Interview Mistake: Saying Too Much

"Tell me a little bit about yourself." Since it's typically early in the interview when an interviewer poses this prompt, it sets the tone for the rest of the meeting. If you drop the ball here, it can be extremely difficult to recover.

So how much should you reveal about yourself and what is the best way to answer the question?

First, it's important to remember that the interviewer does not want to hear your life story. For the most part, they don't want to hear about how badly your life sucks or what challenges you've overcome. What they really want to know is whether you will do well in the offered position.

Knowing this, you can craft a story that is short, simple and gives them some insight into your educational background and previous work history. Your story should paint you in the best light possible and allow them to see you as someone who would fit in well at their company.

For example, your answer shouldn't be:

“Well, I was born in southern New Hampshire as the only child of a young couple. We had a storybook life until my parents divorced. For a few years, we moved around while my mom tried to start her career. I went through a rebellious stage and began ditching school, and after overcoming many challenges, I finally graduated high school. I worked odd jobs and took classes at night. Now, I'm ready to begin a new career in this industry.”

Way too much information, and most of it is off-topic and personal. The interviewer may hear about your struggles and feel sorry for you, but most of the time, they are going to assume that you just aren't very professional.

Instead, why not answer like this:

“I've been working in this field for about 2 years. After studying at (school name), I earned a degree (or certification or whatever) in History and have had the good fortune to work in an industry that I'm passionate about. Most recently, I worked for XYZ company and although I really loved the work, I feel that I'm ready for a new challenge. It's always been a dream of mine to work with this company and now that I have some valuable experience and a proven track record of success, the time feels right.”

The above answer shows enthusiasm, determination and it gives a brief outline of educational background and work experience. In addition, it shows the interviewer that you really want to work for their company, as opposed to working anywhere else. When posed with any opportunity to talk about yourself, remember why you're in the interview. Stay focused on the job at hand, and concentrate on portraying yourself as a great fit.

What do you think about the sample answers? How do you answer the question? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

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