Getting admission to a university abroad is a dream of many, but going through the whole application procedure can be quite nerve-wracking. Universities abroad have become highly selective in choosing the right candidates. One’s exceptional grades are not sufficient, rather what stands you apart from the competition matters more. Therefore, when applying for your dream university, you must prepare for frequently asked questions like “tell me about yourself”, whether you are writing a statement of purpose or appearing for a face-to-face interview. This blog elaborates on the key essentials you must mention while answering the question “tell me about yourself” along with helpful tips and examples to make sure you ace your university application!
Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question and Answer Example PDFDownload
Also know How to Ace Your Self Introduction in an Interview?
This Blog Includes:
Why do College Interviewers Ask This Question?
A Simple Formula to Answer “Tell me about yourself”
Things to Include While Answering “Tell me about yourself”
Tell Me About Yourself Answer
Tell Me About Yourself Interview
Tell Me About Yourself Best Answer
Tell Me About Yourself For Fresher
Tell Me About Yourself Example
Additional Interview Questions Students Can Prepare
Things to Avoid
FAQ
Why do College Interviewers Ask This Question?
Before you answer the question “tell me about yourself” in a college interview, try to put yourself in the shoes of the interviewer. Understanding why an interviewer asks this question enables you to focus on the intent of the inquiry and develop a logical response. This question is asked by interviewers because it corresponds with the main aim of the college interview—getting to know you. An interviewer wants to know who you are and what you would bring to the student body. Allowing you to speak allows an interviewer to discover something about you that they would not have known otherwise.
The “tell me about yourself” question facilitates the transition from casual conversation to the main topic of the interview. An interviewer prefers to set the framework before diving into difficult topics. Starting with a conversational, open-ended question can put you at ease and allow for a more natural flow of the interview.
Finally, an interviewer may utilise details from your response to influence the next part of the interview. Remember that a good college interview should feel like a constructive discussion. Something you mention in your response might be a fantastic transition into the following topic or offer the interviewer an idea for something to bring up later.
A Simple Formula to Answer “Tell me about yourself”
Talk about the present. For example, you can talk about what your current education is, or what are you currently doing. You can also talk about its scope, and maybe about a big recent accomplishment. You can also talk about your past where you can tell the interviewer how you got there. You can also talk about your previous experience that’s relevant to the job. Lastly, you can talk about what you’re looking to do next and where you see yourself in the future!
Things to Include While Answering “Tell me about yourself”
Now that you know what the interviewer is thinking, it’s time to prepare your response to the question “tell me about yourself” in a college interview. The inquiry “tell me about yourself” maybe both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you can portray yourself in a flattering manner to the interviewer. On the other hand, there is the risk of becoming sidetracked and sharing irrelevant information. You can add the following to provide a full answer that remains on track:
Details about your life that show how you’d be a good match at the college
Details that reflect your individuality and help you stand out
A brief explanation of what prompted you to apply to college or select your major
Your one-of-a-kind passions or interests (connect them to the college if possible)
Strengths and successes that may be demonstrated via tales and stories
Protip – Steer clear of typical clichés or descriptions. For example, instead of just saying that you are hardworking, you should explain the importance of being diligent and what made you so hardworking.
How to Tackle the Why MBA Interview Question?
Tell Me About Yourself Answer
Thepersonal statementis a crucial part ofuniversity applications, so catch the eye of the admission committee by adequately structuring your answer and supporting it with relevant examples.
Start with a brief about yourself, highlight your accomplishments, and finally list the differentiators. Overall, make sure to highlight the following factors:
Educational background along with positions held, and awards or commendations received in your previous school or college.
Your motivation behind choosing the course/subject. It would be best if you wrote about why you want to study your chosen course, your interest in the subject, and how you will be a good fit.
Supplement your essay with relevant skills and knowledge. Make it more impactful by listing your hobbies/passions and life goals.
Protip – Try employing the remarkable ‘necklace approach,’ i.e., linking your opening sentence andclosing paragraph to reinforce and add an extra dimension at the end.
For example, if you started your essay on “tell me about yourself” with the motivation behind choosing a specific degree course, you could link it back to it in your closing paragraph by concluding that you would love to study this subject at the University.
Handle Tough Interview Questions with Ease!
Tell Me About Yourself Interview
The interviewer will ask this question as an icebreaker to understand how you are the right “fit” for the course and university and what makes you unique. Here are the major pointers you must keep in mind regarding the interview question “tell me about yourself” in order to set the right pace of your interview.
Your aim when answering this question should be a concise and brief walkthrough of your educational background, interests, passions, and future goals.
Tailor your answer to the University and course you hope to study there. For example, if you want to study Bioinformatics, include your passion for creating computation drug discovery models and your goal of building a career in research.
The answer should be structured in a simple, easy to follow, and tested format of “Past-Present-Future.”
