Tell me about yourself job interview example

How To Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” (With Examples): Job Interview Question

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If there’s one interview question we can guarantee you’ll hear at a job interview, it’s “tell me about yourself.” While incredibly open-ended and seemingly unimportant, how you answer this early question helps create an impression and sets a tone for the rest of the interview.

We’ll cover why interviewers like to open conversations with these questions, how to approach your answer, and example answers to help pull all our advice together.

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

When responding to “tell me about yourself,” start by discussing your recent experience, look back at your recent past, and connect your interests with the job you’re applying for. Let’s go over each step in more detail:

Discuss your recent experience. It’s best to start your answer with a brief description of your current status. If you’re currently employed, mention your job title and the company where you’re working, along with a brief description of recent work you’ve been doing.

If you’re not currently employed, talk about any recent educational experiences you’ve gone through, volunteer experience you’re actively involved in, or your most recent work history.

Describe your journey. Next, you’ll want to briefly illustrate how you arrived at your current position. You can think of this as how you’d respond to “walk me through your resume,” but more condensed.

You’ve got the whole interview to discuss details, so all you have to do at this point is touch on one or two of your most impressive and job-relevant achievements in the past few years.

Connect your background with the job. To tie things together in a neat little package, start wrapping your answer up by connecting your experience with the job you’re applying for.

You can do this by explicitly mentioning how your qualifications match up with the job description or by showing how the job lines up perfectly with your interests.

Talk about the future (optional). Briefly touching on a broader career goal can be a nice cherry on top for showing your personality and ambition, but it isn’t necessary. Plus, there are plenty of other questions you’re likely to hear about your career goals and plans for the next five years.

Example Answers to “Tell Me About Yourself”

Let’s take a look at a few example answers using our main approach, as well as a couple using the alternative method we laid out above:

I’m from a small town in Maine, so I often had to make my own fun. That’s how I got into creative writing, which started as a hobby but has grown into a full-time passion. I was really lucky to have great teachers in high school who helped enter me into local contests, and it was a real boost to win one in my junior year.

Outside of writing, I enjoy both listening and playing music in my free time. I just picked up the ukelele, and it’s a lot of fun learning my favorite songs on it. It’s also really handy to bring along to summer camps, where I’ve been a counselor for the past two summers.

I’m currently working as a research assistant in a small lab studying memory in relation to different protein receptors. Most recently, we designed and developed a test of the effect of a new chemical on UTC-1 receptors of rats, the results of which were published in Scientific American in July.

I became interested in neuroscience and specifically the science of memory in my undergraduate studies and continued on as a graduate student at UNC. I was really excited to see this role open up at ABC Inc. because the labwork and SOPs match up perfectly with my experience, and the research you’re working on is at the forefront of the field, which is right where I want to be.

Most recently, I worked as an office manager for a mid-sized office supplies company. It was a jack-of-all-trades type role where my general duties were to help generate and qualify leads for the sales team, create cross-team reports for the marketing, product, and sales teams, and ensure consistent scheduling and inventory.

I grew into this role from a receptionist position, where my duties were more client-facing. One thing that caught my eye in your job posting was that it called for a versatile background like mine, and much of my experience managing XYZ Inc’s office will translate well into the operations manager position here.

I’m a graphic designer by trade and an artist by nature. When I’m not working on digital projects, I’m creating ceramics, working on metallurgical art, or making watercolors. I have a real love for the tactility of visual beauty and I try to bring that synesthesia effect to my digital work as well.

One of my clients once joked that the logo I designed for her — a crystal orb — looked like something she wanted to hold and roll around in her hands. Those are the kind of comments I love most.

I’ve been teaching for the past 12 years, but education is more than a profession for me. During the summer, I like to travel to a new country and become a student of culture. As a social studies teacher, there’s something special about being able to bring in a personal anecdote when teaching a topic.

Students who aren’t always interested in the book material will often come alive when I can bring in a story. If me relating a story of two cats fighting outside the Hagia Sophia is enough to help students remember that it’s in Istanbul, I’m happy.

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” — Alternative Method

For some job openings, using the above method might come across as overly stiff and formal. Or it might just not feel like an authentic way for you to approach the answer. In that case, here are a few other great ways to respond to “tell me about yourself:”

Discussing a hobby that shows your creative side

Identifying an interest in health, fitness, sports, etc.

Recalling cultural experiences like travel, art, music, etc.

Bringing up social activism and volunteer work near to your heart

Mentioning intellectual pursuits like independent study, puzzle games, reading, etc.

Mentioning hobbies that speak to your love of nature like bird-watching, hiking, kayaking, etc.

If you research a company and learn that one or more of the above topics fits with its culture, values, and/or mission statement, it can make for a very effective answer to “tell me about yourself.”

