“So tell me something about yourself?”, is one of the most popular questions asked during front-end developer interviews.
Well, don’t get caught off guard!
This is your chance to let your recruiters know why they should hire you.
You'll have a better chance of succeeding if you make a good/deep impression on your interviewer. Most of us aren't strangers to self-introductions because we meet new people on a regular basis and have to introduce ourselves. Self-introductions in interviews, on the other hand, are a little different from real life; you'll need to tweak them to your advantage. Make your self-introduction specific to the role of front-end developer and organization you're applying for! Your self-introduction changes as you get older and go through various stages of life.
Here are some of the quick tips to keep in mind while preparing for your front end developer interview:
- Make it professional
Keeping in mind that this question has an unspoken addendum—“as it relates to this job and company”—it's best to keep your answer professional.
This introductory question not only serves as an icebreaker and transition, but it also aids recruiters and hiring managers in achieving one of their primary goals in the hiring process: getting to know you. If you respond well, the interviewers will begin to understand why you are the right choice as a front-end developer in terms of both hard and soft skills.
It's a great chance to show off your ability to communicate clearly and efficiently, interact with and react to other people, and present yourself professionally as a front-end developer.
- Elevator pitch
The best way to know how to respond to the question "tell me about yourself" is to make sure you can succinctly and clearly describe how you're qualified for a front-end developer role and, more importantly, why you want it. Spend some time reading the job description in the recruitment ad for the role and investigating the business before you start crafting your selling points. You'll have a better idea of what the hiring manager is looking for in terms of expertise and experience this way.
Prepare a short script that highlights your skills, talents, and areas of expertise that are important to you as a front-end developer. Then go over why you're applying for a front-end developer position, emphasizing career-related motives including a desire to gain experience and take on more responsibilities. Finish with a brief comment on why you want to work for this particular organization.
- Make yourself a brand
Create a personal tagline that explains what you do and the "X" attribute that distinguishes you from the competition. Don't make a list of diverse skill sets. Employers are interested in hearing the juicy information. Enable them to hear unique outcomes from your skill sets.
If you're a front-end developer, for example, you might say, "I'm a front-end developer with over 5 years in the company and over 100 websites and apps developed to date." I have a track record of doing XYZ, which has resulted in a significant boost in sales this quarter alone.”
- Practice
You don't want to wait until you're asked this question in a live interview to practice your answer. Before each interview, think about what you want to say about yourself and practice saying it out loud.
The more you practice answering "Tell me about yourself," the more natural it will be when you present yourself.
To track your body language and tone, try filming yourself on a webcam or practicing in front of a mirror. This aids in the elimination of bad habits such as fidgeting, speaking too softly or loudly and avoiding eye contact with the interviewer.
- Keep it short and crisp
Tell them about some of the highlights from your favorite/most impressive projects, including any numbers or obstacles you've faced. Don't go into detail about how you handled the entire project. If this piques their curiosity, they will come up with their own questions.
What not to say
- Avoid statements like “I’m devoted, dedicated, hardworking”
Is this your first time working? Discuss your educational history, and career experience, group work, or volunteer work you've done that demonstrates your expertise and commitment to your profession, as well as any job-related journals or blogs you read.
If this isn't your first work, emphasize your past experience, how you keep your skills current, and positive outcomes from previous ventures.
Exact percentages and figures on how much money you made or saved a business are a music to the ears of a potential boss!
If you surpassed a previous employer's expectations or success targets, make sure to note it. You can bet that the next thing they'll ask you is how you intend to do this for their business.
- Avoid rambling
Make your answer short and detailed. You want your answer to be thorough enough to convey the most relevant details without being tedious.
If you try to think of an answer to uncomfortable interview questions on the spot, you may forget important details about your history and experiences. This is a question for which you can definitely prepare a response ahead of time.
Final words
Be precise. Your answer does not take up too much time. You are not required to tell the hiring manager anything that makes you a strong candidate. Simply have a few key pieces of information that will pique their interest in learning more about you, and you'll be well on your way to a successful interview.
For more guidance and career, counseling visit us at A2N Academy! Enroll in our course on Front end development and footstep in the IT industry.