One of the first things you can expect to hear in a job interview might go something along the lines of “So, tell me about yourself…” And while this may seem like small talk, it’s an important part of the interview process.
There are many versions of this question. Some interviewers will ask you to walk them through your CV or tell them about your professional journey, while others might say, “Can you tell me more about your experience?”
However it’s worded, this question may seem easy enough to answer at first glance. After all, who knows more about you than you? But it can be deceptively tricky – and since it gives interviewers their first impression of who you are and sets the tone for the rest of the interview, it’s essential to prepare for it.
Below, we’ve pulled together some tips to craft the perfect answer to the ‘Tell me about yourself’ question in job interviews.
Why interviewers ask the ‘Tell me about yourself’ question
Before we discuss how to answer the ‘Tell me about yourself question’, it’s important to understand why interviewers ask it.
Firstly, it’s a good transition from the general chit-chat at the beginning of an interview to the ‘proper’ questions. But it’s more than just an icebreaker. It allows interviewees to give an overview of why their skills, experience, passions, and goals make them the perfect person for the role – and to showcase their communication skills.
It also provides prospective employers with a look at the person behind the CV and cover letter – to help them form their first impression.
8 tips for answering the ‘Tell me about yourself’ question in job interviews
1. Try thinking of the question differently
One of the trickiest things about the ‘Tell me about yourself’ question is that employers don’t mean exactly what they say. Instead of wanting to understand what you’re like as a person, they want to know three main things…
- What you do in your current job – or if you’ve been on an employment break, how you’ve been filling your time
- Why your professional skills, experiences, and achievements make you right for the role on offer
- What your career goals and plans are, and how they align with the role
Thinking of the question this way can help you read between the lines and formulate an answer that impresses your interviewer.
2. Tailor your answer to the job description and company values
When preparing your answer, it’s a good idea to study the job description and research the company you’re interviewing for.
By doing this, you can pinpoint exactly what experience, skills, goals, and values the company is looking for in a candidate and tailor your response accordingly.
For some help researching a company before an interview, take a look at our article on the subject here.
3. Be specific and use examples
Once you’ve identified the qualities valued by the company you’re interviewing for, try thinking of specific instances when you’ve displayed them in your professional life.
If the job description says that they’re looking for an innovative individual, you might want to include an example of when you came up with an original idea that had a positive impact. Or, if your research shows that customer service is an important company value, you could consider sharing an instance where you went above and beyond for a client.
It’s also worth specifically matching these qualities to the company when possible. For example, “I really admire the service X provides its customers” or “Y’s commitment to sustainability is one of the things that drew me to this role”. This demonstrates that you’re a good fit and have dedicated time and attention to learning about the company.
When choosing what skills and abilities to showcase in your answer, you’ll also have to think about how your current role (or most recent one, if you’re returning after a career break) relates to the job on offer. For example, if it’s a more senior position, you might want to include an instance that proves you’re ready for more responsibility. Or, say you’re making a career change, then it’s a good idea to talk about skills that are transferable and why.
4. Use the present-past-future structure
It’s just as important to think about how to structure your answer as what to include in it. Presenting your information clearly and concisely allows you to flex your communication skills while keeping your interviewer engaged. Plus, how we order our speech can have a big effect on what listeners take away.
There are various ways to organise your answer. However, one approach often recommended by career coaches is the present-past-future formula.
Just as the name suggests, this structure involves opening your response with what you’re up to at the moment before moving on to past experiences and finishing with your plans and goals for the future.
Research tells us that people generally remember the first and last things they’re told more clearly than the things in the middle – with whatever’s last being recalled the best. Since the most relevant parts of your answer are typically what you’re doing now and your future plans, using the present-past-future structure will help you place this information in the most effective order.
However, in some cases, your past experience might be more relevant to the role you’re applying for than what you’re doing now – for example, if you’re coming out of retirement. In this case, you could try using a past-present-future structure, placing your work history front and centre.
5. Try to keep things brief
One mistake candidates often make when answering this question is to talk through their entire job history. But remember, your interviewer will have already read your CV, so it’s important not to reiterate what they already know.
Plus, as an older adult, you might have decades of experience under your belt, so going through everything may take too long and leave your interviewer feeling disengaged.