Why Interviewers Ask “Tell Me About Yourself”

Hiring managers often begin interviews with “tell me about yourself” as a way of breaking the ice and allowing the candidate time for a brief introduction. Interviewers want to hear how you describe your background as a way of figuring out how relevant it is to the job you’re applying for.

“Tell me about yourself” is also the first test of your ability to answer open-ended questions in a way that covers important points without rambling on forever. For example, bringing up your love of fantasy novels might be great if you’re applying for role designing art concepts for a video game, but is certainly inappropriate to include in an interview for an accountant position.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Answering “Tell Me About Yourself”

Before you start developing your own answer, make sure you’re not committing any major no-no’s. Here are some common mistakes to avoid as you go about answering this question at a job interview:

Don’t share personal information that has nothing to do with the job you’re interviewing for.

Don’t take a really long time answering.

Don’t discuss your childhood or irrelevant stories that don’t showcase your value as an employee.

Don’t talk about politics, or politicized subjects like war, the police, prisons, etc.

Lastly, try not to go too offtopic in general. You want to stay on task as much as you can — the more tangents you go down, the less interested the hiring manager is going to be in hearing about you and your life, and the less likely they are to hire you as a consequence.

Tips for Answering “Tell Me About Yourself”

Bring a blend of professional and personal. We outlined two ways of approaching your response to “tell me about yourself,” but a really strong answer will blend the two seamlessly. In discussing your professional achievements, indicate what personal qualities helped you accomplish them.

When discussing your personal interests, tie them into relevant professional qualities. This way, the interviewer can learn about your personality and background in one efficient answer.

Keep your answer short. Remember that this is the opening question of a much longer job interview. Pace yourself and save some content for later on. Plus, if you overwhelm the interviewer with too much information, they’re less likely to absorb the really important stuff.

Be authentic. It’s hard to be 100% real with an interviewer, but you want to come across in as genuine a way as possible. If a stuffy, professionally-minded answer doesn’t feel like you, then don’t answer that way. At the end of the day, you want to be hired for who you actually are. Otherwise, you probably won’t be very happy at your new job.

Final Thoughts

The biggest thing to remember when it comes to telling a hiring manager about yourself is that, at the end of the day, you’re telling someone a story.

That story ought to have a beginning, a middle, and most importantly, an end.

Make sure that, whatever you decide to bring up about yourself, you take the time to frame it effectively.

Take the time to set up the story with any information that you think is necessary to understand everything else you’re about to say, and when it comes time to end it, try not to just stop talking out of nowhere.

It’s worth it for you to spend time beforehand thinking about the main point you want to end on when you’re talking about yourself — it’s fine to improvise, but having an endpoint in mind will help you talk about yourself without going too off track.

And remember to prepare your response. Prepare multiple responses. Just make sure that you’re prepared. Practice your answer until you’re extremely confident.

What’s a good tip for when the interviewer asks “Tell me about yourself.”

Prepare a list of key talking points that address precisely what the organization is looking for. This is particularly important at the start of the interview. Too many people respond to “Tell me about yourself” (the most common interview question) with a recitation of their resume rather than focusing in on what the candidate brings to the table that is most relevant to the potential employer.

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Tell me about yourself.

Hiring authorities commonly use this question as an icebreaker to start the interview. The way you answer this question can help determine the flow of your discussion or even the direction your interviewer takes with subsequent interview questions. The goal of your response is to give the interviewer a glimpse into who you are as it relates to the job opportunity. You also want to spotlight the factors that make you the best candidate for the role.

Avoid giving overly personal statements. When you respond, you can add a splash of personal information; however, choose something like, ‘I love to read science fiction books,’ vs. ‘I was recently diagnosed with. ‘

Also, avoid discussing factors unrelated to your career, like where you were born or your relationship status. Instead, keep your answer as work-relevant as possible. You can discuss competitive sports, educational achievements, or volunteer work if you are new to your career.

An interviewer may not always ask, ‘Tell me about yourself’ using this exact wording. Other ways your interviewer may ask this question:

— Tell me about your career journey.
— Talk to me about your career.
— Walk me through your professional background.

Be prepared to encounter multiple variations of this common interview question.

Many interviews begin with the question, ‘Tell me about yourself.’ This question can turn any well-prepared candidate inside out because it’s open-ended. You might wonder where to begin and where to end! The ‘Past, Present, Future’ framework is beneficial for forming an answer to this common interview question.

1) Past: Provide a brief overview of your career journey.
2) Present: Discuss your current career situation as it relates to the job opportunity.
3) Future: Talk about your career aspirations and how this future opportunity fits.

