How to Answer, ‘Tell Me About Yourself,’ in a Job Interview

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“Tell me about yourself.” It’s one of the most common — and tricky — job interview questions. Even so, many job seekers don’t take the question seriously, thinking it’s just an icebreaker meant to put them at ease.

But they should carefully consider their response, because “tell me about yourself” is more than a throwaway opener for most interviewers. When hiring managers pose this open-ended question, they’re hoping candidates will provide insight about their goals and priorities through their answers, giving them a better sense of who each job candidate really is.

And that’s not all: Interviewers also ask this question to evaluate how confident interviewees are, which in turn gives them a view of how new hires might present themselves to customers, clients and colleagues if they get the job.

As a job seeker, knowing how to answer “tell me about yourself” gives you a great opportunity to introduce yourself in a job interview on your own terms by spotlighting the job skills, experience and soft skills that make you the ideal candidate for the job. And because it’s a question that many hiring managers lead with, your response also allows you to set the tone in a way that’s both comfortable and informative for everyone involved.

And remember, you’ll get to other parts of the interview, such as behavioral questions and discussions of strengths and weaknesses, after your reply to the tell-me-about-yourself question. You are under no pressure to squeeze in everything you want to say in response to just one part of the interview.

Now that you’ve learned more about the hiring manager’s motives, and why it’s helpful to think of the invitation to talk about yourself as a prime opportunity to provide a compelling introduction to who you are, here are a few more job interview tips to help you nail your response.

‘Tell Me About Yourself’ — a Golden Opportunity in a Job Interview

What you should not say
Be ready for the ‘tell me about yourself’ interview moment
What is the best answer for ‘tell me about yourself’?

What you should not say

Many job candidates make the mistake of answering this question with talk of something personal. Some even launch into their life story, starting with their hometown and continuing on through their college graduation. If that’s you, here’s something to keep in mind: “Tell me about yourself” does not mean the same thing as “tell me all about yourself” means.

Alternately, others share descriptions of the problems in their current job, explaining that they applied for this position because their boss is a micromanager or their employer won’t allow them to work a flexible schedule. While those issues can certainly lead to someone wanting to change jobs, the candidate probably wasn’t called in for an interview because the hiring manager wanted to hear about problems at other workplaces.

And some job seekers simply summarize their resume, going point-by-point through their work experience and education history. This is rarely if ever a good use of the hiring manager’s time, and it certainly isn’t the best way to respond when asked to talk about yourself in an interview.

All three of these responses to “tell me about yourself” can quickly send your new-job dreams down the tubes. If you answer with either of the first two, hiring managers see a red flag — an indication that you’re not that serious about the position or simply trying to escape a bad situation at your current job.

And if you go with the third approach, you’re throwing away an opportunity. You can assume the interviewers read your resume before inviting you for the interview, and they don’t need you to walk them through it.

Be ready for the interview's ‘tell-me-about-yourself’ moment

The best way of knowing how to answer “tell me about yourself” is to be ready for it when it comes. So before you start crafting your selling points, spend some time reviewing the job description in the recruitment ad for the position and researching the company. That way you’ll have a good understanding of what the hiring manager is looking for as far as skills and experience.

Next, prepare a short script that highlights your post relevant abilities, strengths and areas of expertise. Follow that with the reasons you’re applying for the job, focusing on career-related motivations such as the desire to build your experience and take on added responsibilities. Conclude with a brief statement explaining why working for this specific company appeals to you.

By taking these steps, you can succinctly and clearly explain how you’re suited for this particular job and — just as important — why you want it.

Here’s an example of an excellent response to “tell me about yourself” for a job seeker applying for a senior administrative assistant position with a clean-energy company:

“I’ve been working as an administrative assistant for three years. At my current job in the finance department of a midsize company, I handle scheduling, meeting and travel planning for four executives and 20 staff members. I also help prepare correspondence, presentations and reports.

“I’m known for being a detail-oriented, well-organized team player. I never miss deadlines, I’m a good communicator and I can juggle multiple tasks at once. In my performance reviews, my supervisor always notes that he appreciates my professionalism and enthusiasm for the job.

“With this experience under my belt, I’m looking for an opportunity to take the next step in my career. I’m hoping to do so in an organization like yours that works to improve the environment, which is something I’m passionate about.”

Using this sample response to "tell me about yourself," apply this example to the specifics of your upcoming interview. That way, you won't be caught off guard and will be prepared to convey the points you want to make when given the opportunity.

What is the best answer for ‘tell me about yourself’?

The best answers are the ones that help you achieve your objectives, and the particular circumstances and details of any job interview will help you determine your best answers in that situation.

Generally speaking, be concise. Don’t take up too much time with your response. You don’t have to tell the hiring manager every single thing that you think makes you a great candidate. Just give a few important details that will spark their interest in learning more about you, and there’s a good chance you’ll get the interview off to a strong start and pick up momentum as it moves along.

More ‘how-to-answer’ resources to help with job interview preparation

When it comes to job interviews, you can expect several types of questions in addition to the open-ended "tell me about yourself" prompt discussed in this post. Below are some additonal posts that can help you prepare more fully for an upcoming job interview.

How to Answer, ‘Why Do You Want to Work Here?’

How to Answer, ‘What Are Your Reasons for Leaving a Job?’

How to Answer, ‘What’s Your Expected Salary?’

How to Answer, ‘Why Should We Hire You?’

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