Tell me about yourself: Interview help.

[drgreen]

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How would you go about preparing an answer to the question: "Tell me about yourself."

 

[topdent1]

I was asked this question about 4 years ago when I was applying for my first lab job. I ended up giving the man my life history and lineage and talked for 10 minutes wondering what the hell I was saying. He looked bored out of his mind. That's what you shouldn't do. Since than, I have refined my answer to the question and its quite simple to answer. I agree with teh above poster, you need to let them know about your hobbies, values, and why you selected dentistry as a career. Make the answer concise and to the point.

 

[drgreen]

thanks for your help.

 

[Lopyswine]

you should always answer that question in a very relaxed conversational manner.

 

[blankguy]

You should look at things about yourself that you want to highlight. Countries that you lived. Any interesting experiences you've had aside from the academic ones. Things that you feel make you into who you are now. Obviously they don't want a long winded explanation.

 

[hoss19]

You should look at things about yourself that you want to highlight. Countries that you lived. Any interesting experiences you've had aside from the academic ones. Things that you feel make you into who you are now. Obviously they don't want a long winded explanation.

such a broad question indeed. i'd preface my answer by asking them if there is anything that they would like to know in particular, then mention the things that i could talk about, but ultimately tell them a few thigns about yourself (relating to dentistry or not) that 1) you are proud of 2) speak well to you character 3) are interesting to a broad range of people and 4) help to define who you are. You can even get creative and weave these personal attributes into how they brought you to pursue dschool. also...tell a story about yourself, stories always sell, take up time, are interesting, are easy to do if you practice.

going into a rant on your biochem professor that sunk your GPA with a D final grade is not what they are looking for by posing this question. In fact if i were the interviewer asking this question and got an answer explaining any shortcummings, i'd immediate show that interviewee the door. but thats just me.

 

[Tejv24]

http://mydds.wordpress.com
helpful pointers on interview

 

[Contach]

such a broad question indeed. i'd preface my answer by asking them if there is anything that they would like to know in particular, then mention the things that i could talk about, but ultimately tell them a few thigns about yourself (relating to dentistry or not) that 1) you are proud of 2) speak well to you character 3) are interesting to a broad range of people and 4) help to define who you are. You can even get creative and weave these personal attributes into how they brought you to pursue dschool. also...tell a story about yourself, stories always sell, take up time, are interesting, are easy to do if you practice.

going into a rant on your biochem professor that sunk your GPA with a D final grade is not what they are looking for by posing this question. In fact if i were the interviewer asking this question and got an answer explaining any shortcummings, i'd immediate show that interviewee the door. but thats just me.

I would not ask them if they wanted to know something in particular, because they will say no. Guaranteed. If they wanted to know something in particular, they will ask about it: these guys aren't afraid of prying.

Also, on such a broad question like this, I would not talk about dentistry. My focus would be me as a person, so, as other have said: surface-conversation-starting stuff like where I lived and some hobbies. then get into your values, beliefs, talk about friends, family and the people around you.
Dentistry I will talk about during the next 35 minutes of questions they ask.

I agree with you that stories are clutch. But I would have a hard time thinking of how one fits in. If it doesn't fit well, then it's going to seem out of place. Also, very few people are good at telling stories. If you aren't one of them (which I am not) then I think it's best not to bring it up.