I regularly remind students preparing for first interviews, that these occasions are just conversations (with purpose and a certain formality) through which the interviewer can get to know them beyond the paperwork.  

Already they have read your CV and covering letter, but it is through meeting you in person (or via Zoom) that depth is lent to understanding what you are really about.  They are then better able to determine as to whether you would be a good candidate for the position that needs to be filled.  

 ‘Tell me about yourself’ is their way of opening up the conversation with you, giving you the opportunity to highlight what you have done and the relevance of your education and training thus far.   

This question could also be posed as:  

What are your strengths?;  

Why are you a good candidate for this position?;  

What experience have you had thus far that demonstrates that you would be capable of taking on this role within our firm?;

Do you see yourself as being a good fit with our  organisation?; 

Why would you like to work here?;

Why would we want to employ you?

Because you will already have done the necessary thorough research into the organisation and because you know the type of person (and attributes) that they will be looking for to fill the position, this is the time to tell them what you are currently up to, it’s relevance and link that into why you are the person that they need on their team!  Preparation also ensures that you can deliver a reasoned answer that cuts out needless waffling, which can  so easily happen.  Remember too that there are no universally ‘right answers’ – just answers that are ‘right for you’.  

So, what are they wanting to know:

They would like to hear what you are CURRENTLY doing.   MENTION your RELEVANT  ACADEMIC  experience, always being POSITIVE  about what you have learned (remembering that it is imperative to be GENUINE).

If you have WORK EXPERIENCE  that demonstrates that you are in a good position to do the work that would be required of you at this organisation – then tell them about it!  Real EXAMPLES help to ‘paint the picture’ for the interviewer.

You will have TRANSFERRABLE SKILLS – looking back on your years of studying and other experiences gained, what skills have you used that are valuable in the workplace.  (ie teamwork; completing challenging assignments on time; working to an excellent standard; prioritising important projects).

This is why, for every interview it is imperative you know about the organisation, what is important for them, what their guiding principles are about and what the actual position that is on offer entails.  Looking carefully at this, you can then tell them things about yourself that would matter to them.

And as you talk about yourself, remember to be absolutely genuine.  You want to be the person in that interview that, if you were to be offered the position, are the same person at work that they met during the interview.