I would NOT throw the question back at the interviewer with "what would you like to know?
It is an open-ended question for precisely the reason PPs have said--to get people to ramble, not focus, and accidentally reveal something telling like training for ultramarathons and the job being close to their house that have NOTHING to do with why you should be hired.

I would answer it like, "why should we hire you?"

I would respond by saying, "What would you specifically like to know?" This is a terrible question.

I interview with another person, and she LOVES asking it simply because it's a hard question to answer and she likes to see how someone deals with something difficult during an already stressful situation.

Best answer I heard was, "Well, I was born in New Jersey to immigrants..." then the interviewee chuckled and gave a "real" answer that pertained to our company and the job she was going for. I voted to hire her.

Anonymous wrote:I ask this question. I work for a non profit so I am interested in how you came to be interested in this issue/cause. I usually say, tell me a little bit about yourself and how you came to be interested in working here.

"How did you come to be interested in vegetable rights?" = great question

"Tell me about yourself" = terrible question

Anonymous wrote:A word to interviewers: This is a terrible question.

I used to think that myself. However when I totally blew that question I realized it is a test of sorts. Did you prepare for be interview aka, you really want this job so you are making sure you are ready for standard interview questions. Can you be personable, concise, confident and not ramble when given a vague open-ended question? In real life, there are a lot of read between the lines, no one is telling you specifically what to do, vague not quite defined situations. It's up to you to help bring clarity and definition.

I think of it like the elevator speech, you are pitching the best you. I cover resume points but more of a summary of what I learned versus specific skills listed on my résumé. I make sure I'm covering the key points of what the position is about. I'm prepared for them to follow-up on any of those points or shift gears and ask about something different.

OP here! Thanks, everyone; now I have a better idea of what direction to go with my response!

I ask this question. I work for a non profit so I am interested in how you came to be interested in this issue/cause. I usually say, tell me a little bit about yourself and how you came to be interested in working here.

I would answer it as if the question was "why are you a good fit for this job?" I work at a non-profit and people don't always have the most traditional path/experience. So if that's the case, it's your opportunity to say that even though you come from something completely different, our mission has always been your passion, how your path dovetails into the skill set required, etc. I would kept it really short.

Now, for me, if you tell me how the office is five minutes from your house so you can spend a lot more time training for your ultra-marathons, or how you want to leave your corporate job because its so much easier/less stressful to work at a non-profit, I'll know to take a pass on you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A word to interviewers: This is a terrible question.

+1, whether you're on a job interview or a date.

I'm the PP who said how to answer it. I agree, it's a terrible question. I don't ask it. But whining about interviewers who ask that question isn't going to help the OP, who can't very well say "with all respect, ma'am, that's the dumbest question I've ever been asked." So if you have something constructive to add, I'm sure the OP would appreciate it.

Anonymous wrote:A word to interviewers: This is a terrible question.

+1, whether you're on a job interview or a date.

A word to interviewers: This is a terrible question.

Bump hiring managers and deciders!!

Anonymous wrote:What do you want to hear first? Years of experience related to the position? I always dread the question, because I worry about how to answer it.

Lord no. I don't want your resume. I have your resume. If you rattle off your resume, I'll think you're in front of me because you started down a road years ago by default and just went with it. Not the impression you want to leave.

I want to know who you are (professionaly) and why you're in my office seeking this job. Picture this: you meet a friend of a friend at a happy hour. Your friend introduces you and says your in town interviewing for X. The friend of a friend asks "what drew you to that?" Go. It's not a perfect analogy, but it's in the ballpark.

Good luck!

What do you want to hear first? Years of experience related to the position? I always dread the question, because I worry about how to answer it.