When you frame your response using the Past, Present, Future method, it helps you keep your thoughts on track, allowing you to deliver a well-organized answer with impact. If it feels more natural, you can also frame your answer as Present, Past, Future.

«(Past) I have worked as a patient care coordinator for over five years, consulting with patients and determining their needs. I have always enjoyed delivering patient care with compassion and empathy. (Present) Currently, I work for a private functional medicine clinic developing care plans and coordinating patient-care services. This role helped me expand my program development knowledge while meeting unique patient needs. (Future) Now, I am looking to broaden my experience to include actively educating patients and working with an established care team to evaluate interventions. Your organizations’ focus on care plans is one reason why I was thrilled to apply for this career opportunity.»

«(Past) I have worked as an administrative assistant for four years, primarily working in the automotive industry. I have always enjoyed greeting new customers, being helpful on the phone, and helping the sales team to keep their paperwork organized. (Present) Currently, I work for the BMW dealership in the south of the city, where I manage the front desk in the showroom. This role has helped me learn more about the auto industry, how to approach high-end buyers, and how to keep myself organized in a bustling and open environment. (Future) I plan to grow my career and learn more about sales. Your sales assistant position seems like the next best fit in my career, and it would be an honor to grow my knowledge with your dealership.»

«(Past) My background is in the hospitality industry. I spent many years as a customer service manager, where I hired and trained service staff and resolved customer complaints. (Present) Most recently, I left my job as the service desk manager at Hotel ABC, where I was responsible for a team of fifteen, including front desk agents and room service attendants. After two years with Hotel ABC, I realized that my skills and interests are best suited for the fast pace of the restaurant sector. (Future) After realizing my true passion is within restaurant environments, I set up job alerts for roles such as your restaurant service manager position. I’ve dined with your restaurant group many times before and jumped at the chance to apply.»

«(Past) I have worked in the consumer product industry for over fifteen years, focused on key accounts and business development within commerce and e-commerce environments. (Present) Right now, I work as the VP of Business Development for a large toy manufacturer. My primary responsibilities include initiating and setting up meetings to sell multi-million-dollar contracts to large-size retailers and big-box stores. (Future) Over the past few months, I’ve discovered my excitement for the SaaS and Fintech industries, which is where I see a significant amount of opportunity. I wish to expand my business development experiences across sectors, which is why I am interested in growing my career with your company.»

«(Past) I recently completed high school, where I was valedictorian thanks to my high grades and dedication to the Students’ Association. (Present) Currently, I am seeking out an opportunity to strengthen my leadership skills and learn more about the business and retail industry before selecting my post-secondary educational path. (Future) I am eager to start my career on the right foot, and I believe that this part-time seasonal retail sales opportunity will help to guide and shape me for the future.»

«(Past) Initially, I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, where I became fascinated with children’s mental health, specifically the rise of anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Upon graduation, I interned at a school for children with behavioral concerns. The internship sparked my interest in education, so I returned to obtain my education degree. (Present) I have gained considerable confidence in my knowledge of children’s mental health, emotions, and behaviors. Now, I am also highly equipped to begin my teaching career. (Future) I plan to grow my career, specifically in outreach-based schools. I understand that your school focuses on launching outreach programs for families in this community. Your mission aligns perfectly with my core passions, and it would be an honor to grow my teaching career with this esteemed organization.»

«(Past) I am thrilled to have had the privilege to raise my children for the past ten years. Although being a stay-at-home parent took me out of the traditional workforce, I kept myself busy and relevant in many ways. (Present) Currently, I volunteer on the Parent-Teacher Association, where I facilitate healthy relationships between parents, teachers, and schools. This work includes building online engagement for the school and putting together fundraising campaigns. As my kids get older and more independent, I find myself seeking more. (Future) I have developed exceptional skills in social media management, creating compelling campaigns, and learning the art of persuasion. These skills align very well with the qualities your agency seeks for this marketing assistant opportunity. I am ready to step into the next phase of my career and would be happy to apply these skills with your agency.»

Anonymous Interview Answer

«I am a dedicated and hardworking person who enjoys learning new things each day about myself and the things around me. I enjoy finding solutions and fixes to problems when I can but not in a way that can become obsessive. I have my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and my Master’s in Criminal Justice, so I consider myself equal parts analytical and empathetic.»

Rachelle’s Feedback for the Answer Above

This summary is wonderful! You show balance in your approach to work.

How would you rate Rachelle’s Feedback?

Anonymous Interview Answer

«It is clear that you are looking for a candidate whom is extremely familiar with the responsibilities associated with the USPS window clerk role and one whom could perform these responsibilities confidently.»

