How to answer 'Tell me about yourself' in an interview

Almost every interview starts with "Tell me about yourself". It is not an invitation to tell your life story. It is a chance to give a short, focused introduction, and it sets the tone for the rest of the conversation. Aim for 60 to 90 seconds.

What the interviewer really wants to know

Behind the question, the interviewer is asking: Who are you professionally? Why are you here? Can you communicate clearly? Are you right for this role? A good answer answers all four without being asked.

A three-part structure

1. Present: who you are now. Your degree or current role, and your main strength.
2. Past: one or two things that prove it: a project, an internship, a result.
3. Future: why you want this role, and what you want to do for the company.

Example for a fresher

"I am a final-year B.Tech student in computer science with a strong interest in data. In my last project I built a sales dashboard for a local shop using Python and SQL, and it helped the owner see which products were slow. I also finished a six-week internship where I cleaned and analysed customer data. I am looking for a junior data analyst role where I can keep learning and apply these skills on real business problems, and your team's work on retail analytics is exactly that."

Example for a sales candidate

"I have two years of experience in B2B sales for a software reseller. I manage about 40 accounts and last year exceeded my target by 15%. I enjoy building long-term relationships with clients and I am looking to move into a larger team where I can handle bigger accounts."

Example for a career changer

"For the past three years I worked in customer support, where I handled about 60 queries a day and trained new team members. Along the way I became interested in how data explains customer problems, so I learned Excel and SQL and built a small dashboard of our common complaints. I am now looking for a junior analyst role where I can combine my customer knowledge with data skills."

How to prepare your own answer

1. Read the job description and pick the three skills or qualities it stresses.
2. Choose one or two experiences that prove those skills.
3. Write your answer in three parts, then cut it until it takes about a minute to say.
4. Practise aloud, ideally in front of a friend or a mirror, until it sounds natural and not memorised.

Do and do not

• Do tailor it to the job. Pick the parts of your story that matter for this role.
• Do sound warm and confident, and make eye contact (or look at the camera in an online interview).
• Do not repeat your resume line by line.
• Do not start with your childhood or share personal problems.
• Do not speak badly about a past employer or college.
• Do not say "I am a hard worker" without an example.

Related questions

You may be asked a similar question in different words, such as "Walk me through your resume" or "Introduce yourself". The same three-part structure works for all of them.

Prepare using your resume

Before the interview, run your resume through the tailor tool for the role. It shows which of your skills match, so you know which ones to mention. For the rest of your preparation, see our interview preparation checklist.