The “Tell me about yourself” question is commonly used at job interviews to break the ice, ease candidates into the conversation, and gauge what skills and experiences they recognise in themselves.
However, some jobseekers don’t understand the purpose of this question, so they speak about interests, hobbies, or irrelevant facts. While some of these can be briefly mentioned, the perfect answer should serve as an elevator pitch: a quick and professional introduction that presents you in the best possible light.
In this article, we will teach you how to introduce yourself professionally, structure your answer, and avoid common mistakes candidates make when answering. Furthermore, we will provide examples for various industries to inspire you when preparing for the interview.
Key Takeaways
The “Tell me about yourself” question is a commonly used opener at job interviews that allows employers to gauge a candidate’s personality and priorities.
When answering the interview introduction question, start with your current occupation and then discuss your past experiences and future goals.
To answer the “Tell me about yourself” question, you should practise in advance, avoid rambling, give specific examples, show your personality, and research the interviewers.
Why Do Employers Ask the “Tell Me About Yourself” Question at Interviews?
Employers ask the “Tell me about yourself” question at interviews to ease you into the conversation and let you briefly summarise your most essential skills and experiences.
Aside from acting as an icebreaker, this question reveals how you perceive yourself in a professional context to hiring managers. After all, it’s entirely open-ended, allowing you to talk about whatever you deem crucial, which can tell plenty about your personality and priorities.
However, this is also a perfect opportunity for a personal elevator pitch in a job interview. Since you can choose what to talk about, you should highlight your most impressive and relevant career achievements and milestones to make a good first impression.
It’s worth noting that employers don’t always specifically ask, “Tell me about yourself,” to convey the same point. For instance, some may say the following instead:
Variations of "Tell me About Yourself"
“Take me through your CV.”
“Tell me a little about your background.”
“Describe yourself.”
“Tell me something about yourself that isn’t on your CV.”
Regardless, all these questions ask for the same and should be responded to as described below.
How to Structure Your Answer to the “Tell Me About Yourself” Interview Question
You can structure your answer to the “Tell me about yourself” interview question in several ways, but the most widely accepted approach involves starting with your current occupation and then moving on to your past experiences and future goals.
Here is a more detailed overview of how you should structure your self-introduction in an interview:
#1. Present – What You Do Now
The best way to start an answer to this interview question is to talk about your current position and responsibilities. In other words, mention your job title and briefly describe what it is that you do on a daily basis.
Of course, you won’t be able to do that if you are currently unemployed. However, you can still inform your potential employer of your qualifications; for instance, tell them that you’re an engineering graduate with five years of experience in the field.
Similarly, if you’re a student or a recent graduate with a limited professional background, talk about your major and highlight some of your soft and transferable skills.
#2. Past – What Led You Here
The next part of your introduction should touch upon your professional background, particularly experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for. You can also mention your education and academic achievements if you believe they might set you apart from other candidates or if you don’t have any work experience to highlight.
However, relevant is the operative word here; there’s no need to discuss jobs and part-time positions that have nothing to do with the role you’re applying for. It will sound like you lack the experience and skills that actually matter, which won’t leave the best impression.
#3. Future – Why You’re Here Today
Finally, you must show hiring managers the reason you are applying for this specific role. What about it appeals to you precisely? How does it fit into your overarching goals and career plans? By answering these questions, you demonstrate motivation that goes beyond simply needing a job to earn a livelihood.
16 Answers to the “Tell Me About Yourself” Interview Question
Now that you know how to structure the answer to the “Tell me about yourself” interview question, it’s time to apply the theory to actual responses. Below, you will find sample interview answers for the UK job market that should help you in most industries.
#1. IT
“I’m an IT professional with 7 years of experience in the field, currently working in a company that provides cybersecurity for high-profile clients. My primary responsibilities include monitoring systems for any unusual activity and assessing vulnerability as part of our preventive strategy.
Previously, I worked as a network administrator and gained extensive experience in installing and configuring hardware and software. During that time, I also obtained Cisco Certified Network Associate and CompTIA Security+ certificates.
Although I want to continue working in cybersecurity, I believe I’ve exhausted learning opportunities in my current position. So, I’m ready to join a more challenging environment, such as your company, and improve my skills further.”
#2. Healthcare
“I’m a general practitioner with 10 years of experience in providing quality care to patients in hospitals and clinics, and working both in urban and rural settings.
Currently, I’m between jobs, but in my previous position, I managed a diverse list of approximately 25 patients per day and learned how to quickly identify common symptoms. I also participated in an initiative to encourage patients from rural areas to regularly engage in preventive screenings.