Kristine’s Feedback for the Answer Above

Good start. You can elaborate by talking about three things. First, you can explain your present employment situation. Second, you can shift to the past to give a brief overview of career highlights, achievements, and professional interests as a story. The interviewer has seen your resume; connect the dots. Briefly explain when you discovered interests, why you chose the field, why you left jobs, or what you’ve learned. Finally, you can say something about the future, like why you’re excited about the job.

How would you rate Kristine’s Feedback?

Advice and Examples: Tell me about yourself.

Tell me about yourself.

The Goal

Hiring authorities commonly use this question as an icebreaker to start the interview. The way you answer this question can help determine the flow of your discussion or even the direction your interviewer takes with subsequent interview questions. The goal of your response is to give the interviewer a glimpse into who you are as it relates to the job opportunity. You also want to spotlight the factors that make you the best candidate for the role.

What to Avoid

Avoid giving overly personal statements. When you respond, you can add a splash of personal information; however, choose something like, ‘I love to read science fiction books,’ vs. ‘I was recently diagnosed with. ‘

Also, avoid discussing factors unrelated to your career, like where you were born or your relationship status. Instead, keep your answer as work-relevant as possible. You can discuss competitive sports, educational achievements, or volunteer work if you are new to your career.

Pro Tip

An interviewer may not always ask, ‘Tell me about yourself’ using this exact wording. Other ways your interviewer may ask this question:

— Tell me about your career journey.
— Talk to me about your career.
— Walk me through your professional background.

Be prepared to encounter multiple variations of this common interview question.

How to Answer

Many interviews begin with the question, ‘Tell me about yourself.’ This question can turn any well-prepared candidate inside out because it’s open-ended. You might wonder where to begin and where to end! The ‘Past, Present, Future’ framework is beneficial for forming an answer to this common interview question.

1) Past: Provide a brief overview of your career journey.
2) Present: Discuss your current career situation as it relates to the job opportunity.
3) Future: Talk about your career aspirations and how this future opportunity fits.

When you frame your response using the Past, Present, Future method, it helps you keep your thoughts on track, allowing you to deliver a well-organized answer with impact. If it feels more natural, you can also frame your answer as Present, Past, Future.

«(Past) I have worked as a patient care coordinator for over five years, consulting with patients and determining their needs. I have always enjoyed delivering patient care with compassion and empathy. (Present) Currently, I work for a private functional medicine clinic developing care plans and coordinating patient-care services. This role helped me expand my program development knowledge while meeting unique patient needs. (Future) Now, I am looking to broaden my experience to include actively educating patients and working with an established care team to evaluate interventions. Your organizations’ focus on care plans is one reason why I was thrilled to apply for this career opportunity.»

Rachelle’s Admin Example Answer

«(Past) I have worked as an administrative assistant for four years, primarily working in the automotive industry. I have always enjoyed greeting new customers, being helpful on the phone, and helping the sales team to keep their paperwork organized. (Present) Currently, I work for the BMW dealership in the south of the city, where I manage the front desk in the showroom. This role has helped me learn more about the auto industry, how to approach high-end buyers, and how to keep myself organized in a bustling and open environment. (Future) I plan to grow my career and learn more about sales. Your sales assistant position seems like the next best fit in my career, and it would be an honor to grow my knowledge with your dealership.»

Rachelle’s Manager Example Answer

«(Past) My background is in the hospitality industry. I spent many years as a customer service manager, where I hired and trained service staff and resolved customer complaints. (Present) Most recently, I left my job as the service desk manager at Hotel ABC, where I was responsible for a team of fifteen, including front desk agents and room service attendants. After two years with Hotel ABC, I realized that my skills and interests are best suited for the fast pace of the restaurant sector. (Future) After realizing my true passion is within restaurant environments, I set up job alerts for roles such as your restaurant service manager position. I’ve dined with your restaurant group many times before and jumped at the chance to apply.»

Rachelle’s Sales Example Answer

«(Past) I have worked in the consumer product industry for over fifteen years, focused on key accounts and business development within commerce and e-commerce environments. (Present) Right now, I work as the VP of Business Development for a large toy manufacturer. My primary responsibilities include initiating and setting up meetings to sell multi-million-dollar contracts to large-size retailers and big-box stores. (Future) Over the past few months, I’ve discovered my excitement for the SaaS and Fintech industries, which is where I see a significant amount of opportunity. I wish to expand my business development experiences across sectors, which is why I am interested in growing my career with your company.»

Rachelle’s Retail Example Answer

«(Past) I recently completed high school, where I was valedictorian thanks to my high grades and dedication to the Students’ Association. (Present) Currently, I am seeking out an opportunity to strengthen my leadership skills and learn more about the business and retail industry before selecting my post-secondary educational path. (Future) I am eager to start my career on the right foot, and I believe that this part-time seasonal retail sales opportunity will help to guide and shape me for the future.»

