"Tell me about yourself."
If you have had a job interview before, you may have been asked this question. It is one of the most common questions asked during a job interview. However, you may have been asked this question in other settings such as job fairs, networking events, volunteering, or when meeting someone new. If you aren't prepared, this can be a difficult question to answer. It helps to have answers already thought out. You never know where you might run into potential employers.
A great way to help you answer this question is using an elevator speech. An elevator speech is a quick, 30-second introduction that covers basic information about you, like your education, skills, and work history. You can use this speech to introduce yourself to employers, networking contacts, or even new acquaintances. You can learn more about elevator speeches in Write Your Elevator Speech.
One of the most important parts of telling someone about yourself is that you make a good first impression. It can take a long time to change someone's first impression of you, so it is important that your first encounter is a good one. Here are a couple of tips to help leave a good impression:
You can meet a potential employer anywhere! To be as prepared as possible, it is a good idea to carry a few business cards with you. Business cards are small cards that have brief information about you along with your contact information. They usually feature your:
There are many options when it comes to getting business cards. You can order them through an online service, through a local business, or even use a program to create and print them yourself. If you create them yourself, make sure to use a sturdy cardstock and an appropriate font. You don't want your information printed on flimsy paper that is easily destroyed, and you may not be taken seriously if you use an unprofessional font.
Also, don't fall into the trap of handing out business cards indiscriminately. Some people do not like being given a card they did not ask for or expect. Also, you generally want your card to be with people whose connections are important to you. Handing them to everyone you come across diminishes their uniqueness and value.
Telling people about yourself can be tricky, but if you take the time to prepare and know what you are going to say, you won't be so nervous to do it. Preparing an elevator speech, making a good impression, and using business cards to share your information are all great ways to tell people about who you are and what you do.
Read the Employment & Hiring Planning section for information on preparing for job interviews and what to do during an interview as well as more on job searching.
Introducing Yourself to Others by Illinois workNet is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.