How to answer “tell me about yourself” during an interview

There are some questions that you can almost guarantee will crop up in a first interview - and “tell me about yourself” is one of them. With that in mind, preparing a snappy answer ahead of time will help get your interview off to the right start. In this article, we’ll help you to develop a strong answer that introduces you professionally and credibly - and we’ll tell you what to avoid saying, as well. 

Why do interviewers ask “tell me about yourself”?

Don’t be surprised if this is one of the first things the interviewer asks you. It’s a popular interview question because it helps to transition the conversation from pre-interview small talk to the interview itself. It can set the tone for the rest of the interview and reveal a bit of your personality to the interviewer as you both find your feet. 

Of course, it’s likely that the interviewer has a copy of your resume or your application form in front of them, so they’ll be looking for some additional insight that’s not covered there, as well as confirmation of the basics of your career. 

How to answer “tell me about yourself”

When interviewers ask you to “tell me a bit about yourself,” it can feel like a casual enquiry - but make no mistake, this is part of the interview so you need to give a professional and well-thought-out answer. 

Your objective, when answering this question, is to show that you’re a great candidate. That could be in terms of your experience, skills, qualifications, or culture fit - or a combination of all of those things! 

Try to convey some of the following information:

• Your career: Give an overview of the work you’ve done before, the work you’re doing now, and your aspirations for work in the future

• Your research: Show that you’ve done your research into the company and the role, so that you can align what you’re saying with what the business needs

• Your skills: Explain how the skills you’ve acquired in the past will help you to succeed in this role

• Your successes: Offer examples of results you’ve delivered in your current or previous roles that would relate well to the job you’re interviewing for

• Your professionalism: Keep your answer relevant, concise, and articulate

• Your personality: Just because this is a formal interview, it doesn’t mean you can’t let your personality shine through - be yourself and speak naturally

Above all, don’t focus your answer on what you want from the job or the company - focus it on what you can do for them and how you can contribute to their success. 

Example “Tell me about yourself” answer

There’s no “right” or “best” answer to the “tell me about yourself” interview question, as every response will vary according to the individual and the role. Here’s an example that covers some of the points above. In this example you can see how to weave the separate ideas into a cohesive narrative.

Having initially started my career stacking shelves in a supermarket, I soon realised that the part of the job I enjoyed most was interacting with the customers. That led me to apply for a role in a call centre, where I honed my skills in customer service, complaint resolution, and working to targets. Soon I was promoted to Team Leader, managing a team of 8 staff. 

I feel like I’ve achieved all I can in that role, but I don’t see any opportunities for promotion on the horizon which is why I’ve applied for this position. I know your business takes pride in putting the customer first and that’s what I’ve done throughout my career. I’m ready to consolidate my leadership and customer service skills in a more senior role, which will provide the challenge I’m looking for. As Acme Corp is expanding rapidly and launching new products, I am looking forward to being a part of that growth. We recently launched a new product at XYZ plc and I was a key part of the team managing customer communications throughout the introductory period. I kept my team motivated through a busy time by recognising their work and successes and telling the jokes I’m famous for. We exceeded call centre targets during the launch and I’m sure I could achieve similar results for Acme Corp if given the opportunity.

What NOT to say when asked the “tell me about yourself” interview question

Naturally, there are some things you definitely want to avoid when presented with this question. Hopefully most of them go without saying, but in case you need a reminder: 

• Don’t get personal: The interviewer doesn’t need to know about your kids, your dog, your collection of beanie hats, or your favourite cocktail

• Don’t get contentious: Steer clear of controversial topics such as politics and religion

• Don’t ramble on: The interview should be a conversation, not a monologue - keep your answers on topic and brief

• Don’t read from a script: Being prepared is great, but reading out a pre-planned answer does take the spontaneity out of the conversation

• Don’t badmouth: Keep everything you say positive - even if your current employer is a toxic company with incompetent staff

Start strong - stay strong

If you’re asked “tell me about yourself” in an interview, a bit of planning can get you off to a strong start and create a fantastic first impression. Keep up the momentum - you’ll soon have the role in the bag!

Do you need help landing those interviews in the first place? TopResume can help. Why not send your resume for a free resume review by our experts? They’ll provide advice on how to iron out any problems so that you’re soon in the interview hot seat!