Learning how to answer "tell us about yourself" is a crucial step in preparing for any job interview. It's the most commonly asked interview question and it's usually the very first thing the hiring managers ask.
But don't be fooled. This question isn't just an ice breaker to make you feel comfortable. Instead, they want to see:
- who you are as a professional;
- how well you can pitch yourself for the job.
Your answer to this question sets the tone for the entire interview. It’s your chance to showcase your strengths, experiences, and why you’re the perfect fit for the position.
In this article, we will provide sample answers for practice, help you tailor an answer that best represents your professional journey, and avoid common mistakes.
Understanding the question
When interviewers ask "tell us about yourself," they're not asking for your life story.
They want a brief but comprehensive summary of your professional journey, tailored to the job you’re applying for.
What they look for:
- Relevant professional experience. Highlighting past jobs and responsibilities that are pertinent to the role you're interviewing for. Sharing the skills that make you an asset to their team.
- Confident communication. Clearly and confidently articulate your thoughts, ensuring you provide a well-structured and thoughtful answer, rather than being quiet or unprepared.
- Cultural fit. Showing traits that prove you'd blend well with the company’s values and work environment.
It’s a simple question, but it’s easy to misstep. Some might think it’s a casual ice-breaker and start delving into personal stories. That’s a common pitfall.
This question is not about making you comfortable; it's a structured opportunity for you to sell yourself from the get-go.
Why it can be tricky:
- Misinterpretation. Thinking it’s a casual conversation starter when it’s actually a strategic interview question.
- First impression. It’s usually the first question, so nailing it sets a positive tone for the rest of the interview.
- Lack of structure. Failing to provide a concise, well-thought-out response.
To ace this question, recognize it for what it is: your moment to shine professionally right from the start, setting a strong and positive first impression.
How to prepare your answer
Preparing for how to answer "tell us about yourself" question is a step you shouldn't skip. By planning ahead, you gain control over how you present yourself, ensuring clarity and relevance in your response.
Here's how to structure your answer to "tell me about yourself" in 4 steps:
- Discuss your current role and qualifications.
Begin by discussing your current role, explaining why you are a great match for the job, and highlighting your top three qualifications.
Example: "I'm a data analyst with seven years of experience, now part of the team at TechSolutions. In this role, I manage extensive datasets and analyze them to guide strategic decisions. I bring to the table strong expertise in R, a solid grasp of data visualization, and the ability to demystify complex data for stakeholders without a technical background." - Highlight past experiences and achievements.
Next, you want to highlight examples of past successes, ensuring they are relevant to the position you're aiming for.
Example: "What I'm really proud of is a project back at DataGen, where we got to unravel customer feedback layer by layer. We put advanced predictive analytics to work, honing in on ways to amp up our product game. It was a huge win, with customer satisfaction scores soaring by 20%" - Pick one thing about the job that excites you.
After that, pick one thing from this particular job or company that excites you.
Example: "I am particularly drawn to this role because of your company’s innovative approach to data analysis, and the opportunity to work with big data applications, something I am very passionate about." - Discuss your future career aspirations.
Connect your future career aspirations with the potential role. You can also connect this to the previous point.
Example: "Looking forward, I’m eager to dive deeper into predictive modeling and I believe this position offers the perfect platform to expand my skills and contribute to innovative solutions."
By preparing your answer and structuring it, you not only showcase your technical expertise but also your enthusiasm for the role.
How to answer "tell us about yourself"
Now that we've walked through how to structure your answer, let’s put theory into practice.
Below are five sample answers tailored to different job positions, applying the strategies we discussed in the previous chapter.
We highlighted the best opener sentences for each part of your answer:
- Introduction to your current role and top skills
- Highlighting your past achievements
- Pin-pointing one thing that excites you about the job/company
- Discussing your future career aspirations
1. Marketing manager
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Of course, you need to tailor your answer to "tell us about yourself" according to the job you're applying for. The samples provided are just a guide to show you how you might structure your answer in various roles.
Aim for your answer to be concise yet comprehensive, typically lasting between 1-3 minutes. This length allows you to provide enough detail without losing the interviewer’s attention.
Rehearsing is key – practice your response out loud until you feel confident.
Common mistakes to avoid when answering "tell me about yourself"
Navigating through the "tell us about yourself" question in an interview can be tricky, and even the most confident speakers might find themselves stumbling.
To make sure you don’t fall into common traps, here’s a rundown of mistakes to steer clear of:
- Being too vague or too detailed: You want to hit that sweet spot. Give them the “just right” amount of information to showcase your qualifications without turning it into a monologue. A rule of thumb is to stay in a 1-3 minute range.
- Turning it into a personal story-time. While it's nice to add a personal touch, this is not the time to delve deep into your personal life. Share a tidbit if it's relevant, but keep the spotlight on your professional self.
- Forgetting to tie it back to the job. It’s not just about you; it’s about ‘You + Job’. Every skill or experience you mention should be a breadcrumb leading them straight to why you’re perfect for the role.
- Saying "I don’t know," "ummm," or "sooo".These filler words are conversation killers. Practice makes perfect, and perfect means no unnecessary 'umms' and 'uhhs.'
- Memorizing a script. Practice, but don’t memorize. If you sound like you're reading off a teleprompter, it’s not a good look. Remember, it’s a conversation, not a performance.
Tips for delivering your answer confidently
Delivering your answer with confidence is just as important as the content of your answer.
Here's how to nail it:
- Master your body language. Stand tall and make eye contact. No slouching or fidgeting; show them you're confident and engaged.
- Practice, practice, practice. Run through your answer multiple times. Use your mirror; it won’t judge you, but it will help you judge yourself.
- Watch videos. YouTube is your friend. Watch how others do it, and pick up on their confidence-boosting techniques. Here's a great example.
- Role-play. Grab a buddy and practice. Let them throw curveballs at you so you’re ready for anything.
Remember, the goal is to seem comfortable and in control, even if your stomach is doing somersaults.
Pro tip
Practice in front of a mirror. It might feel a bit awkward, but it’s a tried-and-true method that really helps in presenting yourself clearly and confidently.
Key takeaways: How to answer "tell us about yourself"
Wrapping up our journey on how to answer "tell us about yourself", it’s clear that this common interview opener is more than just a casual question.
It's a strategic opportunity to present yourself as the ideal candidate.
Here’s a quick recap of the structure for your answer:
- Introduction to your current role and top skills. Clearly state your current position and emphasize the skills that make you excel in your role.
- Highlight your past achievements. Showcase specific achievements from your past roles, demonstrating your capability and experience.
- Pin-point something exciting about the job/company. Express genuine enthusiasm for the job or company, highlighting what specifically excites you about the opportunity.
- Discuss your future career aspirations. Illustrate how this role fits into your broader career plans, showing alignment and long-term interest.
And while you're at it, don’t forget to prepare for other common interview questions like:
- Career Writer
Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.
