This can be a common first question in an interview, particularly if the interviewer doesn’t normally conduct a lot of interviews.

Most employers open an interview with this question to break the ice and ask an open ended question to get you relaxed and talking about yourself so they can learn more about you.

In reality, it can be too open ended and when it comes to answering it, most of us don’t know where to start.

Another reason employers ask this question is to determine if you’re a good fit for the job.

Obviously, they want to confirm you’re qualified to do the work the job requires,

But most importantly, because you’re now meeting face to face, it’s an opportunity for them to assess whether you’re a good cultural fit for the company and the role.

For example, if the company has a relaxed work culture or maybe a high energy environment, the employer wants to determine that you’ll fit into that company culture.

So in the likelihood you’re asked this question in one or more of your interviews, here’s how best to answer it…

As always, you have the best opportunity of securing the role when the employer knows you’re a good fit for the role.

When this is the case, the interview is just a way for the employer to confirm they want you.

The best way to put yourself in this position is to use Connectzapp to show employers you’re the best candidate for the role.

I’ll cover how to do that at the end of this video.

When it comes to answering the question

Tell me about yourself.

Keep in mind that the interviewer has already read your resume so they know your skills and work history.

So there’s no need to go through any of that.

You can start with what you’re doing now and reinforce your skills and experience in relation to your ability to perform at a high standard in the role you’re applying for.

If the interviewer doesn’t stop you from speaking you could also go through how you got to where you are now by going through a quick run down of why you’re where you are today and why you’re now applying for this role.

This keeps your answer relevant and on topic and also keeps you on track for the end goal which is for you to secure the role.

Keep in mind that the employer will note how comfortable you are answering the question so keep your answer relaxed and conversational.

Some people suggest you should talk about your hobbies and interests when you answer this question.

I’ve always found this to be a mistake, unless the employer specifically asks about what you do in your spare time.

If they ask then give them a quick answer about your hobbies and interests.

Otherwise, it’s better to keep the conversation focused on the job you’re applying for and your ability to perform in the role.

This is a business setting and it’s likely the interviewer has allotted a set amount of time to speak to you, so make the most of it.

The next step in answering this question is to speak about your goals for the future.

Be careful with this one because depending on the role you’re applying for you don’t want to seem overly ambitious or not ambitious enough.

For some roles, employers are after someone who will fill the role, perform well and stay with it for the long term.

For other roles, employers may be after a go- getter, someone who will work hard and is ambitious.

So if you discuss you future goals with the interviewer, keep in mind who they’re after for the role and frame your answer accordingly.

So use this question as an opportunity to give the employer some background on you, why you’re now sitting in front of them and why you’re interested in the role and would perform well in it given the opportunity.

As I mentioned at the start and I’ve mentioned before, the best chance you have of securing a role is when the employer already knows you’re a great fit for the job.

After you’ve entered the details of the role you’re after, you’re given a list of roles that you’re matched to ranked in order with the best match for you at the top.

You then swipe through the roles, decide which ones appeal to you the most, make a shortlist then contact those employers direct. Easy.

The best part is that the employers can see you’re a good match for the role so when you get to the interview stage the employer is already half sold on you.

This makes sitting through an interview a much easier and more enjoyable process because the employer is interested in you, not just treating you like a number potentially.

You can download Connectzapp from the App Store or Google Play or go to Connectzapp.com

Good luck with your job hunting!