How to Answer ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ in a Job Interview originally appeared on usnews.com. Update 08/09/24: This story was published at an earlier date and has been updated with new information.

Q: How do I answer the interview question “Tell me about yourself?” A: Chances are you’ve been asked this question in a job interview before and chances are you will be again.

Discover why interviewers ask this question — and how to shine when you answer it.

Answering this common interview question can be tricky. HBR offers tips on how to craft a compelling response that highlights your fit for the role.

That’s because “Tell us about yourself” is one of the candidate’s few chances to control the message in an interview.

“Tell me about yourself” is usually intended as a softball ice-breaker to help ease into the conversation — somewhat ironically, given how nervous it makes some candidates, but that’s the case ...