“Tell Me About Yourself” — How to nail this question in an interview
“Tell me about yourself.” That’s often the first question you will get asked when you’re interviewing for a job. Most employers want to know who they are hiring. This question is a way for them to get to know you as a person outside of your resume.
Why is it so important?
This question is so important because it sets the tone for the rest of the interview. Depending on what you say, your interviewer will pick up details from your answer that will dictate the direction they take, as well as come up with any follow-up questions.
Furthermore, this is their first impression of you. So it’s important you leave them with a positive impact. But don’t let that scare you. Remember that they already have your resume and portfolio. They want to get to know the person behind your achievements, and that includes your story, your journey, and simply, who you are.
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Research the job description & qualifications
Before answering this question, it’s important to research and be familiar with the job description. What is the employer looking for in a candidate? If you know what they are looking for, you can cater your answer to the skills and qualifications they want. You can do this by highlighting your own skills and previous experiences that line up with the company’s values and goals.
So... what should you say?
There are three main things you should cover in your answer:
Who are you right now (Present)
How did you get to where you are now (Past)
What are you looking to do next (Future)
As you cover these three topics, keep your story personable and unique to you. Yes, it’s a simple template, but each person is unique. Make it yours. Let your story shine through. And keep in mind that whatever you say, that the details you share be relevant to the company and position you are applying for.
Also, keep in mind that your interviewer has your resume. So, try to mention things that go beyond what’s already stated on your resume.
Present: who are you right now?
Begin your answer by saying who you are right now. If you just graduated college, then say that. If you’ve been working professionally for the last 10 years, then say that. Be honest with where you are.
If you are applying for a marketing position and you’ve just graduated college, your answer may cover these topics:
Where you graduated college from and with what degree
Any jobs or internships you are currently working at right now
Any hobbies or activities you are doing now (if you are a photographer, then say that. Even though it’s not entirely relevant to the job position, it tells them something about you that’s not on the resume. OR maybe photography is related to your passion for marketing?).
Sharing interests/ experiences that may be unrelated to your job:
The interests and experiences you have that may not be relevant to your job position, can still say a lot about you. They may not be directly related to the job you’re interviewing for, but these past interests and experiences could have developed skills in you that you would need for your new job.
Try sharing a hobby that you are passionate about like quilting, playing an instrument, chess, golf, surfing, tennis, or photography.
Long-distance running or yoga = represent your healthy, energetic side
Reading or solving crossword puzzles = showcase your intellectual side
Golf and gourmet food = could add value if the job requires you to entertain clients
Volunteer work = demonstrates character and commitment to the welfare of the community
Interactive roles (tour guide, fundraiser, or chair of a social club) = show your comfort with communicating and engaging with others
Past: how did you get to where you are?
Your future employers will want to know how and why you are where you are now. This includes your interests and what drew you to them, your past experiences and why / how you got them, and so on.
Let’s continue with our previous example. A fresh college graduate applying for a job in marketing may cover these topics when answering:
What made you interested in marketing (Was it a class in high school? An elective you took in college? You know someone in marketing?)
Your past education
Any internships or jobs you took to expand your skills and interest in marketing
On and off-campus jobs
Any positions that required you to utilize marketing skills
Were you a part of an organization?
Any projects you were proud of that helped you decide your route in marketing
This can include course classes or class projects
Future: what are you looking to do next?
This section of your answer should say something about why you are applying for the job. Here are some questions to consider:
What are you hoping to learn?
What skills do you want to gain?
What are your future goals?
Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?
How can this job help get you where you want to be?
Remember that as you are answering these questions, that your answer should be relevant to the company that is interviewing you and the job position you are applying for. This may mean that your answer slightly differs in each interview because you want to make your answer unique and catered to the company you are interviewing with. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.
Prepare a long and short answer
This is going to be one of the very first questions you get asked. You want to make sure that you don’t take too much time answering this, so that it takes away from other questions your interviewer may want to ask. Typically, an answer should be 20 seconds to 1 minute (or 1.5 minutes at most). The last thing you want is for your interviewer to get bored and stop you mid-sentence.
Read the room
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Most interviews range from 30 minutes to 2 hours. It’s important to keep track of how much time you have for the interview, and determine how long or short your answer should be. If you have 1 hour for the interview, then it’s okay to share a longer answer (45 seconds - 1 minute). But if you only have 30 minutes to interview with the hiring manager, then maybe keep your answer to 15-30 seconds.
And if you’re still saying your answer and you see your interviewer begin to get distracted, then maybe it’s time to wrap up what you’re saying. An interview is like a dance. You need to play off of the energy and cues that your partner (your interviewer) is giving you.
You don’t have to say everything all at once
Often when we think of making a good impression, we may want to list off every single accomplishment we’ve achieved. But that is not the case, and that is not what the question is asking you to do.
Just briefly touch on and highlight certain accomplishments you are proud of that are relevant to the job interview. You don’t have to give too many details. Simply give a 1-sentence description of your past experience and what you did there, and move on. If your interviewer wants to know more about your time and achievements, they will simply ask you. And then you can elaborate and give the full story. Remember, they have your resume. You don’t have to worry about listing every thing you’ve done in the past. If your interviewer wants to know more, they will ask. That’s the whole point of the interview!
It’s okay to ask for guidance
There are so many ways that you can answer this question: it is a very vague question, for sure. So if you’re truly at a loss and just didn’t come prepared for an interview, it’s okay to ask for guidance.
It’s okay to ask your interviewer, “My background is lengthy and diverse, is there a specific area of my background you want me to focus on so you can have a better understanding of who I am?” They can really only answer with either “yes” or “no.”
If they say “yes” and guide to a particular area of your background they want you to talk about, then talk about that. If they say “no,” then you can follow the steps above and answer the question according to the job description and what the company is looking for in a candidate (your skills and experiences relevant to the company and job position).
Practice, but don’t memorize
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If practicing and writing out your answer helps calm your nerves before an interview, then go ahead and do so! Take what you need and do what you need to do to be calm and collected throughout the interview process (because it gets nerve-wracking, I know!)
Here are a few ways you can practice:
Practice saying your answer with a friend
Ask them for feedback
Record yourself and listen to your answer
Listen to how you can make your answer stronger
Write out key points and highlights you want to say
The important thing here is to practice saying your answer out loud. But avoid memorizing your answer line by line. If you do that, your answer will not sound genuine, but rehearsed. You want to come off as authentic to your interviewers—they just want to know about you. Plus, your one answer will probably not fit all the interviews you will have to do with multiple different companies. It’s better to know, instead, the highlights and key points you want to touch on, rather than memorizing each sentence of your answer.
