How to answer: 'So, tell me about yourself'
You’re in an interview, you’ve been through the introductions, and now the question comes: ‘So, tell me about yourself’. Is it a simple warm-up question, or is it something more?
Many job interviews start with some form of this question. And when you’re going for a role, you may be tempted to dismiss this as an icebreaker before the ‘real’ questions begin. But there’s more to it than that.
How you answer this question can tell a recruiter or hiring manager a lot about who you are and why you’re interested in the position.
So how can you prepare for the question and answer it well? In this guide, career and interview coach Leah Lambart, of Relaunch Me, shares her advice on how to do just that. We also provide a step-by-step guide to creating your own answer and ‘tell me about yourself’ sample answers for a range of different professional scenarios.
- Why interviewers ask this question
- What not to say
- A formula for shaping your answer
- 5 tips on how to answer: ‘Tell me about yourself’
- Sample answers to ‘Tell me about yourself’
- FAQs
Why interviewers ask 'Tell me about yourself'
Lambart says the question ‘Tell me about yourself’ isn’t just used to ease someone into the interview – it’s a way for the employer to assess your communication and interpersonal skills.
The interviewer is trying to get a sense of your organisational skills, and get some clarity around why you’re interested in the role and the organisation. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared and organised in your response, and use a formula to create your answer.
“The ‘tell me about yourself’ question is a great opportunity to let the interviewer know why they should pick you, highlighting from the outset your most relevant experience, transferable skills and key achievements that ensure you stand out from your competition,” Lambart says. Keep in mind that your answer could influence the direction of the interview and form the foundation of any follow-up questions.
“You don’t know what questions will be asked afterwards, so this may be your only chance to demonstrate why you’re the best candidate for the job.” Lambart says research shows that an interviewer will often make up their mind whether you’re the right candidate in the first few minutes. “Therefore, you need to make this first response really count.”
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t tell them your entire career history, or life story
It might seem to make sense to start from the beginning and walk the interviewer through your career history, but Lambart advises against this. The best way to answer ‘tell me about yourself’ is to keep it short and stick to the highlights.
“They want to hear a snapshot of your career history, highlighting any specific career changes that need some explanation, focusing on the most relevant or recent roles, key skills that you have developed, as well as some standout achievements that are a testament to the great work that you’ve done.”
Don’t complain about the job search, or your boss
Even when you’ve faced hurdles finding a job, which can be the case especially when the job market is competitive, it’s best not to highlight how hard it has been, Lambart explains. “You will be much more attractive as a candidate if you have a positive outlook and don’t focus on the negatives associated with your job search,” she says.
The same goes for any problems you’re having with your current manager or if you have a job you hate. “Discussing problems that you’re having with your boss or your team will only raise red flags to future employers,” Lambart says.
Don’t get too personal, or bring up risky topics
While you want to inject some personality into your answer, ‘Tell me about yourself’ isn’t an invitation to discuss your personal life in depth. “When responding to this question, always focus on your professional self rather than providing detailed personal information,” Lambart says.
“If you want to provide a small amount of detail about your interests and hobbies outside of work to build rapport, think carefully about what you want to share, as there is always the risk that the interviewer may not have the same interests or views.”
How to write an answer to ‘Tell me about yourself’: Step-by-step answer formula
Now that you know what to avoid in your answer, you can focus on crafting a response that will leave a good impression with your interviewer. As we mentioned before, you want to show clarity in your thinking, and structuring your response is a great way to achieve that.
Here is a step-by-step formula for how to write a ‘Tell me about yourself’ answer:
- Step 1: Introduce yourself by stating your current professional title and how much experience you have in your field. Mention any background qualifications relevant to the role.
- Step 2: Highlight relevant professional experience and technical/transferable skills. If you have many skills, only mention the ones that are most relevant to the role. Mention your level of skill.
- Step 3: Explain why you’re interested in the role and express enthusiasm. You can include your career aspirations, your values and/or your passions. You should provide a reason for wanting to join this specific company. If you share your career goals, explain how this role would help you achieve them.
With this formula, you can share the basics of who, why and what in a structured and logical way: who you are, why you’re qualified for the role, and what interests you about the company and the role. You can use the same formula to create different iterations of a ‘Tell me about yourself’ answer for different interviews.
Don’t forget: You want to leave no doubt in the interviewer’s mind that you’re the right person for the job. So first, you need to really understand what the job is. Get really familiar with the role – go over the job description closely, and research the company. Know who you’re applying to and what you’re applying for.
Consider how your values align with the organisation or business. Look at their website to get a greater understanding of the company and what interests you about it and makes you want to work there.
