If you’re like most people, talking about yourself in a job interview can feel pretty uncomfortable.
For instance, it may feel like you’re boasting or taking credit for others’ work when showcasing your individual contributions within the broader team context. And it can be hard to know what information to share (and not share) when answering “tell me about yourself” questions.
But the reality is that you need to be able to confidently and effectively describe your strengths and accomplishments, and how they make you a good fit for the job, to be considered for a position.
With that in mind, here are some tips for talking about yourself in a way that's both confident and authentic.
Get Your Head Straight
If talking about yourself in an interview feels stressful, then you’re doing it wrong. “You’re not supposed to be selling yourself as the end-all, be-all,” said Neil Schultz, founder of Career Upgrader.
The idea is to position yourself as a collaborative partner who can work alongside others to solve problems and achieve a common goal. Making that mental shift and grounding your stories in facts, real-world examples and service to others can make talking about yourself easier.
Being proud of your accomplishments doesn't inherently mean bragging, noted Ian Douglas, an independent career coach. There's nothing wrong with enjoying and celebrating your accomplishments.
“Don’t minimize or diminish what you’ve achieved or the impact you’ve had,” Douglas said. You can effectively convey pride or happiness about your achievements without being boastful or arrogant; the key is to be mindful of your tone of voice, body language and what you say.
For instance, saying something like: “I’ve had the opportunity to work on some amazing projects. I’d love to tell you about them,” allows you to be self-focused in a humble way.
Comfort Begins with Preparation
Having a well-rehearsed elevator pitch tailored toward the needs and interests of the hiring manager can help you feel secure and at ease when describing yourself in an interview setting.
You don’t need to have your success stories memorized, but you do need to have them down pat. Or as Schultz puts it: “When you’re at ease, the interviewer feels at ease.” From a hiring manager’s perspective, intangibles like attitude, compatibility and even a sense of humor can be a key factor in distinguishing a top candidate.
Your goal is to feel comfortable talking about your successes and the examples of the projects you’ve worked on, the impact you’ve had, and the problems you’ve solved. The reality is the only way to become comfortable is to practice. Recording your performance and then critiquing it can keep you from rambling or using too many filler words like "um," "ah," "you know," and "basically,” which add nothing to the conversation.
Your elevator pitch should be about 90 seconds to three minutes long and cover the elements listed below. It’s critical to note, however, that your pitch should be developed within the context of its purpose, which is to highlight the specific value you offer to the potential employer.
Key Aspects of Your Elevator Pitch
Who You Are: Focus on education, work experience and certifications that make you a good fit for the role you’re pursuing. It’s okay to show a little bit of your human side, but it’s generally best to avoid sharing personal details or information about side hustles or hobbies… unless they boost your candidacy.
Your Strengths: Highlight your top abilities, skills and qualities, all tailored to the specific role you're seeking. To set yourself apart and showcase your organizational fit, make sure to mention things that are integral to your brand identity and align with the company’s mission and work environment. For example, refer to yourself as a Scrum Master known for being a servant leader, or a developer known for nurturing strong relationships and fostering collaboration on cross-functional teams.
Your Major Accomplishments: Have examples of projects you’ve worked on, problems you’ve solved, and the impact you’ve created ready to go, then choose one or two for your elevator pitch.
Relevance Matters: In other words, when selecting accomplishments and projects to describe your experience, focus on those that align with the specific requirements of the role. Remember that hiring managers are genuinely interested in hearing about what’s important to them.
Be a STAR: Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is a highly effective way to describe your role on a team. Briefly describe the project or problem facing the team, then quickly pivot to the specific actions you took, why they mattered, and the tangible value you created.
Interweave "we" and "I” to show respect for the team structure in achieving common goals, but don’t be afraid to say, “I was in charge of this” or, “My area of focus was resolving the stakeholder conflicts that were hindering progress.”
When it comes to talking about yourself in interviews, using “I” can be a good thing, Douglas said.
What You Want in New Opportunities: Finally, explain what you’re looking for in a new opportunity. Describe what motivates you and how you see that coming to fruition in this particular role or company.
For instance: “I’m looking to leverage my engineering, leadership, creative and visionary skills in a product management role. I feel that I’m ready and able to play a key role in shaping product strategy and vision, impacting the overall success of a company.”
Beyond your skills, a hiring manager wants to understand your strengths and values, and how you might fit within their team or company. Talking about yourself in the right way during an interview can provide a complete picture of who you are and increase your chances of landing an offer.
