A、Job candidates rarely take it seriously. B、Job seekers tend to have a ready answer. C、Job seekers often feel at a loss where t

“Tell me about yourself” may seem like an easy job interview question, but the open-ended nature of this question often leaves job seekers at a loss where to start. This common question is actually a critical test of a job candidate’s communication skills. So it’s important not to give an unprepared response or mess it up. “Tell me about yourself” is often the first question professional career coaches prepare people for when they give interview guidance. It’s the opportunity for the candidate to take control of the narrative and tell their story in a way that really matters to their audience. It takes hard work and extensive preparation to answer this question well.
When a person goes to a job interview, their interviewer has presumably read their résumé, so they don’t need to repeat the information. But that’s what most people will do, as it’s their instinct to recite things that are already on their résumé. It’s important for job seekers to do their homework on two crucial aspects.
First, they are not just telling someone a fact about themselves. They’re telling a story. And stories take work to create. Coming up with a good story means getting reflective about what made their career accomplishments- something they’re proud of, and what strengths those accomplishments highlight. Candidates shouldn’t pick a broad general strength to elaborate on, such as “I’m smart, I work hard and I get things done.” To come up with multiple career accomplishments or examples for different interview questions, job seekers should talk with others, especially people who know them, partners, friends or co-workers who will bring up different stories than the ones they remember.
Secondly, candidates should know what’s at stake for the company with this job opening. What they really are asking you is “tell me why you are going to help me.” If the person is a prepared candidate, they should have already figured out those things. They’ve read the job description and researched the company on the Internet. What job applicants ought to be looking for is what the company is up to, what they are trying to accomplish and what is preventing them from accomplishing those things.
How long should it take to answer? Around a minute. That’s about right for most people’s attention spans. Under a minute could seem rushed, while over two minutes will start to feel more like a speech. But the length of the answer is not an exact science, and candidates need to keep their career story focused and tailored to their audience.
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the recording you have just heard.
22. What does the speaker say about the job interview question “tell me about yourself”?
23. What will most people do when they come to a job interview?
24. Why should job seekers talk with partners, friends and co-workers?
25. What other important preparations should job seekers make before an interview?