Don't you hate answering the dreaded interview question "tell me about yourself"? What exactly does your interviewer want to know about you? Should your answer be a quick overview or a lengthy dissertation of your entire career? How do you know which strategy to choose?

Unfortunately, this is one of the classic interview questions that you will inevitably need to answer. However, it is important to note that there are two vastly different schools of thought on how to best respond. Tradition tells us the interviewer is asking for a brief summation of your career. Here's how a typical traditional job seeker might answer that question:

I began my career with Primus Technology in 1984, was selected for the executive leadership development program after just two years and earned eight other promotions during my tenure. My earliest experiences were in field marketing, sales and regional management. In each position, I delivered strong revenue results. I was then promoted to the senior management team of a troubled business unit, working with two other executives to facilitate a successful turnaround. Once profitable, I left that organization and spent the next several years developing new ventures as our industry exploded. My final assignment was as general manager of a $150 million business unit, where I delivered a 25 percent improvement in profitability.

Currently, I am the executive vice president with Techno-Voice. I joined the company in 1999 after a careful review of its technology, marketing strategy and in-house talent. My responsibilities focus on providing strategic direction for both technology development and market launch. To date, my team and I have closed more than $45 million in sales prior to full product rollout. In addition, I have been an active leader in developing the company's manufacturing and production processes, working with our plant management team to create a best-in-class organization.

This answer quickly explains the job seeker's career path, rapid promotion and most notable achievements. Simply put, it's a historical overview of where, when and what.

However, modern thought has changed the strategy for answering this question. Instead of giving a career history that virtually reiterates what is already on your resume, use the question to your advantage. Briefly summarize who you are and the value you bring to the organization. Your answer can incorporate past experiences but should not simply repeat what is on your resume.

If that same candidate were to answer the same question using this strategic approach, the response would be:

I am a well-qualified, senior-level management executive who has met the unique challenges of start-up, turnaround and high-growth companies. Never working in what one would consider a status quo organization, I have continually been challenged to deliver results that required creative, strategic and tactical leadership. Most significantly, in each of these situations, I have delivered measurable financial improvements in revenue, market share and bottom-line profitability.

A few specific examples that best exemplify my performance include my current leadership of an early-stage technology venture, for which I generated $45 million in new revenues within one year. In my previous position as the general manager of the Partners in Technology Division of Primus Technology, my team and I improved profitability 25 percent and positioned the company as number one in the national market. Earlier career achievements were equally notable during my tenure in sales, marketing, turnarounds and new venture development.

In summary, I consider myself a consummate management professional, confident in my ability to tackle virtually any challenge by assembling the right personnel, identifying the appropriate markets and building product recognition despite competition. Of paramount importance is my ability to build relationships throughout all levels of an organization, defining common goals, implementing incentives and challenging my workforce to deliver its best.