This is a question that most people do not exactly sure how best to answer. When interviewing you always want to be prepared for this question so you can answer it confidently and concisely.

Tell me about yourself?

Though this is one of the most frequently asked questions, it is also one that the applicants tend to prepare for less frequently. Yet this simple question will set the tone for the interview. When most people get asked this question, they start off with something like “I was born and raised in somewhere, USA. My parents worked as farmers. I went to college to study communications and for the last ten years I worked for HSN as a Customer Service Representative.” When answering this question you want to be a little more specific.

There is an easy way to breakdown how you should answer this question. The answer should be about one to two minutes long. You want to avoid rambling, since it will give the interviewer the impression that you are unprepared. To avoid rambling. Break this question down into three parts:

1. Quick overview of yourself – where you grew up, why you picked your college major.

2. Your work experience and accomplishments.

3. Wrap that all up and relate it back to why you are there applying for this specific position. How did your life experiences, work history and education bring you to today’s interview?

Always remember that you don’t want to simply recite your resume and to focus on your skills that are applicable to the hiring manager. Think of this question as a preview to a movie: you want the interviewer to buy a ticket to your movie and not move on to the next theater.

For more tips on interviews and career preparation visit Career Services on any campus.