Another thing that stumps me in interviews is the first question, “tell me about yourself.” What are they looking for? Do they want me to list my experience, everything that’s already on my resume? Do they want me to list personal interests and hobbies outside of work? Do they want me to tell them I’m a widower and single parent? What is the correct response to this question?

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Never talk about being a single parent. That might actually work against you. I talk about my professional experience when asked this question.

I think I will end up being a single parent soon

All they want to know is where you're from, where you went to school, and where you worked. They aren't asking for your life story, and the more concise you can keep it, the better off you'll be. If you have an unusual hobby, or you've done something remarkable, that's worth mentioning. But for the most part it's best to keep it short and let the conversation proceed from there.

I treat this as a positioning question, not a biography. I briefly connect my background to their problem and stop. I do not share personal hardship unless it directly adds context or strength to my story.

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