Best Answers for Why MBA
Apart from basic guidelines and strategies on approaching the “tell me about yourself” interview question, here are some samples that can put you on the right track to respond to this question.3ws
Tell Me About Yourself Best Answer
Keeping all the above-stated tips in mind, here’s what a good tell me about yourself sample answer for freshers would look like:
“My name is ______, and I am interested in biology and human physiology. I have always been curious about studying biology as both my parents are doctors, and discussions with them have expanded my knowledge of the healthcare industry.
I was the co-Leader of the medical club and volunteered at my parent’s hospital during high school. All this hands-on experience taught me how to interact with patients and hospital administrators. My strengths are excellent leadership skills, problem-solving, and taking the initiative to work.
My goal is to complete my major in human physiology and contribute to cancer studies. After completing graduation, I would like to work in research.”
How to Answer “Why Should You Be Hired for this Internship?”
Tell Me About Yourself For Fresher
If you’re a fresh graduate applying for a job, you should start with the fact that you just graduated and explainwhy you chose this area of study. Here is an example of “tell me about yourself” answer for fresh graduates:
“My name is ______, and I recently graduated from University _____ with a B.Tech in Biotechnology. During my course, I was involved in multiple internships with different firms, and I am intimately familiar with critical competencies in the biotechnology sector. I was also part of the various student bodies and maintained a GPA of 3.8.
Now, I’m looking to leverage my learning and get some hands-on work experience. I would bring value to an organization like yours through my understanding of this field, and my positive ‘can do” attitude.“
Tell Me About Yourself Example
Here is another example of a well-structured answer that includes your past, present and future strategy.
“I was born in Pune but migrated to New Delhi while I was in elementary school. During my childhood, I used to visit my relatives in Pune on a regular basis. My aunt would take me to museums, libraries, and the theatre on my visits to the city, which started my interest in reading, drama, and theatre arts. I’ve performed in over 30 musicals at my school and local theatre since then. I intend to specialise in musical theatre since I am a brilliant singer and performer who is comfortable in her own skin both on and off the stage.
Despite my love of the theatre, I was quite timid as a child. It took me years to have the confidence to even audition for a play. I am thankful for how my engagement in theatre has helped me develop as a well-rounded individual and excellent communicator. Aside from theatre, I am a huge fan of reading and literature. I believe I am the ideal candidate for (University Name), and I would love to go since it has such a high concentration of academics that specialise in the performing arts and literature. In a nutshell, it’s a fantastic chance for me to learn from such great professors.
Moreover, after spending 14 years of my life landlocked in New Delhi, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to live near the shore once again!”
What are Your Hobbies?
What is Your Strength and Weakness?
Additional Interview Questions Students Can Prepare
In addition to expressing about yourself to the interviewer. Apart from academics and things mentioned in the resume candidate should also prepare for some additional questions. Some are mentioned below.
Have you ever done SWOT (Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat) analysis?
Who is your role model?
Where do you want to be in next 5 years?
What approach and skills make you different from others?
Which historical personality from past you don’t like and why?
Things to Avoid
Although the question “tell me about yourself” may appear general, there are certain things the interviewer wants to learn about you as a candidate, while other elements of your life may be unnecessary or even improper to share.
Your interviewer does not need to know everything about you. Don’t inform the interviewer about personal activities that aren’t related to the school or university,
Don’t talk about your friends, family, or other elements of your life that don’t illustrate how you may contribute as a student.
You should also avoid expressing anything bad about the school or implying that you are uninterested in attending there.
FAQ
Q. What should strictly avoid while telling about yourself in an interview?
During an interview or meeting when asked to shared about oneself. Candidate should never share false information.
Q. What is the basic formula of structuring the conversation in an interview when sharing information about yourself?
Candidate should draft his/her communication on the simple structure formula of Present Past and Future. Candidate should share the details in the same manner.
Q. Do candidate’s dressing and body language matter in an interview?
Yes, dressing, physical appearance and body expression also equally matter in an interview. It is always advised to appear in formal dressing and look confident and real in an interview.
So this was all about how to answer “tell me about yourself” in your college interview. You can reach out to ourLeverage Edu experts and our experts will help you craft an impressive foreign university application to ensure that you get successfully shortlisted into your dream university! Call us at 1800 57 2000 for a free 30-minute counselling session.
For example, you can talk about what your current education
education
Education is the transmission of knowledge, skills, and character traits. There are many debates about its precise definition, for example, about which aims it tries to achieve. A further issue is whether part of the meaning of education is that the change in the student is an improvement.
is, or what are you currently doing. You can also talk about its scope, and maybe about a big recent accomplishment. You can also talk about your past where you can tell the interviewer how you got there.
Your answer to the "tell me about yourself" question should describe your current situation, your past job experience, the reason you're a good fit for the role, and how you align with the company values. Tell the interviewer about your current position and a recent big accomplishment or positive feedback you received.
What's the most meaningful and unique to you, of course! It could be activities you've been involved with, a unique experience you had, your academic interests, values or goals, fun facts or even your family or cultural background.
