How to Correctly Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" in an Interview (Examples) (2024)

“Tell me about yourself.”

Be honest, in reading that, did you automatically start to feel a little anxious? There’s a reason this question (though really more of a statement!) is so difficult to tackle.

The “tell me about yourself” interview question can be nerve-wracking because it’s so open-ended—and this often makes job seekers feel unsure of how to answer.

“It’s important to remember that the reason this question is asked is because employers are really looking to see how you would fit into the specific role at the company,” says Toni Frana, a FlexJobs career expert.

Successfully responding to this question involves tying your answer in with the role you’re applying to and preparing a response ahead of time. Here’s how!

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

1. Relate Your Answer to the Job at Hand

“Tell me about yourself” is probably better phrased as, “Tell me what brought you to apply for this job, and some of the main qualifications that make you stand out. And maybe throw in something that helpsshowcase your personality.”

But that’s obviously too long a statement to make, so employers often shorten it to a much broader question. No matter how a hiring manager phrases it, focus on these four aspects in your answer:

• Your most recent background that is applicable to the job
• What made you want to apply for the job
• Your top qualificationsfor the job
• What makes you interested in the company

2. Keep Your Answer Short, to About 30 Seconds or Less

Start by addressing those four subjects in a draft version of your answer. Once you’ve got a rough version on paper (or screen), it’s time to start narrowing, focusing, and distilling. You’re aiming for about 30 seconds from start to finish. (Yes, it should be that quick!)

Time yourself to find out how long you’re talking, and you’ll see that 30 seconds is just about right. Any more than that, and it can start to sound like rambling.

It might also help to remind yourself that this is just an introduction to you. During the rest of the interview, even if it’s just an initial screening, you’ll have further chances to showcase more skills, qualifications, and personality. So don’t try to pack it all in at the beginning.

3. Practice Your Responses

Without sounding too rehearsed, you’ll want to have a clear understanding of how to answer this question. Practice will help you to:

• Build your confidence, so you’re not shaken or nervous if you’re put on the spot.
• Solidify your own understanding of who you are and what you can offer.
• Focus your answer so you don’t ramble.
• Show exactly how you think your path has prepared you to work for this particular company.

But in order to practice something, you’ve got to know what you’re saying in the first place! Below are three examples of how to answer “tell me about yourself.”

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3 Sample Answers for “Tell Me About Yourself”

1. Go Step by Step

“I’m an innovative recruitment manager with 8 years of experience managing all aspects of employee prospecting—from resume screening and phone screening to benefits—for Fortune 500 companies. I have spent the last 4 years developing my skills, leading to performance recognition and two promotions. I love vetting candidates and determining how they align with an organization’s culture and business goals. And although I enjoy my current role, I feel I’m now ready for a more challenging assignment and this position really excites me.”

2. Think “Past, Present, Future”

Using this simple three-part formula can help you craft a professional, informative answer to “Tell me about yourself.”

“Well, I’m currently an account executive at Smith, where I handle our top performing client. Before that, I worked at an agency where I was on three different major national healthcare brands. And while I really enjoyed the work that I did, I’d love the chance to dig in much deeper with one specific healthcare company, which is why I’m so excited about this opportunity with Metro Health Center.”

3. Answer With the Company in Mind

Do some research ahead of time to best know about the company and how your specific expertise and strengths can help them. Putting yourself in the employer’s shoes is a great way to stay focused when answering this question. Here’s an example:

“I was born and raised in this county and have an excellent knowledge of the area, as well as Central and XYZ counties. During the last 9 years with the ABC Freight Company, I have progressed through positions of Package Loader, Courier, Dispatcher, and Team Lead. In my most recent position, I have had the opportunity to complete numerous management training programs, provide supervision and leadership to all positions within the station, and participate in special projects in conjunction with Senior and District Managers. I enjoy being a Lead and the opportunity to empower and motivate my team. Last year I was awarded ‘Lead I’ for greatest team gains in productivity. I believe this experience and training has prepared me to take the next step and pursue a management position with you.”

Ready to land your next interview? Explore companies hiring now!

What Not to Say When Answering “Tell Me About Yourself”

1. Don’t Regurgitate Your Resume

It may be tempting to nearly read off your entire resume, but don’t. You can generally mention where your career started, some jobs along the way, and your most current role, but now is not the time to list them one by one or to talk about every task you had at each job. As we said before, keep it succinct and about 30 seconds long.

2. Don’t Focus on Unrelated Jobs

Depending on where you’re at in your career, your career history may go pretty far back. If your first job out of college isn’t related to your current career, don’t mention it. Or, if you’ve had a career change, you can opt to only focus on the roles that directly relate to your new career area. Mentioning unrelated roles could be a distraction and lead an employer to wonder if you’re focused on or experienced for the job you’re applying to.

3. Don’t Get Too Personal

Steer clear of any personal topics, such as if you do or don’t have kids, your marital status, or your religious or political affiliation. Not only are these illegal for an employer to ask you about, but they’re not relevant to the job and could even cause your interviewer to discriminate.

Ready to land your next interview? Explore companies hiring now!

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Landing Your Dream Job

Set yourself up for success by researching the company to get a feel for the company culture and practicing your answers to tough interview questions. With an organized approach you’ll be ready to stand out in today’s competitive job market.