Don't let "tell me about yourself" derail the interview

When you are in an interview and you hear the words, "Tell me about yourself," do you panic? Some people do and they review every detail on their resume. Some people think the interviewer didn't read the resume before the interview.

But it doesn't mean the interviewer hasn't read your resume! This is an ice-breaker and an opportunity for YOU to set the tone of the interviewer. Dig right in and list up front the key skills you have that they can't live without.

Preparation for this tactic is key. Have a plan in place for every interview so that you know what highlights you want to mention and keep it relevant to the job and the company you're visiting.

Judging from what you know about the job, whether that's a little or a lot, focus on the skills and experience you bring to this interview and this interview only. Begin by choosing three skills you know match the job, the manager, the company and/or the culture and build from that for your opening introductory moments.

Interviewers don't want you to tell them, "It's all in my resume." Nor do they want you to review your resume exhaustively. While you can use your resume as a guide, it's OK to limit it to the relevant skills from your past three jobs, the companies you worked for and the industries you worked in.