Important Interview Question: Tell me about yourself

[OrphanageCaretaker]

So I'm trying to nail down the question of "Tell me about yourself" but I have run into a question. Watching Kevin Ahern's guide for med school interviews (can be used for dental as well), he says you answer the question of tell me about yourself by a brief history of yourself and then mentioning why you want to do medicine/go into the medical field (again dental in this case). I was told by my advisor that this is absolutely wrong and the question should be answered without mentioning anything about dentistry. Instead I should only mentioning my passion or interest in dentistry if I get asked the question, why dentistry? She advised me to stick to a brief history of myself and then some hobbies etc. Is there anyone with vast interview advice that can tell me which answering technique is correct?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[670206]

I would not mention dentistry, mainly because the follow-up question is usually "why dentistry?"

 

[Michael_Scott]

this question made me so anxious during the interviews but it is so simple. Tell me about yourself ? Past,present,future is a very loose template to use.
where do you come from ? what are you doing now, what do you like to do apart from dentistry ? and what is your outlook for the future. Basically, talk about anything that is not controversial. It's simply for them to engage you and make some conversation.

 

[careerchanger09]

So I'm trying to nail down the question of "Tell me about yourself" but I have run into a question. Watching Kevin Ahern's guide for med school interviews (can be used for dental as well), he says you answer the question of tell me about yourself by a brief history of yourself and then mentioning why you want to do medicine/go into the medical field (again dental in this case). I was told by my advisor that this is absolutely wrong and the question should be answered without mentioning anything about dentistry. Instead I should only mentioning my passion or interest in dentistry if I get asked the question, why dentistry? She advised me to stick to a brief history of myself and then some hobbies etc. Is there anyone with vast interview advice that can tell me which answering technique is correct?

I definitely don't have "vast interview experience" but I agree that your answer should be short and succinct (60 seconds). Think of this as your intro paragraph to your interview and highlight 2 or 3 things you want to discuss in your interview. Use this as a chance to pique their interest in you. I think you can also insert something fun about your interests outside of academics.

-I grew up in ___________ and went to school at _______________.
-The first thing you should know about me is __________________________________. I would love to tell you more about that.
-The second thing you shoiuld know about is __________________________________.
-Lastly, I'm kinda of a nerd. In my free time, I love to play board games and listen to podcasts.

 

[redhotchiligochu]

Not a bad start, but I think that's too formulaic. Definitely depends on the interview atmosphere (is it relaxed, formal, structured, everything in between?) but they'll definitely know your name, so I'd start right off the gate with school, major, hometown, and a hobby that doesn't involve partying or videogames. Make it as conversational as you can since being formulaic can come off as "rehearsed" and that's a no-no for most interviews.

 

[Life of Pablo]

I've talked about so many different things - from hobbies to family to different interests. My interviewers have always just went with it, and we end up talking about very random things sometimes. I think those conversations are best. They aren't rehearsed and the interviewer gets a good feel for your personality.

 

[Life of Pablo]

Not a bad start, but I think that's too formulaic. Definitely depends on the interview atmosphere (is it relaxed, formal, structured, everything in between?) but they'll definitely know your name, so I'd start right off the gate with school, major, hometown, and a hobby that doesn't involve partying or videogames. Make it as conversational as you can since being formulaic can come off as "rehearsed" and that's a no-no for most interviews.

Dude...my interviewer and I talked about video games extensively hahaha.

 

[allantois]

Dude...my interviewer and I talked about video games extensively hahaha.

LOL I can imagine it coming up as a manual-dexterity question

 

[allantois]

So I'm trying to nail down the question of "Tell me about yourself" but I have run into a question. Watching Kevin Ahern's guide for med school interviews (can be used for dental as well), he says you answer the question of tell me about yourself by a brief history of yourself and then mentioning why you want to do medicine/go into the medical field (again dental in this case). I was told by my advisor that this is absolutely wrong and the question should be answered without mentioning anything about dentistry. Instead I should only mentioning my passion or interest in dentistry if I get asked the question, why dentistry? She advised me to stick to a brief history of myself and then some hobbies etc. Is there anyone with vast interview advice that can tell me which answering technique is correct?

You should talk about why you don't like to shave your beard.

Honestly just relax and have some confidence - if they are interviewing you that means your stats are already good and they just need to make sure they aren't admitting someone totally antisocial. You know this question is gonna come up as a first thing in an interview. Tell them briefly your story and, yes, include why dentistry. Hopefully the story will lead up to that. Don't sound scripted. I would just think about what you want to say, but wouldn't necessarily practice saying it as to avoid giving an obviously rehearsed answer.

 

[laundry]

whatever you do, don't mention school or dentistry...I zone out within 3 sec of that story...tell us something INTERSTING!

P.S. Please "Like" this... I haven't been on this for a long time and need to change some stuff in the profile, but there is this new crap about like ratio to posts....

 

[NYK33AllDay]

I talked about how my parents have been a huge part of my life and the interviewer and I talked about our parents and how helpful they have been in our lives for like 15 mins lol

 

[FanOfCostco]

So I kinda told them my life story from high school on. It went a little something like this:

In West Philadelphia, born and raised on the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool and all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school when a couple of guys who were up to no good started makin' trouble in my neighborhood I got in one little fight and my mom got scared and said "You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air"