Let me set the scene…
You're in your second or third interview and everything is going well. You showed up prepared, you look the part and you've been answering every tactical question with the results from your resume. Then comes the question everyone dreads: "Why don't you tell me about yourself?" 🤮
But here is what they're actually listening for
At this point, the interviewer is looking at how well you can talk about something you should be comfortable talking about. They want to understand your goals and how relevant they are to the team/role.
But let's be honest, how many of us are truly comfortable talking about ourselves?
How my clients frame this question
First, pause. This helps you sound authentic vs. rehearsed. You don’t want the response to be so rehearsed that it no longer sounds like you. Then build the answer in three parts.
1. Where you are today. Start with a little about where you are now. This should showcase something you are looking at doing based on something you’ve learned from a course, conference, project or past role.
Example: "I'm looking for a job in IT leadership because of the knowledge I've gained through a 6-month IT leadership course I completed."
2. Where you're headed. Now bring where you are today into the future state. Your answer to where you are headed needs to tie back to something that is needed from the job description or based on your conversations.
Example: "The IT leadership course focused on upskilling talent in the world of AI, and my goal over the next two years is to see how I can apply that in [industry or job]. Some of the key areas I found most interesting are [fill in the blank]."
3. The human part. Now we get a little personal. This is where you give them what they're really asking for: something that makes you human. Your answer will show them you're a competent, skilled person, and that you can relate to other people.
Example: "The AI course was especially interesting to me because I'd fumbled around in ChatGPT and Claude myself. After the course, I saw ways to be more strategic and streamlined, and it gave me a personal reason to start writing my own prompts like creating a revolving grocery list or a daily joke for my kid."
Why this works
Put those together and you've shared where you've been, where you're going, and which parts of the work interest you most. That should tie back to the job description, or to something they've told you about the role.
A little humor at the end, about how you've used these tools and learned from them, shows you can be lighthearted while learning something new. It also shows you'll take what you've learned and bring that context forward.
Where The Reset Framework comes in
Inside The Reset Framework, we start by understanding which skills you want to carry into your next role and gaining confidence explaining them. Then we build your resume. After we have your master resume in place we practice telling a clear story about who you are and how you can make an organization better.
So when that question comes up, you can pause and know that your example is relatable to their needs. You don’t need to sweat it because you sound prepared and authentic.
The hive 🐝
I like to think of The Reset Framework as a partnership, similar to my honeybees. They don't work independently, they work as a colony. When you sign up to work with me, we go through each of these steps together, working for the greater good - which is you landing a job you enjoy.
If you want to explore The Reset Framework a little more, book a free discovery call.
Until next time,
Heidi
FAQ
How do I answer "tell me about yourself" in an interview? Build it in three parts: where you are today, where you're headed (tied to a need from the job you are interviewing for), and something personal that makes you human. Pause before you start, and prepare it without making it sound rehearsed.
What is the interviewer really looking for? They want to see how well you can talk about yourself, how your goals fit the team and the role, and whether the person in the room matches the person on your resume.
Why should I share something personal? It shows you're skilled and also relatable. A small, human detail, with a little humor (if it fits), helps the interviewer picture working with you.
Should I memorize my answer? Prepare it, but don't make it so rehearsed that it sounds scripted. Pause, then speak naturally.
What is The Reset Framework? A three-step job search process: Recovery (get clear on the skills you want to use next and explain them with confidence), Reflection (turn them into a resume that stands out), and Redesign (tell a clear story about who you are, so you sound prepared and authentic in interviews).