I’m interested in your clinic because of your forward-thinking practices and focus on improving the quality and accessibility of care. I believe my ideas will also be welcome in such an environment, and this is very important to me.”
#3. Marketing
“I’m a marketing expert with 6 years of experience in the industry and a degree in Business Management and Communications from the University of Birmingham. Currently, I’m working for a company that creates marketing campaigns for smaller local brands around the city.
My greatest achievement so far was managing a print advertising campaign that boosted my client’s sales by 14% and significantly contributed to brand awareness. This process taught me how to gauge what resonates with the target audience.
Now, I want to apply this knowledge in a new environment and continue working on creative projects that challenge me. I think your company will allow me to do just that.”
#4. Human Resources
“I’m a human resources manager currently working for ABC Company, where I handle recruitment, training, and employee development. I’m especially dedicated to fostering an inclusive workplace environment to help everyone feel welcome and safe.
Before joining ABC Company, I briefly worked for XYZ Company, where I refined onboarding and engagement strategies to reduce turnover by 20%. Generally, employee satisfaction improved drastically while I was there, and I believe this was partly due to my genuine efforts to bridge the gap between them and the management.
Now, I am looking for another workplace where my skills and proactive approach will be put to good use, and I think your company is the right choice.”
#5. Digital Marketing
“I’m a digital marketing specialist, working for an advertising startup and focusing on content strategy and paid social campaigns. My greatest achievement to date was developing an email marketing campaign that helped my previous company increase lead generation by 25%.
Moving forward, I hope to work in a dynamic environment where my creativity and innovation can really shine. I believe your company offers such an opportunity, as well as challenges that can help me grow as a professional.”
#6. Flight Attendant
“I’m currently working as a flight attendant for Open Airways, ensuring customer safety and comfort on each flight. This is my second year in this role; previously, I held other positions in the hospitality industry, such as a hotel receptionist. Thanks to that, I learned to communicate effectively and always put the customer first.
I want to keep working in the airline industry, but I believe it’s time to move on to bigger challenges than what Open Airways can offer. I need more growth opportunities, as I aim to become a senior cabin crew member and work with more high-profile clients.”
#7. Programming
“I’m a software developer with extensive experience in building web applications using JavaScript and Python. I hold a BA in computer science, which I obtained from the University of London, and I’m currently working as a freelancer between jobs.
I began my software development career as a student, working part-time for a startup and helping the team develop a task management app. This experience taught me how to collaborate with others and solve complex problems.
Now, I am ready for a more stable job that will, hopefully, provide me with more opportunities to learn about cloud technologies and backend development. I believe your company offers such opportunities and can greatly accelerate my growth as a developer.”
#8. Engineering
“I’m a mechanical engineer currently working for XYZ Company, where I focus on product design and testing. I’ve been in this field for 5 years, gaining hands-on experience through internships during my studies and learning how to collaborate with different departments.
I am passionate about sustainability and try to incorporate it in my designs whenever possible. That’s partly why I chose your company; your values and mission align with my own, so I believe I can contribute to your goals, while you can help me grow as a professional.”
#9. Project Management
“I’m a project manager working in an SEO agency, where my responsibilities involve coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure timely project completion and customer satisfaction. I help team members communicate effectively, resolve conflicts, and delegate tasks according to their availability and competency.
In the past, I worked in similar positions but on a smaller scale; my previous job, for instance, involved managing a team of 6 web developers. It’s worth noting that this team consistently met all deadlines and expectations while I worked with them.
Now, I am looking for more complex projects and greater challenges, where I can further hone my skills and show more innovation. Your company offers such an opportunity, so I am eager to begin this collaboration.”
#10. Video Editing
“I’m currently working as a freelance video editor, collaborating with YouTubers, social media influencers, and digital brands to elevate their content. I have 8 years of experience in Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and other video editing tools, and I can easily master a new one if necessary.
In the past, I worked with a YouTuber who had an audience of over 1,000,000 subscribers and edited some of his most-viewed videos. One of those went viral and spread to far corners of the internet, reaching even people who weren’t part of his fan base.
I would like to continue editing videos in a more stable environment and improve my ability to create content that aligns with a specific brand’s story. That’s why I would like to join your company and take on new creative challenges.”
#11. Education
“I am an elementary school teacher with 10 years of experience working with children of all ages, backgrounds, and needs. Currently, I am teaching a class of 25 pupils; a challenging, but rewarding task that forces me to apply all my creativity and management skills to improve their knowledge acquisition and performance.
In the past, I also worked in smaller classes with children with special educational needs, which taught me patience and the importance of inclusivity. That’s one of the reasons I want to join your school; I’ve noticed that you emphasise inclusive education as one of your core missions. I believe I am qualified to help and look forward to our collaboration.”