5 tips on how to answer: ‘Tell me about yourself’
1. Keep your answer concise
Lambart says people often have a tendency to start from the beginning. “In other words, after they left school or TAFE or university—and then walk the interviewer chronologically through each career move they have ever made. Sometimes candidates get on a roll and it actually makes it really difficult for the recruiter to stop you when you’re only five years into a 20-year career.”
Your response needs to be succinct and concise. “Aim for it to be anywhere from two to three minutes long. Too much longer and you will start to lose the interviewer’s interest. Too short and you’ll be missing a great opportunity to get the interviewer excited about what you have to offer.”
2. Make your answer interesting and relevant
When the interviewer says ‘Tell me about yourself,’ there’s a good chance they have your resume in front of them, but they want to hear the highlights. So think about what would be most interesting and relevant for them to hear more about.
“The best way to answer this question is to tell the recruiter important information that they can’t decipher from your resume,” Lambart says. “It’s a waste of time regurgitating everything that they have already read.”
“Your response is an opportunity to explain your motivation for moving from one role to another, the relevant skills and expertise that you developed in each role, and what you enjoyed most about your most recent positions. What energised you most? What did you learn?” When you talk about things that excite you, you’ll naturally have a more passionate tone in your voice, which will appeal to the interviewer.
3. Structure your answer correctly
Follow that golden formula above! Begin with where you are now, “summarising your current or most recent experience at a high level’,” Lambart recommends.
For the ‘past’ part of the formula explain the different chapters or key roles in your career, with a focus on the last five to 10 years.
“Focus on what you learned that would be relevant to the position you’re applying for. What was the objective of this role? What were the key accountabilities? What were your biggest achievements? Why did you then transition to the next key chapter or role?”
“You can also briefly explain any unusual career moves or job changes that may not be obvious,” Lambart adds. “This is important to potential employers, particularly if the tenure was on the shorter side.”
Then, finish with the future. “Explain what you’re looking for in your next move and why the role they’re offering is such a good fit for your skills and experience.” And be sure to discuss how the company is aligned with your core values.
4. Keep your answer positive
Lambart explains that job searching can be tough, but that it’s important to set that aside when you’re speaking with your interviewer.
“If you have been job searching for a while and haven’t been getting offers, then this is not the time to speak negatively about other companies, their poor recruitment practices or the fact that they haven’t seen your true potential.”
The same applies if you're currently employed, but feeling stuck or unhappy. “If there are some personality clashes in your current role then, again, keep this to yourself,” adds Lambart.
“Ensure that you have a positive and upbeat tone when responding to this question and focus on what you have enjoyed in your previous roles, the great skills that you have developed and your career goals for the future. Never talk negatively about previous companies or bosses, as this will be an immediate red flag.”
5. Practice your answer
Don’t wait until the big day to deliver your answer. “Once you’ve worked out what you’re going to say, document the main points and practise saying it over and over again. Don’t learn it word for word, or you will sound like a robot. Instead, practise using just the key points,” advises Lambart.
You might want to try recording yourself with an app on your phone, or by leaving yourself a voicemail, so you can hear what your answer sounds like. Or you could say it to a friend or family member. “If you don’t get it perfect that’s okay, it’s better than sounding too rehearsed.”
Tailored answers to ‘Tell me about yourself’
Here are some examples that put all of this advice into action.
Example 1: A ‘tell me about yourself’ sample answer for graduates
Focus on academic achievements and any transferable skills you’ve picked up in casual jobs.
I’ve just graduated from Wollongong University with a nursing degree and I’m registered with the NMBA. While studying, I worked part time as an admin assistant in a small health clinic, so aside from the technical skills I picked up in my degree, I have accrued experience in customer care and detailed medical record keeping.
While doing a clinical placement at Wollongong Hospital, I developed interests in paediatrics and mental health, and it’s eventually my goal to specialise in child and adolescent mental health care. I’m particularly excited about a role in your hospital as you have an excellent reputation for patient-centric care and good mentorship programmes in all your departments.
Example 2: A ‘tell me about yourself’ sample answer for mid-career interviews
Pick out a few career highlights, rather than getting lost in the details. Showcase a mix of technical and transferable skills.
Right now, I work as the manager at X restaurant, and I’ve been there for five years. I started out as a waitress and realised pretty quickly that I’m really passionate about both customer service and management processes.
As I developed my skills in those areas, I was given more responsibility, and I worked my way up to assistant manager and then manager. I’ve really enjoyed working with the team there and updating a lot of their processes.