Rachelle’s Teacher Example Answer

«(Past) Initially, I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, where I became fascinated with children’s mental health, specifically the rise of anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Upon graduation, I interned at a school for children with behavioral concerns. The internship sparked my interest in education, so I returned to obtain my education degree. (Present) I have gained considerable confidence in my knowledge of children’s mental health, emotions, and behaviors. Now, I am also highly equipped to begin my teaching career. (Future) I plan to grow my career, specifically in outreach-based schools. I understand that your school focuses on launching outreach programs for families in this community. Your mission aligns perfectly with my core passions, and it would be an honor to grow my teaching career with this esteemed organization.»

Rachelle’s Marketing Example Answer

«(Past) I am thrilled to have had the privilege to raise my children for the past ten years. Although being a stay-at-home parent took me out of the traditional workforce, I kept myself busy and relevant in many ways. (Present) Currently, I volunteer on the Parent-Teacher Association, where I facilitate healthy relationships between parents, teachers, and schools. This work includes building online engagement for the school and putting together fundraising campaigns. As my kids get older and more independent, I find myself seeking more. (Future) I have developed exceptional skills in social media management, creating compelling campaigns, and learning the art of persuasion. These skills align very well with the qualities your agency seeks for this marketing assistant opportunity. I am ready to step into the next phase of my career and would be happy to apply these skills with your agency.»

32 Community Answers

Anonymous interview answers with our interview experts feedback

Anonymous Interview Answer

«I am a dedicated and hardworking person who enjoys learning new things each day about myself and the things around me. I enjoy finding solutions and fixes to problems when I can but not in a way that can become obsessive. I have my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and my Master’s in Criminal Justice, so I consider myself equal parts analytical and empathetic.»

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview?

Regardless of any job profile or any company – ‘Tell Me About Yourself’, it is undeniably the very first question that you often face in every interview. The question gives you the opportunity to showcase your personality to the recruiters and let them know how you are a perfect fit for the particular job role.

Now, when it is quite confirmed that you’re going to be asked this question in your upcoming interviews – don’t you think you must be prepared for this question ideally and flawlessly to stand out among other candidates…?? A Big YES…!!

However, most of the time, candidates especially freshers ignore to prepare for this basic question and end up giving a not-so-entertaining answer for it that eventually set the negative tone for the rest of the interview.

With similar concern, here in this article, we’ll let you know about the correct approach that you should follow to give an impressive and accomplished answer to the “Tell Me About Yourself” question in an Interview. But before that, let’s take a look at an appropriate prototype answer to this question for better understanding:

Sample Answers

“Hi, My name is Anurag Sharma. ​I’ve recently done my Bachelors in Technology with Computer Science stream from XYZ University with 9 CGPA. Also, I did my 12th & 10th from CBSE Board in the year 2016 and 2014 respectively. Though I am currently staying in Delhi – I was born and brought up in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, and did my schooling from there. Considering my family background details – we’re 4 members in the family. Apart from my parents, I have a sibling – an elder brother.

As you’d have known – I am here for the role of ABC. Coming to my skills I know *mention all those skills that you possess and are relevant to the job role that you’re applying for*. I had 2 internships as well in this particular domain where along with core technical things I also learned organizational ethics and discipline. Moreover, I also did 2 successful individual projects *on the particular technology* in my college tenure. *You can also opt to brief the project & internship details here*

To be honest, my short-term goal is to get a job in a reputed company like *the company name for which you’re applying* where I can use my skills and knowledge to deliver value-added result and in long term, the goal would be to achieve a good position in the particular company to scale up organization’s production & growth rate and at the same time for the betterment of my personal career growth as well. Other than that, if I talk about my strengths – I can say that I’m a quick learner, team player, adaptable and creative person – and I do guess that these strengths of mine are perfectly suitable for this job role.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, playing outdoor sports, and sometimes cooking.

That’s all about me. And yes, thanks for the opportunity given to introduce myself!”

Okay, so this how you are expected to answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in an interview. However, you need to understand you can’t use a specific answer for this question in all your interviews – you need to analyze the situation & job opportunity and craft your answer accordingly. Now, to help you out in compiling the perfect response to “Tell me about yourself” – below we’ve provided the most effective approaches that you all can consider:

Key Points to Remember While Answering – “Tell Me About Yourself”:

So, all you need to do is follow the above-mentioned approaches and keep your answer concise & relevant – and then no one can stop you to shine in your upcoming interview…!!

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview (with Sample Answers)

Your interview is fast approaching and one of the first questions they will ask is “tell me about yourself”? The answer could make or break the interview so getting it right is crucial.

Here are a few simple steps to follow and examples to help you prepare.

