If your next interview begins with this opener, be happy! You have just been handed a precious gift: the opportunity to ensure that the interviewer hears what YOU want him to remember. Many candidates dread general or broad reaching questions, but I say... embrace them. This is your chance to tell your story: your concise, clear, compelling and memorable story. Almost any practiced candidate can respond well to questions about a specific topic or situation, but it is the rare job applicant who can spin a good yarn that produces a true conversation and leaves an impression of a poised, clear communicator.

Make no mistake: companies hire the whole person, not selected skills. Connecting, engaging, liking - these are the reasons candidates move forward in the interview process. Yes, you must know your stuff; and yes, you must have done your homework on the company and the position; and yes, you must have the credentials; but more importantly, you must connect with the interviewer. A story can be one of the most powerful ways to connect with people. Practice your story response to the 'tell me about yourself' opener. Your story should help the interviewer come to the conclusion that he would be pleased to have you on his team, that you would be an excellent addition to the skill set and style set that he knows can help him and the company achieve its goals. You may not be Mark Twain, but I'm willing to bet that your story, when told to the proper listener, will be a welcome gift that any interviewer will appreciate, probably more than if you helped paint his fence.