‘Tell Me About Yourself’ How to Respond In An Interview

What answer comes to mind when you hear the interview question ‘Tell me about yourself’? What is the best answer?

Some time back, I was called for an interview. I had done a bit of preparation, hoping it would be enough to pass the interview and eventually get the job. But as I walked into that interview room, my palms became sweaty, and my heart started racing.

The interviewer looked at me and asked me the question I had been dreading: “Hello, tell me about yourself.”

For most job seekers, this can be the scariest moment of all. Where do you even start? What do they want to hear? How much information should you give them?

You are expected to come up with the perfect answer, but again, you do not want to talk too much or freeze completely.

It may seem like another question asked during interviews, but this particular one is the most important and challenging; how you answer will dictate the rest of the interview and the image the recruiters will have of you.

I came across recent research that showed that interviewers assess whether you are fit within the first 10 minutes of the interview. Imagine that, only ten minutes of making or breaking your chances.

Let me share some tips on how to prepare an answer that demonstrates your skills and knowledge while getting the interview off to a good start.

1. Start with a short introduction about yourself

You may never have met the professionals before you, so, usually, the interviewers want to know who the person before them is. Therefore, you can begin by briefly telling them about yourself, who you are—your name, what you are doing currently, and some context around it, like where you have worked before.

For example, you can say: “I am Jeremy, and I have been in the marketing sector for about five years.”

2. Highlight your relevant experience and skills.

Next, discuss the experience and skills that highly qualify you for that position. You can discuss your achievements, what makes you uniquely qualified, and how your background aligns with that role.

Use specific examples to support your claims, which can work to your advantage.

3. Connect to the job.

Finally, what excites you about that opportunity? Share that with the interviewers and explain why your background suits the position well.

This is your best chance to show the recruiter how much you care about the company while proving that you’ve researched them thoroughly.

It may sound simple, yet many candidates struggle to find the right balance and miss critical details. The key is to keep your answer concise, compelling, and tailored to the role. Do you need help crafting perfect responses to other interview questions? Invest in our Interview Coaching Services today!