Interviews
How to answer "Tell me about yourself" in an interview
It's often the first question, and it sets the tone. A simple structure for a confident, relevant answer.
Build A CV · · 1 min read
"So, tell me about yourself." It's one of the most common opening questions, and one of the easiest to get wrong. The interviewer isn't asking for your life story. They want a short, relevant summary that shows why you're a good fit for this job.
Use a simple structure: present, past, future
- Present: what you do now and what you're good at
- Past: one or two experiences that led you here and are relevant to this role
- Future: why you want this job in particular
Aim for about a minute, two at most.
An example
I'm currently a team leader in a contact centre, where I look after eight advisers and handle our most difficult complaints. Before that I spent three years in retail, which is where I found I enjoy solving problems for customers. Over the last year I've been coaching new starters, and I've realised that improving how a team works is the part of the job I enjoy most. That's why this customer experience role appeals to me: it's a chance to do that across the whole service.
Notice that every part of the answer connects to the job.
Things to avoid
- Reading out your CV. They've seen it. Pick the highlights.
- Personal details that aren't relevant, such as your age or family situation.
- Being negative about a current or past employer.
- Claiming things you can't back up. Expect follow-up questions on anything you mention.
Practise out loud
Write your answer down, then practise saying it until it sounds natural rather than memorised. Recording yourself on your phone helps.
Want help preparing? Our interview preparation tool gives you the questions you're likely to be asked for a specific job, with suggested answers built only from your own CV.
