How to answer “Tell me about yourself” in an interview
Last updated . General advice, not a script.
Many interviews start with this: “Tell me about yourself.” It sounds easy and it is hard. There is no right length of life story. The question is a way to start the talk, and it is usually asking about you and this job, not your whole life.
A good answer is short, true and easy to follow. You can build one in about ten minutes.
Use four short parts
1. Now. Say what you do at the moment, or what you are looking for. One sentence.
2. Before. Say one or two things you have done that fit this job. Choose work, school, volunteering or helping at home. One or two sentences.
3. This job. Say why this job makes sense for you. Use the job posting. Pick one thing it asks for that you have done or want to do.
4. Close. Finish with a short sentence that hands the talk back, such as “I am happy to tell you more about any of that.”
That is about four to six sentences. Spoken out loud, it takes under two minutes.
An invented example, only to show the shape
This example is made up. Use your own facts, not these.
“Right now I am looking for full-time work in a store. For the last two years I have worked part-time at a bakery counter, where I served customers, handled cash and helped close up at night. Before that I helped my family run a market stall on weekends. I saw that this job asks for someone who is friendly and reliable on busy days, and that is the kind of work I like. I am happy to tell you more about any of that.”
Look at the shape. The first line says where the person is now. The middle says what they have done. The job is named. The close is one short sentence.
If you have little work history
You can still use the same four parts. For “before,” use school, a course, volunteering, a community group, caring for family or a project you finished. If you worked in another country, say what the work was in plain words. Describe what you did each day, because job titles are different in different places.
The same four parts, for three different situations
These are invented and short, only to show how the parts change. Use your own facts.
A first job: “Right now I am finishing a course in office skills. At school I helped organize a class event and kept the sign-up list. I saw that this job asks for someone who is careful with details, and I like that kind of work.”
Changing fields: “I have spent three years in restaurant kitchens, and I am now looking for work with more regular hours. In the kitchen I learned to work fast with a team and to keep my area clean. This job asks for the same habits in a warehouse, so I think it is a good next step.”
Coming back after a break: “I am ready to return to work after a few years at home with my children. Before that I worked in a call centre, where I answered customer questions all day. This job needs someone who can stay patient on the phone, and I know I can do that.”
The question can come in other words
You may hear “Introduce yourself,” “Walk me through your background,” or “What should I know about you?” The four parts work for all of them. If the question is very open, it is fine to ask, “Would you like me to focus on my work history or on why I applied?” Then answer what they choose.
Common problems
- Starting too far back. You do not need to begin with where you were born. Start with now.
- Reading your résumé out loud. The interviewer has it. Tell the short story behind it.
- Too long. If you are still talking after two minutes, cut the middle.
- Only “we.” Say what you did.
- Saying sorry for what you do not have. Say what you do have.
- Saying things that are not true. A follow-up question will show it.
If English is not your first language
Short sentences are fine, and they are easier to follow. Slow down at the end of each part and take a breath. If you need a moment to find a word, pause. You can also say “let me say that another way.” Practise the first two sentences until they feel easy, because a smooth start helps the rest.
Practise it out loud, twice
Write the four parts as short notes, not full sentences. Put the notes away. Say your answer out loud and time it. Then say it again. The second time is often shorter. Try it on a friend, or record it on your phone and listen back.
Then change one thing for each job. The “this job” part should be different every time, because every posting is different.
What this page cannot tell you
We do not know the interviewer or the job. Some interviewers will ask this question in a different way, such as “Walk me through your background.” The four parts work for those too. Treat the shape as a guide and keep your own words.
Related guides
- Why do you want to work here?: how to give an honest answer, even if you mainly need a job.
- Retail and cashier interviews: six themes to prepare for store and customer-service jobs.
If you want help rehearsing
Dawnstep is an app where you paste a job posting, answer questions about that role out loud or by typing, and read written feedback on what you said. Feedback is written by AI and can be wrong, so use your own judgement. It is a practice tool. It does not predict whether you will be hired. It does not score your accent.
Dawnstep is coming soon to iPhone. It is not in the App Store yet. Read how Dawnstep works.