The famous first interview question, and one that most people get tripped up on; ‘Tell me about yourself.’ How long should your answer be? What should you say? This post will explore the different ways to answer this difficult ‘Tell me about yourself’ question so you can stand out amongst other applicants!
Give Them Your Story
Your interviewer already knows your name and that you applied to their hospital, but they want to know the rest of your story. What molded you into the person you are today? How was your journey through nursing school? What inspired you to become a nurse? Do you have any passions or hobbies outside of nursing?
Giving them your brief history will help your interviewer understand who you are and if you will be a good fit for the hospital. So make your answer good!
How Long Should Your Answer Be?
Don’t make your answer longer than 2 minutes, but also don’t skimp out on this section. Your answer to this, tell me about yourself question, will set the mood for the rest of the interview. So make it worthwhile! Give them what they want to hear, but add a little sprinkle of your personality as well. Ultimately your aim is to be in between one to two minutes while answering this question.
What Do I Actually Say?
To help outline what you should have in your ‘tell me about yourself’ question, go back in time and take them on a quick journey as to how you got here.
- When did you know you wanted to become a nurse? Were you really young?
- What nursing school did you graduate from? Did you receive any honors?
- What are you especially skilled in? Leadership? Delegation?
- What are your career goals? Specifically goals that align with this job.
- Any personal strengths? Communication? Critical thinking?
Guidance
Nail down your answer to this, “Tell me about yourself” question with a pro! Most universities have some sort of resource center where you can go for interview help and even mock interviews. If you have this luxury, take advantage of it! Go in and schedule a mock interview. Come prepared as if this were a real interview and at the end take notes on what you could have done better. Any feedback at this point is going to help you in your real interview.
Research the Hospital
Do your research on the hospital or organization ahead of time. See where your personal values match up with the hospitals and incorporate this into your answer. For example, if the hospital values patient safety (which every hospital clearly does), and you know first-hand the importance of patient safety in infection prevention, then you can explain to the interviewer how you want to work for a place that values patient safety as much as you do.
Make Yourself Stand Out
Find what makes you unique. What will stick with the interviewer at the end of the day and help persuade them to hire you?
- Are you a full-time nurse but also training in heavy weights?
- Do you have a side hustle where you knit blankets and donate them to kids in need?
- Do you volunteer at an animal shelter when not working?
All of these are unique answers! Responding to the famous ‘tell me about yourself’ question with an answer like these will help ease the tension of the interview. It will set you apart from other applicants who didn’t share anything about their life outside of nursing. And it will make you more calm for the next questions!
Practice Your Answer
You should have your answer planned out ahead of time. Type your answer up. Go through it in your head. Rehearse it with a friend or family member. Feel free to answer the question a bit differently each time as long as you’re hitting on the same key points. After all, in the interview you’re going to be nervous, and your answer isn’t going to come out perfectly. Which is totally normal! Therefore, it’s good to practice your answer to this intimidating question before your interview day!
For more interview help, check out the following posts
- What to Wear for Your Interview
- What to Bring to Your Interview
- Common New Grad Nursing Interview Questions
- Interview Mistakes That Will Cost You the Job
- How to Know if You Should Take the Job
Still in nursing school? Visit Top 10 Best Jobs for Students in Nursing School. Good luck!