Example: “I am ambitious and driven. I thrive on challenge and constantly set goals for myself, so I have something to strive towards. I am not comfortable with settling, and I am always looking for an opportunity to do better and achieve greatness.
Details from your life that demonstrate how you'd be a great fit at the college. A brief look at what led you to apply to the college or choose your major. Your unique passions or interests (connect them to the college if possible) Strengths and accomplishments that you can illustrate with stories.
I've always been skilled at bringing people together and working towards common goals. My experience successfully leading teams and managing stores led me to consider administration, and I've been building a career as a health administrator for the last four years.
"Good day, I am [Name], and I am delighted to be here today. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications for the [Position/Job Title] role." "Having [Number] years of experience in [Field], I was able to develop a strong skill set that comes in line with the requirements of this position.
If you are not sure what to share, your name and job title is a great place to start. If there's an opportunity to elaborate, you can also share other details such as a current project, your expertise, or your geographical location.
They take into account more than your GPA and test scores. Your character and the personal qualities you can bring to a college are important, too. That's why you need to think about your goals, accomplishments, and personal values. Then, you can figure out how you can best express those in your applications.
Think about where you were born, how you grew up, who you grew up with, significant life events and experiences, your passions, hobbies, and so on. You want to avoid dwelling on your academic achievements and any other information that the admissions officer can find in your high school resume or common app essay.
I'm currently studying ____________ at _____________, and I hope to become ___________ one day. I'm really passionate about ___________, and I'm always looking for new ways to learn and improve my skills. I'm also a firm believer of teamwork, and I believe that working together is the best way to achieve success.
I am a very honest and decent boy and follow all the instructions from my parents and teachers. I complete my homework regularly and never get late to school. I pay attention and respect to my teachers and elders. Also, I follow every piece of advice from them.
Your interviewer does not need to learn everything there is to know about you. Don't tell your interviewer about personal hobbies that aren't relevant to the school or interview, or talk too much about friends, family, and other aspects of your life that don't show how you might contribute as a student.
The interview is rarely the deciding factor in whether the college will accept you, but it can give a representative from the college a chance to get to know you better. And the interview gives you a chance to: Show your interest in the college. Share information about yourself beyond what's listed on your transcript.
“I'm known for being a detail-oriented, well-organized team player. I never miss deadlines, I'm a good communicator and I can juggle multiple tasks at once. In my performance reviews, my supervisor always notes that he appreciates my professionalism and enthusiasm for the job.
What Is a 5 Minute Self Introduction Speech? As stated in the name, a 5-minute self-introduction speech is an informative speech about yourself with a time limit of five minutes. In this duration, you can talk freely about yourself. You can share facts about your strengths and weaknesses.
Greet your interviewers and tell your name to start the formal introduction. It is always a good idea to prepare for this most expected question beforehand. Do not hesitate to include some informal, personal information, such as your hobbies, or what you do on weekends.
A high GPA (relative to what admitted students have) and a rigorous curriculum. Strong test scores (relative to what admitted students have) A specific, honest, and well-written personal statement and/or essays. A unique extracurricular interest or passion (a "spike," as we like to call it)
College authorities want to know more about your academic interests and commitments. Talk about the specific educational, research, and other academic opportunities offered by the college that appeal to you. Expand on this idea by talking about how these opportunities help support your future goals.
You can ask questions regarding accommodation, teaching methods, resources, scholarships, and curriculum. Make the most of those 30-60 mins and clear all your doubts with the Admissions Officer. Remember to ask these questions at the end of the internal interview.
Your 30-second introduction should be conversational and natural so that you appear confident, enthusiastic, poised, and professional. Although prepared in advance, it should never sound memorized—you want to engage the listener and give him/her an opportunity to see your personality.
I am a self-motivated student always like to inspire my school friends and help them in their hard times. I am a bright student in my school and do well in academic and sports activities. I am able to perform well in any stressful situation.
Consider briefly mentioning your academic experience and any honors or achievements you received during your college career. For example, you can say you're an honors student with proven academic success. You can also say you have experience working across various departments with faculty members and students.
You can start your self-introduction by mentioning your name, experience, occupation and other details to create a positive first impression. Example: “My name is Satish Gupta.II am a recent chemical engineering graduate with six months of industrial training at a leading paper manufacturing company.”
5 Tips For Writing About Yourself On College Applications
SHOW PERSONAL DEPTH. While students may be tempted to state just the facts of their background, encourage depth and description in their application. ...
Writing a resume with no formal work experience means emphasizing other aspects of your life that'll showcase your skills and passions—like your education, and involvement in activities like extracurriculars or volunteering. Having dedicated sections for a summary and a list of skills can round out your resume.
You can create a killer no-experience resume by emphasizing your education instead. Include relevant internships, soft & hard skills, and projects. Other sections you can include on your resume are hobbies & interests, languages, certifications, or achievements.
Introduction: My name is Carlyn Walter, I am a lively, glamorous, healthy, clean, powerful, calm, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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