Answer Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question

Are you attending an interview soon or preparing for one? “Tell me about yourself is normally the first question the interviewer will ask you. According to Mr. Perminus Wainaina, Head of Recruitment at Corporate Staffing Services Limited, this question can either make or break your interview.

This article will cover in depth some of the mistakes job seekers make when answering the tell me about yourself interview question as well as the right way to answer it.

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Mistakes Jobs Seekers Make In Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question

“I have attended so many interviews only to never hear from the interviewer. I have reasons to believe that the way I answer these interview questions could be hindering me from getting a job. How do I answer tell me about yourself in a job interview.” This is an email I received two days ago.

So many job seekers have no idea how to answer this vital interview question. They end up giving irrelevant information which lock them out of the job.

Let’s look at some of the mistakes that you have been making.

1. You talk about family

The interviewer doesn’t care about what position you are in the family. You may be a single mother with two children but it’s not relevant. Avoid talking about family or anything relating to family like the plague.

2. You talk about religion in an interview

Unless the interviewer has asked you, you don’t have to mention that you are a strict catholic or SDA or a Muslim. Unless your religion is going to affect your work, keep it out of the picture.

Many of you can recall the Chief Justice interviews, where the now Chief Justice David Maranga mentioned that he is s staunch SDA hence should not be expected to work on Saturdays.

3. Talking about how you are looking for a company to help you grow

This is wrong way to start your interview. Why? The only person who can help you grow is YOU. Interviewers take this answer as a red flag. For one it portrays that you hit a bump somewhere and have not been able to achieve anything in your career or life.

Best Ways To Answer Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question

When answering tell me about yourself you want to come out as someone who knows what they are talking about.

1. Mention your names

“Mention your official names. This is not the time to mention your nicknames and that’s it.” says Mr. Wainaina.

2. Your age

After mentioning your name, give your age. Don’t dig into too much detail.

“My name is Andrew Wekesa, 28 Years of age….”

3. Your educational background

This is important because it is related to the job. Mention what you have studied.

For instance, “I am a Communication and Journalist graduate. I graduated last year with First Class Honours.”

4. Finally mention your world experience

This is the most important part of tell me about yourself interview question. You want the employer to know that you are qualified for their position. Highlight your work experience – of course one that is related to the job you are applying for.

In conclusion, Mr. Wainaina advices that at the end of the day you want to stand out. Use the tell me about yourself question to sell yourself to your potential employer.

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