How to Answer “Tell me About Yourself”
You’ve just sat down in an interview, and the first question lands: ‘"So, tell me about yourself." Fifteen words in, you can already feel your story slipping away…
It’s one of the most common, and deceptively simple, questions you’ll face in a job interview, networking event, or creative meetup.
At our recent Career Discovery Session, we explored what it really takes to get started in agency life, from creative briefs to career confidence. One thing we would have loved to include, but ran out of time for, was our 'Pitch Yourself' exercise, a practical way to build a short, memorable personal introduction.
How the Exercise Works:
STEP ONE: First find someone to run this exercise with (they become the talent acquisition partner working for your perfect company, hiring your perfect role)
STEP TWO: Your partner asks you one question: “Tell me about yourself.”
STEP THREE: Answer with a concise 30 second response as if you were in a real interview.
STEP FOUR: Discuss it together: what worked well, what could be clearer, and how it felt to talk about yourself.
STEP FIVE: Repeat the exercise another 3, 4, or 5 times. The aim isn’t to be perfect, it’s about getting comfortable speaking about yourself. The more you practice, the more natural it becomes.
BONUS STEP: Try the same exercise but using two other frequently asked questions:
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
“Why are you interested in this role?”
Next steps...
What are you waiting for? Find a partner, ask the questions, and give it a go.
You’ll be surprised how quickly your confidence grows and how this simple exercise will help create the perfect foundation for any video or IRL interview.
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About Handle Recruitment
Finding a new permanent or temporary opportunity at a great brand should be enjoyable & working with great people non-negotiable. We believe that everyone should be able to fulfil their potential and we have been helping great brands improve their talent processes and attract exceptional people since 1978.
We provide leading entertainment companies, social networks, global media brands, sports bodies, retailers, and tech platforms with talent solutions that make a difference. Our consultants focus on a unique specialism, from Finance, to Sales, Marketing, HR, Legal, Office Support, and Tech but are tied together by the industries we support.