Ex-director of Wharton MBA admissions says too many people mess up when answering a common interview question

You might find it challenging to respond to the most difficult questions.
Tacking on the very conversational "tell me about yourself" can prompt extremely detailed and expansive responses.
A former University-level admissions director offered advice on how applicants should respond.

The straightforward nature of the prompt can be intimidating, causing many hopefuls to stuff their responses with an excessive amount of their professional background and qualifications.

According to Thomas Caleel, a former MBA admissions and financial aid director at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania as reported by Business Insider, there's an effective way to answer a particular question in both academic and job interview settings.

In my opinion, being able to rephrase a question in a way that is respectful to the person asking and showcases your thinking and composure under pressure is a highly valuable skill, one that serves me well both in academic and professional settings.

Caleel shared his thoughts on a recent open-ended question raised during an episode of his podcast, "Admittedly."

When you ask someone to talk about themselves, they tend to go on and on, and after a short while, the interviewer becomes disengaged," he noted. "Their expression changes, and you can tell they're no longer fully engaged.

How can you approach answering this question?

Consider breaking down your response into separate sections and posing a question to the interviewer to encourage a conversation and gain more information.

What I'd suggest you say, and what I think would be a good approach, is to start by saying: 'I'd love to share a bit about myself with you. If you'd like, we could explore my experiences and interests in academics, extracurricular activities, or volunteer work. Which one would you like to hear about first?'

The interviewer is treated as an "active participant" in the conversation, according to Caleel.

The interviewer is drawn into the conversation when you involve them," he added. "You engage them in your answers, rather than overwhelming them with a flood of words.

Caleel's advice primarily targets college applicants, but considering job seekers, his guidelines may be somewhat relevant, as they often talk less about academic achievements and extracurricular activities.

The goal is to "try to engage the interviewer and create a more lively atmosphere," he stated.

Highlight your achievements in previous roles, and emphasize how your skills fit the new position. It's recommended to keep the answer concise, about 1 minute or less.

According to Caleel, candidates who can think quickly, who don't get intimidated by the interview process, and manage to stay sincere and involved during the conversation, typically perform the best.

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