Tell me about yourself sample answers

Questions Answered

What to say when the interviewer asks “tell me about yourself”

Answer template to follow

Tell me about yourself examples

Sample answer for fresh graduate

Question and answer example pdf

Why Interviewers Ask This Question

It’s a great ice breaker question for the hiring manager and also an excellent way to extract some quality information from the candidate.

This intro question also helps hiring managers get to know you better which is an important part of their decision making process.

But before any questions are asked, an introduction generally takes place.

How do you introduce yourself in an interview (self introduction)?

When initially meeting the person interviewing you for the job, look them in the eyes, give them a nice smile, and tell them your full name (with a handshake if appropriate).

It’s that simple!

How to Answer “tell me about yourself” Interview Question

Customize Your Answer to the Job Description/Company

The interviewer is looking for an answer that’s relevant to the position and company you’re applying for, so start with a significant strength the hiring manager mentioned in the job description.

Before the interview, read through the job description and spend time on their website to get to know what it is they are seeking.

Mention how that skill or quality you possess helped a recent employer.

Provide Numbers/Metrics

While running through your answer, provide numbers and metrics that support what you’re talking about.

Keep It Professional

Keep your answer professional. You need to stay on track and keep the answer revolving around your work experience and the job itself.

Sharing personal information isn’t all bad if it relates to the role, but it’s best for you to keep the answer related to your career.

Get Passionate About Your Answer

Showcase how enthusiastic you are about potentially getting the job by adding some passion to the answer you provide. The main objective here is to stand out from the other candidates, so you need to make it memorable.

Don’t get sarcastic and go overboard, though!

Don’t List Off Your Resume

One of the biggest mistakes we see among candidates who answer the «tell me about yourself» question is repeating their resume.

They get stuck on every little detail around each role and read directly from their resume.

The interviewer has gone through your resume, so reciting it won’t provide the details needed to land this new job.

Keep Negative Opinions to Yourself

You’ve heard it a million times, but it’s worth saying again: don’t bad mouth your previous employers. It looks terrible and will likely turn a hiring manager off from moving forward with hiring you.

Practice, Practice, Practice (Allen Iverson Voice)

Practice will surely make your «tell me about yourself» answer stronger.

With practice, you build confidence, and it sounds more natural coming out.

This will also prevent you from rambling on about unnecessary details.

Tell Me About Yourself Template

Line 1: I’m an enthusiastic (Title) who has been working (Type of Work) over the (Timeframe).

Line 2: During that time, I completed (Specific Accomplishment) which lead to (Specific Result) for (Company Name).

Line 3: Prior to that, I worked at (Company Name) where I was the (Type of Work) and lead my team to (Specific Accomplishment).

Line 4: Although those were all great opportunities, I’m ready to take on another challenge and contribute to the overall goals of (Company Name) as the (Job Title).

Line 5:I’ve heard nothing but great things about (Company Name) and believe my experience would be valued there.

Tell Me About Yourself Sample Answers

Sample Answer #1

I’ve been an enthusiastic marketing manager for (Company Name) during the last four years of my career. During that time, my team has contributed to 25% revenue growth and brought in 7 new clients focusing within the healthcare industry.

Prior to that, I was with (Company Name), where I was able to increase new leads by 37% through online advertising. Although those opportunities were great, I’m ready to take on a larger challenge and would thrive in the (Position).

Sample Answer #2

I’ve enjoyed working as a pediatric nurse over the past seven years. I spent 2 years at (Hospital Name), receiving rewards and recognition for my work within the surgical center.

Prior to that at (Hospital Name), I was chosen as 1 of the 7 nurses to work on a research project that led to a 23% increase in patient feedback for the hospital. I’ve enjoyed my work over the last 2 years but am looking for a new challenge.

The reputation of (Hospital Name) with its high level of commitment and expertise is something I’m looking to help contribute towards.

Sample Answer #3

I’m a UX designer who enjoys contributing to team efforts within any company I work for.

I recently completed a front-end design project for a Fortune 500 company’s sales page. I helped cut delivery time down by 2 weeks and drove up new sales from the page by 17%. Before that, I worked at (Company Name) for 2 years, where I joined a team of 3 in designing an eCommerce website that recently won a design award.

They were great learning experiences, but I’m ready to help provide my design expertise to (Company Name). I think my experience and productivity would be valued here.

Sample Answer for Fresh Graduate

I’m a recent graduate from the University of Minnesota who is enthusiastic about the digital marketing industry. During the last 2 years of school, I was part of three separate business projects where a small team and I developed marketing campaigns for local non profit businesses.

Prior to business school, I worked summers as a social media manager for a larger organization in my hometown. Over my four years with the company, I was able to help grow their Facebook and Instagram following by over 350%.

