This job interview question ‘trips a lot of people up’the best way to answer it [Video]

“Tell me about yourself.” 

It’s one of the most common — and deceptively difficult — questions you might be asked during a job interview.

Most interviewers use this question as an icebreaker. But responding to such a broad invitation to talk about yourself can feel intimidating. 

“Even though it’s the most common job interview question, it trips a lot of people up,” says Julia Pollak, chief economist at ZipRecruiter. “So many candidates have a ‘deer in headlights’ reaction and cycle through their whole biography.”

Since the “tell me about yourself” question is typically asked at the start of a job interview, your response can set the tone for the rest of the conversation. 

“If you have a long-winded, boring answer, it can bring a quick end to the interview,” says Jeff Hyman, an executive recruiter of 28 years. “You don’t want to launch into a long summary of your life story and resume.”

Instead, …