How To Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” In Interview

Going for an interview is a tough job in itself. How you sell yourself during the interview even matters more because it will determine whether you get hired or not.

Whenever our interview coach Ms Lucy Karwigi does mock interview sessions with her clients, she always asks, “Tell me about yourself.” It’s a good practice session because, it is often the very first thing an interviewer will ask you to do.

It might seem like an easy win—after all, you know all about yourself!—but responding to this invitation to talk about you in the context of a job interview can feel stressful and complicated. 

Luckily, you can prepare in advance and use this common opening prompt to your advantage, setting the stage for a successful interview.

Tell Me About Yourself Interview Answer

How you respond to the “Tell me about yourself” question can set the tone for the rest of the interview.

As you prepare your response, seek to do the following:

1. Mention past experiences and proven successes as they relate to the position

Begin by rereading the job description. Take note of the required skills that you have, and identify recent stories that demonstrate them. Ideally, you should draw primarily from recent professional experience; however, volunteer work can also support your narrative while demonstrating a commitment to your community.

2. Consider how your current job relates to the job you’re applying for

Is it a more senior role? If so, explain how you are taking on more responsibilities in your current position. If you are transitioning to a role with different skills, describe how your current skills translate into the new position.

3. Focus on strengths and abilities that you can support with examples

Focus on details and outcomes that you can quantify if possible. For example, stating that you “improved customer service” is less impactful than “increased customer service response rates each quarter by 10–15%.” If you don’t have the exact information, estimate a realistic value.

4. Highlight your personality to break the ice

Since the “Tell me about yourself” interview question is about getting to know you, it’s a good idea to share your personality with your interviewer—but not personal details. You may want to briefly mention hobbies that demonstrate intellectual development and/or community engagement (e.g., reading, music, sports league, volunteering) or those that showcase personal discipline and achievement (e.g., learning a new skill, training for a half marathon). Discussing personal interests is a good way to wrap up your response while maintaining a professional tone.

5. Format your response

For your response to be clear and concise, make sure you organize your answer following a format or formula. There are two common formulas you may consider:

Present, Past, Future
Past, Present, Future

Both of these formulas work for your response, but you may choose one over the other based on the roles from your experience that are most relevant to the position you’re interviewing for.

For example, if your most recent role highlights many of the skills and qualifications that are required for the role you’re interviewing with, you may want to lead with the present. However, if you’re making a career transition and your past experience is more closely related to the role than your current position, you may want to lead with your past.

Sample interview answer for “tell me about yourself”

“I’ve been working as an administrative assistant for three years. At my current job in the finance department of a midsize company, I handle scheduling, meeting and travel planning for four executives and 20 staff members. I also help prepare correspondence, presentations and reports.

“I’m known for being a detail-oriented, well-organized team player. I never miss deadlines, I’m a good communicator and I can juggle multiple tasks at once. In my performance reviews, my supervisor always notes that he appreciates my professionalism and enthusiasm for the job.

“With this experience under my belt, I’m looking for an opportunity to take the next step in my career. I’m hoping to do so in an organization like yours that works to improve the environment, which is something I’m passionate about.”

In Summary,

Be concise. Don’t take up too much time with your response. You don’t have to tell the hiring manager every single thing that you think makes you a great candidate. Just give a few important details that will spark their interest in learning more about you, and you’ll get the interview off to a strong start.

Having trouble preparing for your next interview? Book a mock interview session here and be ready for your next job!

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