Both business school and my prior work experience as a social media manager were great but I’m ready to take on another challenge and contribute to the overall goals of (Company Name) as the (Job Title). I’ve heard nothing but great things about your company and believe my experience would be valued there.

Download the pdf of how to answer “tell me more about yourself” below

Wrapping Up | How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

Start with a solid handshake, hello, and smile to catch the interviewer’s attention.

Look to start with relevant information about yourself relating to the role. Then proceed to talk about your most recent position, past roles, and why you’re excited about the potential opportunity.

Stitch in a few significant achievements and accomplishments to show the hiring manager what you’re capable of.

To recap, here our best “tell me about yourself” bits of advice:

Customize Your Answer to the Job Description/Company

Keep It Professional

Don’t List Your Resume

Get Passionate About Your Answer

Keep Negative Opinions to Yourself

Don’t ramble on, but make sure relevant information is presented. Remember, this is your first impression, which often makes a significant impact on how the rest of your interview will go.

Title: How to Answer Tell Me About Yourself

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Author: Reid is a contributor to theJub. He’s an employment and marketing enthusiast who studied business before taking on various recruiting, management, and marketing roles. More from the author. | Author Profile

How to answer the question “Tell me about yourself” in a job interview

CEO of Mr. Simon

The Importance of First Impression

We have all probably heard that people tend to make judgments about their new acquaintances as quickly as in the very first seconds. For example, in an article about snap judgments by Chad Boutin from Princeton University he describes a research study that confirms that such judgments can be made just by a glance, without even hearing a word from the person!

By the same token, when you are invited to a job interview, the most impactful moment that contributes to at least 80% of the decision-making by the interviewer is this so common, so seemingly simple and at the same time one of the most challenging questions you will undoubtedly hear at the beginning:

So, tell me about yourself!

You may hear variations of this question. The interviewer may start with a bit of small talk, and then engage you in a real conversation with something like:

So, what do you do?

In both cases, and in any similar question where the interviewer invites you to introduce yourself, to present your so-called “elevator pitch”, this is your chance to make the first impression which will have tremendous impact on the further interview flow, and on this job opportunity.

To learn more on the subject of “elevator pitch”, especially if you are a startup founder or a small business owner, I recommend the book “One Perfect Pitch” by Marie Perruchet

But what about other commonly asked questions, you may wonder, such as What are your weaknesses? or Tell me about some of your achievements. Aren’t they even more significant because they prompt for more detailed answers? And in general, what exactly does the interviewer have in mind while asking me all these questions?

Yes, those other questions have their place and value, and we will discuss them in our later conversations. For now, let me just mention briefly that all those “other” questions generally belong to either “tell us more” or “background checks” question types that either invite you to elaborate on some aspects of your “elevator pitch”, or to make sure there are no hidden catches that will disqualify you as a candidate.

As for the purpose of asking all these questions and how exactly your answers will help the interviewer to make the judgment, let’s start with understanding the context.

Getting into Interviewer’s Mindset

So, what does the interviewer expect to hear, and what exactly can you say and do to make an excellent first impression?

To create the right mental stage for comprehending the interviewer’s mindset, let’s try this exercise. Let’s imagine that it is YOU who is hiring someone to do some job for you. Perhaps you want to do a home kitchen renovation and you must choose between 3-4 contractors who offer you their services. You are a very busy person, so you have allocated 30 minutes for each contractor to hear what they have to say, and then you will have to move on to other tasks like other project deadlines, strategic meetings with your management (or with your girlfriend), etc. What do you want to hear from each contractor?

The most common questions would be:

Besides these explicitly asked questions, there will also be implicit things you will be looking for such as:

As you can see, implicit judgment has a lot to do with feelings and boils down to the main question:

As we continue with our exercise and remember that it is YOU trying to choose among your kitchen renovation candidates, you will probably agree that you will actually make your decision based on IMPLICIT stuff rather than explicit, and the explicit questions you are asking will contribute to your ultimate feeling: “Do we have a fit?” Moreover, if you give this topic a little more thought you may discover that you have something like a vision of an ideal candidate in your mind…

Now let’s put ourselves in the shoes of our contractor candidate and imagine how they might answer your explicit questions in order to make you feel that they are a fit:

Does the above leave the impression that this contractor knows his stuff? For me, the answer is “absolutely yes.”

And what if their answer is like the one below?

— Hey, Natalie! By the way, I knew someone named Natalie, when I was back in college, we even dated for a while. It didn’t work out after all. OK, so my name is Nick, I am 42 years old, I have 2 kids, who, you may say, are not kids anymore – you know, one is a college student, another is graduating from high school this coming summer. They are good kids, you know, although a little lazy, I would say, they should study harder. My wife, however, likes reminding me of the years when we both were dating, you know, she keeps saying: “you were lazy just as they are, weren’t you?” Well, you know, she is right at that, which makes me laugh 😊 Anyways, what was the question, again?

