Here's How to Answer the Most Common Job Interview Question

Preparing for a job interview is different for everyone, but there are a few questions almost guaranteed to come up - and you can bet money on the first one being: "Could you tell me a little about yourself?"

Technically, this should be an easy answer - because who could know your story better than you? - but there's a reason employers ask it every time... and it's not just to hear you waffle on about the time you built a papier-mâché solar system at school.

Darain Faraz, careers expert at LinkedIn told Cosmopolitan UK: "Most interview questions are about professional situations, so this one gives you a good idea of a candidate's personality.

"It’s such a broad topic, so what they choose to talk about and how they go about addressing a question like that gives a great insight into what’s most important to them, what they’ll be like to work with and whether they’ll be a good fit for your organisation."

Yeah, so no pressure.

"This is your chance to show who you are personally as well as professionally"

The good news is, it's actually very easy to impress your new potential boss.

Firstly, know that they don't want to hear your entire life story, so keep your answer short and sweet - and most importantly, relevant to the role you're interviewing for. Darain says:

"This is your chance to really show off your passions and skills, so use this question to give the interviewer all the key things you want them to remember about you when they review all the candidates at the end of the day."

So, are you a good leader? Great, let them know by talking about a time you managed a project. Managed to launch a new initiative in a previous role? Explain how.

Darain says it's just as important to prepare for this question as any other.

"Ahead of the interview, spend some time thinking through the qualifications of the role, as well as the personal qualities the employer is looking for," he advises.

"It sounds simple, but re-reading the job description and doing your research on who will be interviewing you will really help to tailor your answers, so make sure you have a look at your interviewers’ LinkedIn profile as part of your preparation. You never know, you might have worked with some of the same people, are from the same town or went to the same university. All of these insights can be a really great way of breaking the ice in an interview and make you that extra bit memorable."

Finally, don't be scared to mention some personal qualities. "It may even be worth mentioning a slightly unusual hobby or experience you have - whether that be bungee jumping or watching every single Oscar nominated film this year - that demonstrates personal development or commitment," Darain says. "This way, you can subtly highlight how your experiences and skills may help you nab that role.”

You've got this.