If these words are enough to send you into a tailspin, don't worry.

The simple question is the number one thing people stumbled over during the interview process according to research by InterviewIQ.

Nearly 60 per cent said they didn't know how to answer it, while another 35 per cent said they thought it was a ridiculous question considering the interviewer had their CV and cover letter already. Others were caught out by not knowing how much information to include, and not wanting to seem like they were bragging.

InterviewIQ's founder Karalyn Brown, who is also Australia's most connected woman on LinkedIn, said even senior people struggle and can miss out on jobs to those far less talented just because they don't know what to say.

"People don't know where to start. In an interview you go in and assume they've read your resume and cover letter so you think [the interviewer] knows something about you," she said, adding that people are making plenty of simple mistakes with the question.

"They're talking too generally, they're waffling, they're assuming, they're not targeting it to the specific role or thing the person might be interested in."

It comes amid research which shows one in five recruiters make their hiring decision in under five minutes, with 60 per cent making a decision in under 10 minutes.

Instead of getting flustered, Ms Brown said people need to act confidently, speak clearly and practice pitching themselves until it's perfect.

"It is true you fake it until you make it. The more you talk about it the more confident you sound. Once you get the opening line out it takes it in the direction you want it to go. Actually practising it is a big thing."

Her company has developed an app called myPitch, that allows people to create a 30 second video of themselves and send it out to friends for feedback. Once you've got it nailed it can also be shown to prospective employers via social media.

Here are her top tips for creating a powerful first impression

• Focus on how you add value to the employer not on how they meet your needs

• Be concise as people have very short attention spans

• The more you repeat yourself, the less you will be believed

• Include a statement about your impact and value

• Make eye contact with everyone in the interview

What do you think is the hardest part of a job interview? Continue the conversation on Twitter @newscomauHQ, @Victoria - Craw, @InterviewIQ