How to Craft Your Response to “Tell Me About Yourself” When the Interviewer Already Has Your Resume
A reader reached out with a common interview dilemma:
During an interview, I was asked the classic “Tell me about yourself” question, but the interviewer mentioned that they had my resume in front of them. This made me wonder how to approach the question without repeating details from my resume. I crafted a concise, professional pitch under 2 minutes, linking it to why I was interested in the role.
However, I still feel uncertain about what is expected when an interviewer specifies they have your resume. Should I focus on highlighting key aspects from my resume or take a different approach?
I’ve come across advice suggesting that sharing stories about career decisions can be more engaging than solely discussing metrics listed on your resume. Yet, the prevailing guidance emphasizes professionalism, resume highlights, and metrics. Despite not advancing in that interview, both the interviewer and I agreed it wasn’t the best fit. Moving forward, I aim to improve and tackle this opening question more confidently.
So, when interviewers ask about you and have reviewed your resume, what do they actually want to hear?
For my response to this inquiry, head over to New York Magazine for further insights.
