Tell me about yourself.
Interviewers often lead with this question to get a feel for your personality. They are hoping to hear about who you are "in a nutshell," and they're curious about what aspects of yourself you'll choose to highlight.
Preparation is key in answering this question. You'll want to be concise, yet offer details--don't share your whole life story! Be cognizant of how long you spend answering this question. If the interviewers have follow-up questions, they will ask!
"I'm originally from Colorado where I grew up with my mom and two brothers. I followed what most would consider a "normal" academic path, although I did take a year off between high school and college to travel. I've always been an animal lover, and I actually thought I might become a veterinarian at one point before I realized I was more interested in caring for people than pets. I do have two dogs and a bird! I'm actually the second physician in my family; my cousin is a surgeon in Florida. My sister and I are very close. In fact, if I match here, she's thinking about moving to the area. As you can imagine, my life for nearly the last decade has been largely focused on medicine, and I'm really proud of my accomplishments."
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I am an Indian who grew up in a culturally diverse environment in the United Arab Emirates. I attended medical school in the UAE and moved to the US after marriage. Me and my husband, who is a hardware engineer, lived for a few years in Texas before moving to Pennsylvania for my internal medicine residency training. Since childhood, I have been passionate about medicine, Indian classical dance, and chess. We have been blessed with a baby girl who is now 14 months old. On weekends, you would find me spending quality time with my baby girl or playing a game of chess with my husband in a coffee shop.
Marcie's Feedback
Wow! You do a great job of conveying who you are in your answer. Although all the details you've included are fascinating, don't feel obligated to share personal information about your nationality or family/children in your response unless you prefer to. Also, consider talking more about your passion for medicine and where it came from, as well as reminding the interviewer about some of the skills and qualities you possess that will allow you to excel in this field. Good job!
