How to answer the 'tell me about yourself' interview question

If someone asked you to talk about yourself at a party or on a date, you’d probably chat about your hobbies, passions and beliefs. But small talk about your favourite film franchise or go-to coffee order isn’t going to get you a job. So, what are interviewers getting at when they say “Tell me about yourself”?

We’ve put together this guide to crack the code.

Interviewers often begin with “Tell me about yourself” to break the ice. Remember, interviewers get nervous too – you’re meeting each other for the first time! Plus, whatever you say here will inform follow-up questions so the conversation will feel more natural.

Each interviewer will word questions differently. Sometimes they’ll make it clear that they only want you to talk about what’s relevant for work (which isn’t obvious from the broader “Tell me about yourself” wording!).

Other ways interviewers will phrase this question include:

• Tell me a bit more about your experience to date
• Tell me what you’ve been up to in your career
• Walk me through what you’ve been doing for the past few years
• Tell me a bit more about your journey so far

As harsh as it sounds, employers don’t want your life story. Instead, they want a top-line summary of who you are and how that led you to this interview. Interviewers are speaking to lots of people, so this is your chance to tell your story and make them remember you. Just make sure that you keep the chat work-related.

Try splitting your answer into three parts. Nail it every time with this straightforward formula:

1. Where are you now? The interviewer wants to know what you’ve been doing in terms of work or study. Talk about your current or more recent role. Avoid reading from your CV – they already have this. Instead, dig deeper and give the details about your recent successes and what you’ve learned.
2. How did you get here? Touch on roles you’ve had in the past. If you’re a recent graduate, bring in any work experience, placements or internships you’ve done – these count too! This is also a good opportunity to mention any extra-curricular activities that helped you get to where you are today. If it was uni fundraising that kickstarted your passion for the charity sector, bring it up.
3. Where are you looking to go? An interviewer wants to know about your ambitions. They’ll ask motivational questions later but part of the ‘tell me about yourself’ icebreaker involves you explaining what drew you to the role and how that links to your bigger goals. Be careful when answering this if you’re quitting your current position – keep your answer positive, even if you hate the job you’re leaving!

Here’s an example of a good way to respond to a ‘tell me about yourself’ interview question:

I currently work as a Marketing Assistant for an agency based in London. I’ve worked there since I graduated from Exeter University two years ago with a first-class degree. In my current role, I’m responsible for writing copy and managing our clients’ social media accounts. While at university, I did two internships at different marketing agencies to gain experience. I’m looking to progress to the next level in my career and this opportunity feels like a great fit for me to do that.

Are there any relevant career highs or academic achievements you can sneak in here?

There’s no need to go into detail but say enough to spark some interest. The interviewer will ask follow-up questions if they want to find out more.

By including things you’re proud of in your intro, you’ll give the interviewer a flavour of your approach to work and what drives you.

The interviewer will check if you’ve got the right skills for the job by asking competency questions and drilling into your strengths and weaknesses later. But it’s never too early to impress.

When summarising your experience, pick out the areas that show you’ve got the skills they want. If you’re unsure what to say here, take another look at the job advert to remind you of what they’re looking for.

Think about the parts of the role that would motivate you and share any examples that prove that you’re the right person for the job. Again, you don’t need to go into detail and can just give the headlines.

Every employer wants to be wanted, so prove your interest by researching them! If you tie in company knowledge while answering this question, you’ll always impress.

When you’re asked to talk about yourself, it’s easy to think that you should do just that – only talk about yourself. If that were the case, your answer would be the same whoever asked you the question. But when employers say “tell us about yourself”, they mean “tell us about yourself in relation to this job opportunity”. If you do your research, you can answer this question while weaving in references to the role, why it’s right for you and why you’re right for the company.

Imagine you’ve got to fit everything in a short advert. You need to get across your unique selling points before it finishes, so focus on the most important things.

This is your advertisement, so remember:

• Keep it concise – no more than five minutes
• Don’t go into too much detail
• Layer in snippets of what you have picked up while doing your research

Now that you know what an interviewer expects when they say ‘tell me about yourself’, it’s easier to know how to prepare. By running through our top tips before an interview, you’ll be ready for the real thing.

As well as following our advice, consider using AI to prepare for your interview. You can use AI to practice – and give feedback on – your responses. To learn more, visit our complete guide to using AI for job searching and applications.