When you attend an interview, the question that revolves around, "Tell me about yourself." never misses. It's one of the most common job interview questions. Even so, many job seekers dismiss the question as an icebreaker designed to put them at ease.

However, you should think about the response carefully because "tell me about yourself" is more than just a filler question for most interviewers.

When hiring managers ask this open-ended question they hope that interviewees will provide insight into their goals and priorities. They look for a candidate with the correct image that their job description stipulates.

Interviewers also use this question to assess interviewees' confidence, giving them an idea of how new hires might present themselves to customers, clients, and colleagues if they get the job.

In your job search, knowing how to respond to the question "Tell me about yourself" gives you a great opportunity to highlight the job skills and experience that make you the ideal candidate for the job. It's a question that many hiring managers begin with, which serves as a good way to get started.

Here are some additional job interview tips to help you nail your response to “Tell me about yourself”

What you must not say

The most common mistake that many job seekers fall into is answering this question with personal information. Some candidates even begin by telling their life stories, beginning with their hometown and ending with their college graduation.

Others share descriptions of their current job's problems. They explain that they applied for this position because their boss is a micromanager or their employer will not allow them to work a flexible schedule.

Some job seekers simply summarize their resumes. Going through their work experience and education history point by point.

When you use the first two responses above, you can quickly derail your new job aspirations. The hiring managers see your answers as a red flag — an indication that you're not serious about the position or are simply trying to get out of a bad situation at your current job.

And if you choose the third option, you're passing up an opportunity. You can assume that the interviewers read your resume before inviting you to the interview, and they don't need you to walk them through it.

Make an elevator pitch.

The best way to know how to respond to "Tell me about yourself" is to make sure you explain how you're qualified for this job and, more importantly, why you want it. Spend some time reviewing the job description in the recruitment ad for the position. Research it before you begin crafting your selling points. You will have a better idea of what the hiring manager is looking for in terms of skills and experience.

You can then write a brief script highlighting your relevant abilities, strengths, and areas of expertise. You then proceed to explain why you're applying for the job, emphasizing career-related motivations. Make sure you give examples such as a desire to gain experience and take on additional responsibilities. Finish with a brief statement about why working for this particular company interests you.

A good example response to "tell me about yourself"

Here is an example when you want to give an excellent response to "Tell me about yourself" for a job seeker applying for a senior administrative assistant position with a clean-energy company.

I've been an administrative assistant for three years now. My current position is in the finance department of a mid-sized company. It involves scheduling, meetings, and travel planning for four executives and twenty employees. I also assist in the preparation of correspondence, presentations, and reports.

I am known as a detail-oriented, and well-organized team player. I never miss deadlines, am an excellent communicator, and can handle multiple tasks at once. My supervisor appreciates my professionalism and enthusiasm for the job in my performance reviews.

With this experience under my belt, I'm looking for a chance to advance in my career. I would like to do so in an organization like yours that works to improve the environment, which is something I'm very interested in.

A final word on how to respond to the "tell me about yourself" question.

Be succinct. Don't take too long with your response. You are not required to tell the hiring manager everything that you believe makes you a strong candidate. Just a few key details that will pique their interest in learning more about you will get the interview off to a good start.

You can also read: "What Are Your Reasons for Leaving Your Previous Job?"

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