I’ve helped many physicians prepare for interviews for non-clinical positions, administrative jobs, and academic leadership roles. 

The question, Tell Me About Yourself, comes up >95% of the time in both screening and panel interviews. 

After social niceties, it’s typically the first question you’ll be asked.

If you can succinctly communicate why YOU are the right person for the job, you’re off to a strong start!

ALTERNATIVE VERSIONS OF THIS QUESTION:

“Walk me/us through your resume.”

“Tell me a little bit about your background and how you came to apply for this job.”

SUGGESTED FORMAT

There are many approaches to what to include in this question. Here’s one: 

Divide your answer into 3 sections:

Why me, Why now, Why this job?

Or

Who I am, Where I’ve been, and Where I’m going. 

WHY ME

Start with the background skills (include hard and soft skills) and experiences that prepare you for this position. Include highlights of your training and current role as they pertain to the job. 

WHY NOW

Why are you’re interested in pivoting now? 

Why THIS JOB

Why this role with this company? Show that you’ve done your research on the role and the company. 

EXAMPLE:

This physician was interviewing for a role as medical director for a utilization management company:

“I was born into an immigrant family and I’m the first person in my family to go to medical school. I learned the value of resilience and hard work from my parents. After I started practicing medicine, I discovered I enjoyed problem solving and improving systems. I’ve been involved in quality improvement and clinical resource audits in my role as an attending hospitalist. After 10 years of practice, I’m at a point in my career where I want to be doing more of this work to make a bigger impact on resource utilization. A former colleague who works at this company told me about the open position. When I read the description and spoke to her about the company, I knew I had to apply.”

DOS AND DON’TS

Do: Answer the question in 2 minutes or less. 

Do: Tell a story. Make it memorable. Weave in something personal or unique.

Do: Practice with a friend or coach. 

Do: Tailor your answer to the specific role you’re interviewing for.  

Do: Show enthusiasm for the role.

Don’t: Focus on WHY YOU’RE leaving your current role. Instead, focus on what you’re going towards. You may be burned out, or tired of patient care, or in a toxic work environment. Avoid leading with these. 

Don’t: Give a chronological account of all your training and jobs. Instead, highlight the pertinent training and jobs that make you a good fit for the role. Remember, the interviewers have your resume or CV in front of them. 

Don’t: Overprepare or memorize. 

Don’t: Worry about being nervous. It’s OK to be nervous. If you stumble over your words, or your mind goes blank, ask to start over! 

TAKE HOME

A strategic answer to the question, Tell Me About Yourself, sets you up for a strong start to an interview. 

Have a structured format in mind, tailor your answer to the specific role, and practice! You’ve got this!