September 25, 2025 • 3 mins
Groan. Eye roll. Heavy sigh. Aren't we all sick of this question? All the same, there IS a right way, and a wrong way to answer it...
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Episode Transcript
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(00:00):
Hi, this is Stephanie Maas.
(00:01):
Today I wanna talk to you about one of the mostoutdated, but still commonly asked interview questions.
The tell me about yourself.
I love when hiring managers tell me that that's their opening question.
Stop asking it.
It's so stupid.
But let's just say that they still ask you how do you prepare and how do you.
(00:22):
Effectively answer this question.
First of all, keep in mind you are in an interview situation,so the answer has nothing to do with you personally.
Not trying to be mean, but we don't care if you're a cat person or a dog person,or if you like long walks on the beach or sunsets or margaritas on Fridays.
If we don't care, we're not interested.
(00:44):
What we want to know is.
What have you done specifically?
What have you accomplished?
How have you accomplished, and is that fit with what I am looking for?
Now, it's gonna be tough to answer because what if youhaven't had a chance to say, Hey, what are you looking for?
What's gonna be important to you in the next hire?
But you gotta do the best you can with your current.
(01:06):
Information that you have, and it needs to be timely, meaning it needs to be concise.
The reality of is after about two minutes, even the best listenersin the world get mental a, d, d, they just can't stay with you.
So this should be an answer that you have rehearsed, you've timed, and always ends with a question.
(01:26):
So for example.
If someone said, well, tell me a little bit about yourself.
Again, I'm not talking about if I'm on the dating market, which I'm not, but if Iwas in a professional interview situation, my answer would sound something like this.
Well, I'm excited to say I just celebrated my 17th year in executive search with my firm.
I have consistently been in the top five producers over the last five years, andI give a lot of that credit to a couple different things the firm has taught me.
(01:51):
Number one, I'm very consistent with my follow up.
I work a specific niche.
Touch everybody in my database four times a year to see, number one,what's new in the market and has there been anything new or different in their personal situation that would change their professional situation.
Number two, I'm also really excited that my firm hasreally taught me a lot about ethics and serving my clients.
(02:12):
So when I do get a search assignment, I have a 94%.
Fill rate.
So when my clients put me to work, they can rest assured thatI'm gonna bring them the best available talent to the market.
And then thirdly, I'm also very thankful that as a top producer in my currentfirm, they have put me on a lot of special projects to better our current internal recruiting program as well as the future and the growth of our current organization.
(02:39):
I'm just curious.
You know, and this might be a weird how to transition to thequestion, but you should have three or four questions prepared.
So after you give your spiel, then you follow up with a question.
So that's a little bit about me.
I'm just curious, tell me, as you look to fill this role, what are gonna be someof the most important aspects or attributes of the higher you're looking for?
Does that make sense?
Hi, this is Stephanie Maas.
(00:01):
Today I wanna talk to you about one of the mostoutdated, but still commonly asked interview questions.
The tell me about yourself.
I love when hiring managers tell me that that's their opening question.
Stop asking it.
It's so stupid.
But let's just say that they still ask you how do you prepare and how do you.
(00:22):
Effectively answer this question.
First of all, keep in mind you are in an interview situation,so the answer has nothing to do with you personally.
Not trying to be mean, but we don't care if you're a cat person or a dog person,or if you like long walks on the beach or sunsets or margaritas on Fridays.
If we don't care, we're not interested.
(00:44):
What we want to know is.
What have you done specifically?
What have you accomplished?
How have you accomplished, and is that fit with what I am looking for?
Now, it's gonna be tough to answer because what if youhaven't had a chance to say, Hey, what are you looking for?
What's gonna be important to you in the next hire?
But you gotta do the best you can with your current.
(01:06):
Information that you have, and it needs to be timely, meaning it needs to be concise.
The reality of is after about two minutes, even the best listenersin the world get mental a, d, d, they just can't stay with you.
So this should be an answer that you have rehearsed, you've timed, and always ends with a question.
(01:26):
So for example.
If someone said, well, tell me a little bit about yourself.
Again, I'm not talking about if I'm on the dating market, which I'm not, but if Iwas in a professional interview situation, my answer would sound something like this.
Well, I'm excited to say I just celebrated my 17th year in executive search with my firm.
I have consistently been in the top five producers over the last five years, andI give a lot of that credit to a couple different things the firm has taught me.
(01:51):
Number one, I'm very consistent with my follow up.
I work a specific niche.
Touch everybody in my database four times a year to see, number one,what's new in the market and has there been anything new or different in their personal situation that would change their professional situation.
Number two, I'm also really excited that my firm hasreally taught me a lot about ethics and serving my clients.
(02:12):
So when I do get a search assignment, I have a 94%.
Fill rate.
So when my clients put me to work, they can rest assured thatI'm gonna bring them the best available talent to the market.
And then thirdly, I'm also very thankful that as a top producer in my currentfirm, they have put me on a lot of special projects to better our current internal recruiting program as well as the future and the growth of our current organization.
(02:39):
I'm just curious.
You know, and this might be a weird how to transition to thequestion, but you should have three or four questions prepared.
So after you give your spiel, then you follow up with a question.
So that's a little bit about me.
I'm just curious, tell me, as you look to fill this role, what are gonna be someof the most important aspects or attributes of the higher you're looking for?
Does that make sense?
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