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You've sat down for your interview with sweaty palms and your heart racing 100 miles per hour
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and before you even get a chance to catch your breath, you're asked the dreaded question
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tell me about yourself. To make sure that you don't stutter when answering this question
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we'll talk you through some tips that will help you form a convincing answer. Number 1. Don't talk about personal achievements
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Don't shoot yourself in the foot by rambling on and listing loads of personal achievements
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Tell me about yourself. Well, I'd describe myself as a likable person. When I was just 16 years old, I won my local
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beauty pageant, which required lots of discipline in terms of diet and self-care. I then went on to
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create my own YouTube channel. As you can see, this candidate hasn't adequately prepared for
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the interview and is offering nothing valuable to the employer. So instead of talking about
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personal achievements, focus on professional ones that convey your skills and experience
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Number 2. Give a concise and clear answer This shouldn't be a monologue about your entire life story. Instead, you should aim to give a
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short but precise answer on your professional journey thus far. Aim to talk for no longer than
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60 seconds and give your interviewer a chance to ask a question if needed
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Number 3. Give a snapshot of your work history The hiring manager would have already read your CV, so you don't need to recite what it says
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Instead, use this as a basis to expand on your experience and achievements
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I am a creative copywriter with over 5 years experience working in the travel industry
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I mainly wrote about my new experiences and tested out new hotels and packages
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My writing was published in The Traveller's Guide and Time Out, which is a huge achievement
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However, I would now like to work for a single organization and have a solid readership instead of freelancing
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Within this example, the candidate keeps her answer short but offers insight into her largest
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achievement. Number 4. Create a connection Although it's hard to create a connection by answering a single question, you should try to
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connect your experience to that of the company. For example, if you know that the company supports
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a charity that is close to your heart, you can mention this within your example
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In my previous company, I spent some time on the social committee raising awareness
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for mental health and we run a 5K marathon to raise money for Time to Change
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That's inspiring. We also support a similar charity here and dedicate a few days a year
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for fundraising activities. Number 5. Explain why you're the right fit for the role Finish your answer by explaining why you're
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the right person for the job. I believe that my experience in writing
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can help enhance your marketing material and create more brand awareness, which in turn
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will drive more clients to the business. Number 6. Tailor your answer to the job
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When answering this question, be sure to uniquely tailor it to the job that you're applying to
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For example, the answers that we have supplied above may not be relevant to every position
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So, now you know how to answer this question, you can start your interview on the right foot
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That said, if you're looking for more tips and tricks, visit CareerAddict.com for more advice
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And don't forget to like the video and click on the subscribe button to get more insightful tips
