Narrator: It is a safe bet this will be one of the first questions you will face and the

way you answer it will set the tone for the entire interview.

ON-SCREEN: "Keep it Professional” appears on board.

Narrator: One thing that stays true for this answer every time you are asked; KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL.

Narrator: Employers are not asking you this question because they want to know what

Narrator: your favorite color is; they want to know why you are the best candidate for the job.

ON-SCREEN: “Give a good First Impression” appears on board.

Narrator: Employers want to hire the best person for the job, and your job is to

Narrator: convince them this is you as it is most likely the first question you will face in your interview,

Narrator: it is one of the first impressions you will be giving the employer.

ON-SCREEN: “Do Not Volunteer Personal Information” appears on board.

Narrator: You want to give the most professional image of yourself as possible,

Narrator: in order to accomplish this, do not volunteer personal information. please tell me

ON-SCREEN: At the Boss' Office

Boss: “Tell me about yourself…”

Interviewee 1: “Well, I'm 23 years old, I was born and raised in this city,

Interviewee 1: I have 2 dogs and I love basketball…”

ON-SCREEN: Narrator appears in foreground

Narrator: This candidate has already set himself back,

Narrator: you do not want to give any information about your personal life,

Narrator: but rather your professional life and how it relates to the position you are interviewing for.

Narrator: To do this successfully you need to prepare and structure your answer highlighting your relevant education,

Narrator: experience and professional qualities.

ON-SCREEN: “Highlight your previous experiences and education” appears on board

Narrator: From the job description you know what the qualifications for the job are and what skills the employer is looking for,

Narrator: so you want to highlight all of your previous work experience, education,

Narrator: training and all other professional skills that are relevant to the position.

Narrator: No matter what your work history is, you have transferrable skills.

Narrator: If this is your first job in your field then highlight the skills and training you received from your education as they

Narrator: pertain to the job and talk about any transferrable skills you might have gained from any of your work experiences.

Narrator: Highlight your accomplishments as well. If you received any academic awards,

Narrator: or any promotions or commendations from your job, feel free to mention it.

ON-SCREEN: “Tailor your answer” appears on board

Narrator: Not every position you interview for is going to be exactly the same, even if the job title is.

ON-SCREEN: “Study the Job Description” appears on board

Narrator: Each company has different needs, so study the job description and figure out exactly what it is they are looking for.

Narrator: Once you figure out what the employer is looking for in a candidate, your job is to be that person,

Narrator: so emphasize the skills and qualifications you have that relate to the job specifically.

ON-SCREEN: “Chronological Order” appears on board

Narrator: Try to keep your answers in chronological order. You do not have to recap your professional history year by year,

Narrator: but detailing the experiences and skills that you have gained as you attained them in an organized fashion will leave a good impression on the employer.

Narrator: Your resume can help you with this as it is in chronological order and can help you set a timeline.

Narrator: Now that you have the structure here is a good example:

ON-SCREEN: At the Office-Boss Office

Boss: “Please, tell me about yourself”

Interviewee 2: “Lets see, I believe I have a very solid background in Medical Assisting. I earned my degree in Medical Assisting where I learned valuable skills,

Interviewee 2: such as taking vitals, administering injections, explaining treatment procedures to patients,

Interviewee 2: preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician with examinations.

Interviewee 2: While earning my degree I worked in customer service at ABC Fashion for 3 years as well,

Interviewee 2: where I gained valuable communication skills and learned how to address customer's needs,

Interviewee 2: which enables me to relate and effectively communicate with patients and their needs.

Interviewee 2: I also completed an internship at a Health Clinic while in school,

Interviewee 2: where I picked up more valuable skills including updating patient files and medical records,

Interviewee 2: handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission and helped make sure the office ran smoothly.

Interviewee 2: These are all valuable skills which I will hopefully be able to apply to this position and bring to your office”.

ON-SCREEN: “Keep it Professional” on board

Narrator: Remember, when answering the question, tell me about yourself,

Narrator: keep it professional and do not give any personal information.

ON-SCREEN: “Highlight your previous experiences and education” appears on board

Narrator: Tell them your work history and transferrable skills as it relates to the job you are interviewing for,

Narrator: highlight your skills from your relevant education and training that will help you in the position…

ON-SCREEN: “Chronological Order” appears on board

Narrator:…and do so in an organized, chronological fashion.