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What is a good way to answer common interview question "Tell me something about yourself"

 
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This is the most common interview question. The interviewer after shaking hands asks "Tell me something about yourself" before beginning with his actual technical questions. I have been answering this in the past but now I want to know the good way to answer this question. I think its right to speak only about the work I have done so far in career in this question and interviewer would not be interested in knowing about any personal answer like "I am from so and so hometown". Also starting this answer with "My name is so and so and " does not make sense as the name is also obvious from resume which is in his hand. So I would answer this as " I have total experience 7 years. I am working in current organization since last 4 years. Apart from core java, I have worked on so and so technologies.(Should I mention only the technologies I have worked on or the ones I know too. My current project is this and on so and so technology.Before that I had worked on. Then instead of continuing this answer and explaining about my project in detail I would like to wait for him to ask questions(project explanation can come later when he asks and it might not look nice to explain project when he had just said "tell me something about yourself". This is the approach I can think of. Please correct me if my above approach can be improved.
 
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You should have a 30-second "commercial" for yourself that summarizes your skill set and background. This often-asked question is the perfect opportunity to use this "commercial".

No one wants to hear where you were born or what your hobbies are. They want to know what you will bring to the job.
 
Satyaprakash Joshii
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Bear Bibeault says

You should have a 30-second "commercial" for yourself that summarizes your skill set and background. This often-asked question is the perfect opportunity to use this "commercial".



Thank you Bear

But in these 30 seconds I will be just telling the names of my skills just like any other candidate. The difference will come when they will ask the questions and each candidate will answer differently which will happen at a later stage after the commercial. As an example, if my skills include Core Java, Spring, Struts, in the first 30 seconds I will be just telling that my skills include Core Java, Struts,Spring . The impression will come when the candidate will answer the difficult questions which will be later. Initially every candidate telling about their skills will sound the same like 8 out of 10 will say I worked on Core Java,Struts,Spring.
 
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Well, if you want to be different you could perform a stand-up comedy routine. Or perhaps a tap dance. But seriously, this is your opportunity to give your "elevator speech" about yourself. If you feel that this will not distinguish you from other candidates then you need to think long and hard on what does distinguish you from other candidates and be sure to focus on that.
 
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Satyaprakash Joshii wrote:Initially every candidate telling about their skills will sound the same like 8 out of 10 will say I worked on Core Java,Struts,Spring.


So say something different. For example, maybe you say that you are most proud of project X because you got to work on X or solve a difficult problem with Y.

I don't ask this question when I interview, but there are a few things interviews are looking for:
  • How do you present yourself
  • Do you have anything interesting to say
  • Nothing. Sometimes is just to get you comfortable


  • Also, make sure not to say anything that makes the interviewer uncomfortable. In some countries, knowing about your children, sexual orientation, health, etc puts the interviewer in a difficult position. They aren't allowed to discriminate, but now that you've told them they have to worry about whether it is a factor in their decision.
     
    Satyaprakash Joshii
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    Thank you Jeanne.
     
    Satyaprakash Joshii
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    Is it ok to tell about yourself as the answer to this question and immediately follow with the project description without the interviewer even asking for the project,without waiting for him to ask you projects. Is it fine and acceptable?
     
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    That depends. They don't want to hear about the project, they want to hear about you. So if you have something interesting to say about your contribution to the project, then focus on that. No one wants to sit through a lengthy description of a project. A big mistake interviewees make when asked "tell me about your contribution to project XYZ form your resume" is to talk about the project itself and not what they did on that project.

    Again, this is your opportunity to steer the interview into the subjects that you want to talk about and that highlight your strengths, rather than hoping the interviewer will ask a question that lets you go there.

    And I completely agree with Jeanne, and as I posted earlier: keep it work-focused. Talking about your passion for cooking won't get you anywhere unless they specially ask about that as an ice-breaker.
     
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