Replying to the, 'Speak About Yourself,' Interview Request

Responding to the “Speak about yourself” request is important because it enables the interviewer to find out more about who you are. You can gain several benefits by answering this question properly, such as:

• Set a positive tone. Generally, the hiring manager will ease into the interview with this request. Therefore, you can use your response to make a great first impression, present yourself as an engaging candidate, and lead the hiring manager to see you as a suitable hire.
• Highlight your abilities. By responding effectively to this open-ended question, you can articulate key skills that match the job requirements. Soft skills, or abilities that emerge naturally, such as empathy, organization, and dependability are sought by most employers. You can frame your answer to communicate these soft skills. Additionally, you can talk about the hard skills needed for the performance of job duties, such as skills in accounting software for an assistant accountant position or vehicle diagnostics software for a mechanic position.
• Build a contact. While you may not get the job at your first interview during the job search, answering this question impressively can help you to engage the interviewer. This is due to the fact that this question is an opportunity for the interviewer to focus on what makes you a unique professional and get to know you. Consequently, your answer will help you to develop a key professional contact. Keep in mind that you will have to make an effort to maintain communications with the hiring manager and build the relationship after the interview. However, how you respond to this request can give you a great foundation on which to do so.
• Convey your communication skills. Communication skills are usually a key requirement for a job. An articulate answer to the “Speak about yourself” request can demonstrate your abilities in this area to the hiring manager.

Learn more: How to Be a Team Player at Work

You’re feeling ready to impress the hiring manager with your awesome technical skills when suddenly, you’re asked to “Speak about yourself.” You consider the situational questions you prepared for, wondering what to say and forgetting all the important information in your carefully prepared resume — which you accidentally left on the kitchen counter in your apartment.

Now, you can avoid this totally unprofessional scenario by following a simple process to handle this request. Use the following steps:

1. Analyze yourself

It’s easy to overlook one’s best strengths, so use self-assessment tools to get the information you need. Identify your key personality traits, quantifiable achievements, values, and abilities. Make a brief list of your findings.

2. Evaluate employer requirements

Reread the job listing to clearly understand exactly what the employer is looking for. Research the company by exploring its website, analyzing its mission and vision statements, visiting its social media pages, and reading any current news about it. Based on your research, make a list of keywords. Use the following checklist to find them:

• For the job to which you’re applying, what kind of person is the employer looking for?
• How does the company describe itself? For instance, is it an online retailer or a tech startup?
• What are the core objectives of the company? For instance, is it trying to grow its market or become more sustainable?
• What are the values of the enterprise? For instance, does it value an empowered workforce or does it prefer top-down management?
• What is the communication style used by the employer?
• What are the firm’s recent achievements?

Learn more: How to Write a Proposal Letter: Tips and Sample

3. Choose your best strengths

Refer to your list of employer keywords and self-assessment findings until you find personal strengths that closely align with the employer’s characteristics and requirements. It’s important to tell the hiring manager about yourself in a way that reflects your suitability for the job and company. The following questions can help you in this step:

• What are the values you share with the company?
• What are the corporate objectives to which you can contribute?
• What are your skills that can help the company to achieve its objectives?
• What are the metrics that can prove your skills to the employer?
• Why does the job suit your qualifications and goals?
• What are the recent achievements of the company that are relevant to you?

When you find the necessary information, make a list of your best strengths for the job.

4. Add an interesting detail

As you answer this introductory question at the interview, try to tell a story about yourself that engages the hiring manager. To do so, identify a great anecdote in your employment or educational history that suits the role to which you’re applying.

Learn more: How to Develop Interpersonal Skills

5. Develop an answer outline

One of the techniques you can use when developing an outline for your reply is to explain why you chose your career, summarize your current professional role, mention your past achievements, and specify future aspirations. However, you could use a different structure and still develop a great answer. Regardless of the structure you use, include the following:

• Your strengths that best match employer preferences.
• Quantifiable data that supports your strengths.
• An interesting anecdote that adds color to your self-description.
• Details that show your passion for what you do.
• A statement that indicates your interest in getting the job.

Learn more: Fast Learner Skills: Definition and Examples

6. Finalize your answer

Use the outline to write a concise, interesting answer that is likely to appeal to an average listener. Once you write the first draft, read it to your family members or friends. Watch their reactions to it, such as attentiveness and laughter. Then, talk to them about their reactions. Use their feedback to see areas in your reply in which the syntax, flow, or anecdote can be improved. Make the necessary changes.

7. Practice your delivery

It’s essential to practice your answer until you can convey it confidently while speaking naturally. There are many ways you can achieve this, such as practicing before a mirror, role-playing with a friend, or communicating with a family member. As you practice your answer, keep your resume with you and refer to it when necessary. Take your resume to the interview, so you can refer to it if necessary while communicating quantifiable data.

Keep in mind that this question can be phrased differently. For example, an employer may say, “Tell me about yourself,” or, “Describe yourself.” The process we discussed can be used to handle any requests for a self-description. Prepare to be asked a differently phrased question that seeks the same information, so you’re ready with your answer at the interview.

Discover companies hiring by location, job title, and industry

You can use the following reply to the, “Speak about yourself,” request to prepare your own:

Example: Project Manager

I’ve been interested in managing projects since I was in high school, when my parents let me manage our home remodeling project. I managed to keep the costs down by supervising the contractors, changing suppliers to get the best rates, and overseeing the work to minimize waste. Experiencing the fabulous project outcome convinced me to get my B.A. in Project Management. 

After graduation, I worked as a project management assistant at Sadler for two years. This enabled me to gain practical experience in various project management methodologies. On average, the projects I’ve contributed to or led have been achieved with savings of 15% on their budgets. I’ve had great results from my team when using an Agile approach, and my most recent project, on which I was the lead, resulted in a 27% increase in sales for my current employer. I believe my soft skills in adaptability, leadership, decision-making, communication, teamwork, accuracy, problem-solving, and time management have contributed to my success. 

Moving forward, I would love to be your new project manager as my experience in managing e-commerce projects can be leveraged to handle your clients. With my situational leadership style and track record of handling cost-effective projects that exceed expectations, I believe I can be an asset to your team.  

Now, you have the information you need to reply to this request with style. Preparation is the key to benefit from the process you learned in this article and handle this icebreaker question well. Invest in completing all the steps before interviewing for a job.