How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in Job Interviews

Updated June 17, 202216k

“Tell Me About Yourself?” is one of the most commonly asked interview questions. Do you know how to answer it in a way that will get you a new job?

Tell Me About Yourself.

“Tell me about yourself” is a very common interview question. Though it is seemingly innocuous, you should be careful to think before you answer! This question can trip people up quite easily, but if you learn to answer it well, it could help you to stand out from the crowd.

Why Do Hiring Managers Ask “Tell Me About Yourself”

Recruiters ask this question for a number of reasons. First and foremost, this is a relatively gentle and non-intimidating question that can act as an icebreaker and help interviewees to relax. This question is intended to give the hiring manager an idea of what kind of person you are and what type of employee you can be. How you answer can also have an impact on the rest of the interview by prompting the interviewer to ask follow-up questions. This question, therefore, represents a great opportunity for you to make a good first impression and get the job interview off to the right start.

First, Prepare for Your Job Interview

Before you even have to give a good answer to this type of question, however, you will need to prepare for your job interview. The way that you prepare for your job interview will depend on whether you are having a phone interview, a video conference interview, or an in-person job interview. For an in-person interview, for example, you will need to plan travel and pick an outfit. These general interview tips will help you to prepare:

Practice mock interview questions with your friends or family.
Read sample answers to common interview questions.
Re-read the job description and make a list of your most relevant strengths and skills.
Re-read your resume and cover letter to acquaint yourself with the skills and achievements you highlighted.

Taking the time to consider example answers to common interview questions is the single most effective way to prepare for your next interview. You can also consider these interview tips and tricks from ResumeNerd to ensure you make a great impression.

Three Simple Ways to Answer the “Tell Me About Yourself” Question

When you arrive at your interview, the recruiter may start with a general icebreaker or jump right into questions about your job search and how your skill set aligns with the role they are hiring for. “Tell me about yourself” is the most likely job interview question to be used as an icebreaker, and there are a few ways that you can turn this question into a great opportunity! Here are three good example answers to this question:

The ‘Then and Now’ formula

Answer this question with a brief overview of where you are now, how you got there, and give a goal for the future. This is a great answer formula for those on vocational career paths where advancement is the main goal. It can also be a good option for grad students with minimal professional experience. Here’s an example:

“I’m a recent graduate from [xyz] medical school. I’ve been interested in working in healthcare since I was a child because of how safe the doctors and nurses at [local hospital] made me feel when my mom was sick. I like to excel at what I do and work hard; that’s how I became valedictorian. I’d really like to specialize in brain surgery in the future.
The ‘Highlight Reel’ formula

An overview of the best bits of your professional experience so far. This is a great way to answer this question if you are highly qualified for the role, but don’t forget to talk about yourself as a person rather than just focusing on your work. Here’s an example:

“ I’ve been working in marketing for fifteen years, and it’s been great. I’ve had great opportunities to work with companies like [xyz] and [abc]. I’ve learned to treat each client as if they’re your last; because if you don’t treat them well, they could be! I’m an artist in my spare time, which I think has been helpful in my work.”
The ‘People Person’ formula

This is a simple formula for answering this question that focuses on how you build relationships and past experiences with people that have helped you to grow in a professional sense. If you want to work in a caring profession or the job interview is for a very people-centered role like customer service, then this could be the way forward for you. Here’s an example:

“I like to think that I’m a team player. I play a lot of team sports in my free time, soccer is my favorite, and I think that it’s helped me to manage day to day stress better. You learn a lot about human nature when you play sports like this, and I’ve found that I enjoy being in support roles rather than center stage. I enjoy helping people meet their goals.”

Whatever information you choose to include, try to give an example of previous experiences or actions that support the statements you make about yourself. This will help you to stand out from the crowd and impress recruiters.

FAQ: "Tell Me About Yourself"

What shouldn’t you say when interviewers ask “tell me about yourself”?

When you are asked this question, there are a few things that you should not do. First, you should not overshare information about your personal life, and you should not discuss your financial status. The hiring manager isn’t asking for your life story but for an idea of what kind of employee you will be. Likewise, there is no need to give details of the salary you receive in your current job. In fact, it may be illegal for a recruiter to ask for this information in the first place.

What are other common interview questions?

There are a number of common open-ended questions that you might encounter in a job interview, as well as some fairly straightforward questions. Examples of common interview questions include:

Why do you want to work for [xyz]?

What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?

Why are you leaving your current role?

Where do you see yourself working in the next ten years?

How has your previous work experience prepared you for this role?

What is the best way to describe yourself on a resume?

You can give a short description of yourself as a job seeker in your resume summary. This should be placed at the top of the page under your header. An example of a resume summary for a teacher might be:,

“Passionate early years educator with 12 years of experience and the recipient of [xyz] award for early years education. Utilizes a flexible, child-led approach to education and specializes in creative lesson plans to suit a range of learning needs.”

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About The Author

Cindi Cervone Carlson

Cindi Cervone Carlson is a Senior Vice President for Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. Cindi is responsible for developing, delivering, and implementing a dynamic, world-class organization dedicated to delivering outplacement consulting, training, support, and executive coaching. Cindi started her career at Challenger as a client who had lost her job. Over the past nine years, she has risen from an entry-level, part-time professional to Senior Vice President.