With this in mind, try to keep things brief and be selective – only talking about achievements and experiences that are most relevant to the role. Remember, this is only the first question of the interview, so make sure to save some material for later.
As for how long your answer should be, there’s no ideal time. However, experts generally agree that you shouldn’t go much over two or three minutes.
6. Use personal details sparingly
When interviewers ask us to tell them about ourselves, it can be a little misleading. While many aspects of our identities have nothing to do with our careers, employers are generally only looking for work-related answers (including education, volunteering, etc.). So it’s a good rule of thumb to leave personal details – like hobbies, pets, and family – out of your response.
However, you might want to consider including something personal if it directly relates to the role you’re interviewing for. A good example of this would be if you’re applying for a job as a carer and you’ve spent time caring for an elderly parent.
7. Stay positive
Another mistake candidates can make when answering this question is not keeping things positive. For example, some people might tell interviewers about issues they have in their current position – like a toxic culture or lack of flexibility.
However, it’s important not to complain about previous or present jobs at any stage of the interview process. As business and communication coach Ashira Prossack writes in Forbes, “When you speak negatively about someone, it reflects far more poorly on you than it does on them […] the hiring manager will only hear […] complaints and excuses, not reasons.”
You also want to give your interviewer the impression that you want the role because you’re excited about the opportunity, not because you want to escape a bad situation.
If you’ve recently been let go or laid off, then it’s generally good advice to leave this out too. Remember that however you answer this question will typically set the tone for the rest of the conversation – and you want that tone to be positive. You can always speak about your reasons for being let go from a previous company later, if necessary.
8. Practise your answer, but don’t learn it word for word
Once you’ve got a good answer together, it’s worth writing it down and reading it aloud at least a few times. This will not only give you an idea of how long it is and how you need to pace yourself, but research suggests that saying things out loud also helps us to remember them better than simply reading them.
Studies also show that hearing ourselves say things out loud assists memorisation. So why not record yourself and play it back a few times? When listening, try to place yourself in the interviewer’s shoes and ask yourself questions like, is it engaging and convincing? Does it sound genuine?
If you’re struggling to listen to your answer objectively, try leaving some time between recording and listening, which will provide some distance. It’s also worth enlisting a friend to listen to you if you can, as they might pick up on something you missed.
While practising your answer is a good idea, it’s equally important not to overdo it and learn it word-for-word. Giving a response that sounds completely memorised can make you seem inauthentic – even if you genuinely mean what you’re saying. So, once you’ve memorised the structure and main talking points, you might want to move on to a different part of your interview preparation.
Example answer…
Below, we’ve put together an example answer that pulls together all of the tips from above.
“Hello, my name is Brian, and I work as a customer service manager for Chuck’s Chocolate. As well as overseeing a team of five customer service representatives, I’m in charge of implementing new customer service policies, finding new ways to measure customer satisfaction, and developing products to best serve our customers.
“For me, the customer always comes first. Two of my proudest achievements during my four years in this role were implementing a total revamp of our customer service policy and liaising with the marketing department to help make our branding more age-inclusive – which I saw was a common concern amongst customers. Since entering this role, my team has helped take our company’s Trustpilot score from 4.2 to 4.9.
“Before I was promoted to customer service manager, I worked as a customer service representative for five years. What I loved about this role was the chance to speak to people directly and help impact their lives positively – however small that was. This personal connection is something I miss in my current role, and it’s part of the reason why I want to become a carer.
“One of the things that drew me to Care Co. specifically is your commitment to providing people with long-term stability. In customer service, we often solve issues for customers and never hear back. But this role excites me because it provides the opportunity to make an even more meaningful, long-term difference in people’s lives.
“My time in customer service has taught me excellent problem-solving skills, how to keep calm under pressure, and above all, how to go the extra mile for someone. These are all skills I believe would transfer well into a career as a carer.”
Final thoughts…
As we’ve said, the ‘Tell me about it’ question is an important part of the interview process – and it can seem deceptively simple. However, with some preparation and practice, you can craft an answer that establishes you as the best candidate for the role from the get-go, setting you up for success.
For more help with interview preparation, head over to our career advice section. Here, you’ll find articles like How to answer competency-based questions with ease and 12 tips for a successful Zoom interview.
Have you got any more tips for answering this question? If so, we’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.