Many of us dread that moment when an interviewer clasps his hands together, looks us straight in the eye and says, "So, tell me about yourself." It can be the most difficult question to answer, precisely because it is so open-ended. It doesn't ask for anything in particular and we often find ourselves floundering to fill the silence with something, anything. It doesn't have to be a scary moment, though. With preparation, you can answer that dreaded question confidently.

Take the Time to Prepare
When it comes to interviewing for a job, preparation is key. Tailoring your responses to an individual employer helps you show that you can provide the employer with what it needs. As soon as you know you are going to be interviewing for a position, take a few moments and brainstorm. Make a list of tasks you'll be expected to perform and another list of the qualities, skills and experience you have that make you good at those tasks. Once you have your list, you will use it to focus on your top qualities.

Three Best Qualities
Choose your three best qualities. Knowing what these are gives you a way to highlight your strengths. However, keep in mind what you will be doing if you get the position. Choosing qualities related to the position for which you are interviewing shows that you know what's needed to do the job. So, for example, if you are applying for a position as an office assistant, the employer probably is looking for someone organized, with good communication skills and an eye for details. Those would be the qualities in yourself that you would want to highlight. Remember that if they hire you it will be in order to fill their needs, so highlight the qualities you have that will best suit them.

Past Successes
Tell the interviewer where you worked last, or about the job most relevant to your current interview. Highlight any successes or experiences you had in that position, especially if they are relevant to the current interview. For instance, using the office assistant example, you might highlight your reorganization of your previous employer's filing system, the fact that you earned certification in a given software program, or that you have worked professionally as a proofreader. Give a quick summary of your experience with any of the tasks you know you will be required to handle.

Research
Knowing about the position is a good start, but it really does pay to know something about the company for which you are interviewing. You need to be able to tell them why you want to work for them, what you can add to their team, and why you in particular are the best candidate for the job.

Presenting Your Answer
Look your interviewer in the eyes to communicate your confidence. Try to keep your response to the question down to around two minutes. You want to interact with the interviewer and getting stuck in a longer response gives you less time to do that. Give examples of why organization is your best quality, or how you have gained specific experience. Show them your interest in their company, and that you are someone who is prepared.