How To Ace The Most Important Job Interview Question Of All Time

Andrew Lokenauth of TheFinanceNewsletter.com has singled out the most important job interview question and pinned down a way to prepare for it and even deliver a great answer when it comes.

What To Know: In an X post last week, Lokenauth argued that the most important job interview question of all time is when an interviewer asks you to tell them about yourself.

“‘Tell me about yourself’ is more than just a question – it’s an opportunity to sell yourself effectively,” Lokenauth said in the post.

Lokenauth recommended keeping your response short and simple, no more than a couple of minutes long. For starters, you can focus on education, work experience and specific skills and achievements, he said. But preparing for the questions ahead of time can really separate you from the pack.

The finance writer explained that researching the company ahead of time and aligning answers with the company’s values and mission can help you stand out. Practice your response until you feel confident and comfortable, and focus on making it sound natural during the interview, he said.

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There are also some things you want to avoid when you give your response. Don’t ramble off qualifications and experience, avoid technical jargon and controversial personal topics, don’t ask about salary or benefits and refrain from being negative about past employers, he said.

“Always focus on the positive aspects of your background and experiences. This shows the interviewer that you have a great attitude and are ready to take on new challenges,” Lokenauth said.

“Tell me about yourself” is often one of the first things a job interviewer will ask you to do. It’s an opportunity to make a strong first impression and help boost your chances of getting a job offer, he said.

The interviewer will want to get to know you based on your response, but they will also be paying attention to how effectively you communicate.

“The key to answering ‘Tell me about yourself,’ is to be confident, concise, and show the interviewer how you can be an asset to their team,” Lokenauth said.

Read Next: 5 Simple Ways To Sell Yourself And ‘Stand Out’ In A Job Interview

This story is part of a new series of features on the subject of success, Benzinga Inspire.

Photo: Aksel Lian from Pixabay.