02 Aug
‘Tell me about your work experience.”
Why are recruiters asking this?
An “about” question is simple: “Tell me about yourself”.
Recruiters might start a first interview with some basic “about” questions as an icebreaker or to transition from small talk into the core interview. It sounds generic and informal, but there is an art to responding.
This is your chance to share your “elevator pitch” or describe yourself, keep it short and sweet, and for you to direct the rest of the conversation toward familiar subjects.
If you answer this question well, the interviewer will begin to find out why you’re the best candidate for this job. It’s a great opportunity to demonstrate your professional soft skills (communication and relatability) and to present yourself as the best candidate.
Checklist for a great answer
- Keep it short, professional, and positive
- Do not over-share, leave it open for follow-up questions
- Connect yourself with the job and the company
Examples
So, tell me about yourself…
Sure! So I love writing and watching commercials. After I completed my masters, I joined a small agency. My first role was in copywriting and for the last 2 years I’ve been coaching new hires. I enjoy my job, but I’d like to pivot into more creative advertising to draw on my passion for video. In the last 5 years I wrote 3 30-second commercial spots, which I’d love to do more of, which is why I’m interested in this particular agency.
Other similar questions
- Describe yourself / How would you describe yourself?
- Describe your work style.
- Can you walk us through your resume?
- Why did you choose this (career, type of work)?
- Do you have a personal mission statement?
How do I get better at these questions?
PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!
The illustrious economist and statistician EF Schumacher once said: “An ounce of practice is generally worth more than a ton of theory.” We at Mockmate strongly believe in exactly this, which is why we created our AI-powered job interview simulator. Now is the time to stop reading blog posts and watching YouTube videos, and begin to perfect your interview skills by actually doing it! Get started here!