The restaurant has gone from barely breaking even to being one of the most popular in the area, and we consistently get great reviews. Now I’m looking to further develop my management skills in a different restaurant environment.
I am interested in your restaurant specifically as it has an excellent reputation for food and service, and it has a great atmosphere.
Example 3: A ‘tell me about yourself’ sample answer for experienced professionals
Highlight career achievements and future goals.
I’m currently one of the lead project managers at X agency, where I’ve been since 2013. I’ve worked in marketing and advertising for around seven years, mostly in content and production roles.
I actually began my career as an administrative assistant at a finance company, but then I got interested in marketing and advertising during a company-wide presentation there, so I made the switch after completing my marketing diploma in 2012. That qualification and some volunteer work for a non-profit organisation got me in the door at X agency, where I started as a marketing coordinator and worked my way up to project manager.
I’ve worked on a number of award-winning campaigns including X and Y, but I’ve started to miss non-profit work. Which is why I’m so excited to be talking to you today- your non-profit is doing exactly the kind of work that I’m really passionate about, and want to be doing. I’d love to use my marketing expertise to make a difference there.
Example 4: A ‘tell me about yourself’ sample answer for a career change
Focus on transferable skills and passion for a fresh start.
I’ve spent the past 10 working in office management. I really enjoy collaborating with different teams, solving problems, and managing in general, which sparked my interest in making a career shift into project management.
Over the years, I’ve mastered many of the skills needed for a career as a project manager: time management, stakeholder management, communication skills and even leading a team of executive assistants. I’ve been in charge of budgets, resources and schedules, which are all - directly transferable to project management.
What excites me about transitioning into this new field is the opportunity to take on more responsibility and take ownership of projects from start to finish. I’m also keen to keep developing my organisational, leadership, and communication skills. Ultimately, I’m looking for a role where I can contribute to a team, take on more strategic challenges, and continue to grow professionally.
Example 5: A ‘tell me about yourself’ sample answer for a managerial role
I’ve been working as a web developer and designer for more than 12 years, specialising in front-end development and UX design. Throughout my career so far I’ve developed a strong technical foundation, which has allowed me to successfully lead projects and even start my own small development company.
My focus now is on leveraging my skills in a managerial capacity, leading scrums or cross-functional teams in a large, global tech company. I’m excited about innovation and exploring how AI can help create efficiencies in web design and scaling development across different markets.
I’ve led many small- to mid-scale projects at my own company and now I’m ready to take the next step in my career and take on bigger challenges.
If you’re heading into a job interview, it’s highly likely you’ll be asked ‘Tell me about yourself’ in some form. By formulating your unique response to this common job interview question and answering well, you’ll show that you’re confident, able to recognise what the employer is looking for in an employee, and you’ll find you get a better response from your interviewers.
Remember that the above example answers for ‘tell me about yourself’ in an interview are only a guideline. Your response should emulate the structure, with relevant details from your own career background. Keep it relevant and concise, and you’ll be sure to shine in your next interview.
FAQs
1. Why do interviewers ask, "Tell me about yourself"?
Interviewers use this question to assess your communication skills, confidence, and ability to summarise your professional story. It also helps them understand your background and how it aligns with the role.
2. How long should my answer be?
Aim for a concise response of 1-2 minutes. This is long enough to provide relevant details without losing the interviewer’s attention.
3. What should I include in my answer?
Focus on:
- A brief overview of your current or most recent role.
- Highlights of your relevant skills or accomplishments.
- A connection to the position you’re applying for, explaining why you’re a great fit.
4. Should I include personal details in my answer?
Stick to professional details, but adding a personal touch, like a hobby or interest relevant to the job, can make you memorable. Avoid discussing controversial topics.
5. How can I tailor my answer for different industries or roles?
Research the company and role beforehand. Highlight specific skills, experiences, or achievements that align with the employer's needs or the industry.
6. What are some common mistakes to avoid?
- Giving an overly long or vague answer.
- Sharing irrelevant personal information.
- Sounding too rehearsed or robotic.
7. How can I practice my answer effectively?
Write down a script, then practice aloud until you feel confident. Try recording yourself or practicing with a friend to refine your tone and delivery.
8. Should I mention gaps in employment or career changes?
Yes, but frame them positively. Briefly explain the context and emphasise what you learned or how it benefits your application.
9. What if I get nervous or forget what to say?
Take a deep breath and pause briefly to gather your thoughts. Having a clear structure in mind (like the "Present-Past-Future" approach) can help you stay on track.
10. Can I use this answer to guide the rest of the interview?
Absolutely! A well-crafted response can set the tone for the interview and highlight areas you’d like to discuss in more detail later.
