Jasmine Cumberland, senior campus recruiter at Target talks about how to put yourself in the interviewer's shoes when answering this tricky question:

Tell me about yourself.
As a recruiter, this interview question is one of my favourites, as it gives me a chance to learn more about the candidate I am speaking with, going beyond what's in their resum├® and cover letter. As someone who's been on the other side of the interview table as a recent graduate, it's also one of the questions that I have struggled to answer.
After working through my own responses and asking this question to candidates I speak with, here are a few tips and tricks for how to best respond.
First, put yourself in the shoes of your interviewer and think about why they are asking this question. All they may know about you is what you have submitted in your application, so this question is your chance to shine and to really get your interviewer excited about learning more about you throughout your interview. I like to ask this question to really get to know a candidate as a person'the person they would be if I were working with them, beyond this interview when they might be wearing their interview hat. I like to think that this question helps candidates relax, which sets the tone for the rest of the interview.
The best way to answer this question is with confidence! You are talking about yourself, after all. One way to help prepare is to think about what your personal elevator pitch is and use that as your starting point. If you met someone in an elevator, how would you tell them about your major accomplishments and contributions from a work, volunteer, and educational experience perspective in just a few short minutes? Are there other unique experiences that you can speak about to further tell your story?
Unlike other questions you'll be facing in your interview, you can usually expect that this question or a variation of this question will be asked. It should help give you an advantage in preparation and allow you to walk into your interview with confidence, hopefully landing your next role!