So, what’s your impression? How interested are you, a potential client, in your contractor’s personal life? Not at all. You want the answers to be matter-of-fact and to the point and leave you with the feeling that you are not wasting your time. There is no better way to lose a potential employer or client than to show them disrespect, including disrespecting their time – the most valuable resource we can have.

Now let’s get back to our job interview situation and put ourselves into our interviewer’s shoes. Here I am as an interviewer, asking my candidate: “Tell me about yourself, Nick!” and here’s what I would like to hear:

This person shows me that they respect my time, and not only mine – they respect their own time as well!

To summarize (and Mr. Simon is nodding in agreement), the answer to the “Tell Me About Yourself” is the foundation, the cornerstone for further conversation. And if you now wondering about what exactly the cornerstone is, go and read Dictionary.com which says the following:

Now that we understand the general concept of why this question is asked and what the answer is supposed to include, let’s get down to more specifics that will help you present your best self.

It’s All About What and Why

As we saw in the above example, you are not particularly interested in the “Who” of your contractor candidate: his personal life, his age, his family situation, his hobbies. Rather, you want to know the “What” and “Why”:

Not necessarily in the above order, of course.

To give you an example, I once interviewed a man named Alan for a position of Project Manager in data privacy industry, and here’s his answer that I liked:

From what I understand, you are looking for a new team member for your new digital product related to Data Privacy, for a Project Manager who can ensure clarity, accountability, team engagement and most importantly, progression towards goals in a highly agile environment. I am excited about this opportunity because Agile Project Management is exactly what I have been doing in my last few roles, I am known for my organization and engagement skills, I am a very goal-oriented person, and I am passionate about Data Privacy! My last project involved implementation of a digital product where I was responsible, among other things, for defining requirements for the “Privacy by Design” principle for a customer-facing system. It is now in beta-testing, and I have received more than 20 feedback statements specifically praising how easily and smartly this principle was implemented. I would be happy to join the Data Privacy project and learn from the experts in this field. Could you tell me more about the project team?

In addition to being very matter-of-fact, he was nice and friendly and capable of listening and adjusting his assumptions on the go. You could say from his demeanor that he was agile by nature!

We did hire Alan and never regretted our decision. I assure you it is always a pleasure for a business-oriented person to meet someone who appreciates the most valuable assets on Earth – time, and the modern workplace does demand being business-oriented.

The Importance of Listening Skills

To give you a sample of answers to avoid, I remember interviewing someone named Victoria for the role of an Executive Assistant. Victoria was quite a conversationalist which may have been fine in social context, However, the purpose of the interview was obviously related to the job she was interviewing for, and that was by no means a job of a radio host or a DJ where, I figure, the more you talk the better.

So, our 30 minutes of a face-to-face consisted of a dialog very much like this:

It is not necessary to continue; I am sure you are getting it. I assure you it was exactly like this for the whole 30 minutes I survived, being myself a polite person. I guess the extreme suffering may have been written in my face – unfortunately, Victoria did not see it, she was too preoccupied with the stories from her past, and I suspect she was not the kind to notice much around herself.

To nail it, there was an ending to that story which I think was the funniest: at the end of the 30 minutes, when I had a chance to ask Victoria why she thought she may be a good fit for us, she looked at me with astonishment:

Although she may have been a gifted person. Victoria had little chance of someone hiring her because she was too full of herself. They say that everyone is ultimately interested in themselves, and that includes a hiring manager who is interested in their own objectives, and not in the least in Victoria’s glorious past. She had her chance of learning and listening, but she instead spent it on talking about completely irrelevant things.

Summary

— Hey Natalie, enough beating around the bush! – you will say impatiently at this point. — Just give me the essence, what exactly should I do to create that awesome first impression? How do I give the best possible answer to the question “Tell me about yourself”?

We are only discussing soft skills in this article which are relevant for pretty much everyone, while hard skills are of course different depending on the job.

Agreed. Let’s summarize what factors will contribute to the decision of the hiring manager, whether the candidate qualifies as a “perfect fit”. Here is my list:

In our future posts, we will take a closer look at each of the above factors and will review multiple samples, both positive and negative. In addition, we will discuss how the answer to the question “Tell me about yourself” may have different nuances depending on whether you are:

About the Author: Natalie Lihacova is a co-founder and CEO of Teammate.Exec and Mr. Simon. She has over two decades of experience leading people and running businesses. Before switching her career to Information Technology and Business Management, Natalie used to be a musician – a singer and a choir director. She is passionate about helping people discover their true potential as professionals.

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