#12. Game Development
“I’m a game developer with a degree in computer science and extensive experience creating immersive virtual environments in engines like Unity and Unreal.
I’ve been working on indie projects so far, collaborating with artists and writers on bringing several small titles to life. The most popular one, a 2-hour-long horror game, garnered significant attention and received overwhelmingly positive feedback on Steam.
Now, I would like to take my career a step further and begin working on large-scale productions and, potentially, AAA titles. I’m also interested in incorporating AR and VR into story-driven games, which is part of the reason I chose your company."
#13. Journalism
“I’m a journalist, currently working for a local newspaper that covers events in the community and highlights underrepresented voices. I landed this role right after graduating with a degree in journalism, so my only previous experience includes writing for the student paper, which helped me polish my storytelling skills.
However, my dream career is investigative journalism, so I want to start covering stories with a wider outreach. I believe your agency is the step in the right direction that will allow me to hone my research skills and tackle more in-depth projects.”
#14. Administration
“I’m currently working as an administrative assistant, so I manage schedules, handle correspondence, and coordinate various workplace operations. I’m used to working in a fast-paced environment and have impeccable attention to detail and organisational skills.
I worked for several companies over the course of my 10-year career, so I learned to handle diverse requirements and personalities. As a result, I am a highly adaptable and quick learner who works well under pressure and in time constraints.
In the future, I would like to undertake more responsibilities and progress to a senior administrative role. I believe your company will be a perfect place to achieve this.”
#15. Career Change
“I’m a financial advisor looking to transition into digital marketing, as I believe this career path will be a better fit for me. Although I don’t have much experience in the field, I have developed some crucial abilities required for it, such as communication, problem-solving, and data interpretation.
To prepare for my new role, I completed several courses on SEO and social media strategy, so I understand the basics needed for this job. I want to learn more, though, and I believe that working at your company will help me with that.”
#16. Student
“I’m a third-year medical student currently in the process of obtaining my BA at Cambridge and looking for some practical experience. I’ve never had a full-time job before, but I’ve collaborated with my colleagues on several projects and volunteered at a local health centre.
I exhibited excellent research and teamwork skills while writing my paper titled “The Use of AI as a Diagnostic Tool,” which was published in the student magazine last year. Working on this paper also helped me understand the diagnostic process better, which might be useful for this internship.”
5 Tips on How to Answer the “Tell Me About Yourself” Interview Question
Tips on how to answer the “Tell me about yourself” interview question include practising your answers, avoiding rambling, giving specific examples, showing your personality, and researching the interviewers.
Let’s examine each tip in more detail to learn what exactly to say in a job interview and how to prepare for it:
#1. Practise Your Answer
Even though talking about yourself sounds easy enough, you shouldn’t come to an interview expecting to improvise on the spot. Your nerves can easily take over and turn your answer into an incoherent mess, regardless of how simple the question might be.
Additionally, with open-ended questions like “Tell me about yourself,” it’s best to have some idea of what you want to discuss. So, you should write down a few ideas, create a structure, and practise answering out loud.
If possible, organise mock interviews with your friends or family members. These will help you get more comfortable talking in front of an audience, thereby alleviating some of your anxiety.
#2. Don’t Ramble
Rambling is often a consequence of insufficient preparation, which may cause you to become nervous and lose track of your thoughts. As a result, you may start discussing irrelevant job experiences or providing unnecessary details about certain responsibilities.
Unfortunately, rambling doesn’t leave the best impression on hiring managers, who want clear, focused answers and have limited time for each interview. So, make sure to avoid it by preparing your response and practising extensively.
#3. Give Specific Examples
If you’re talking about achievements and responsibilities, be sure to mention specific examples. These will make your answers sound less generic and more verifiable, especially if you include measurable results for your accomplishments.
However, you should still keep your examples brief; remember that you’re only on the first interview question and will likely get a chance for more in-depth explanations later.
#4. Show Your Personality
Don’t be afraid to show your personality outside of work, too; your interviewers might enjoy connecting with you on a more personal level. A good way to do this is to mention some of your hobbies and interests, as long as you make sure they are appropriate for a professional environment.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should focus your entire answer on your interests; your professional life should still take precedence. However, adding a few fun facts at the end might boost your chances and make you stand out in the hiring manager’s eyes.
#5. Research the Interviewers
The more you know about your interviewers, the easier it will be to establish rapport with them and figure out what kind of answers might appeal to them. So, switch to a detective mode and look up their LinkedIn profiles and descriptions on the company website. This will help you piece together who they are as professionals and how to communicate with them effectively.
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Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the best answer to the “Tell me about yourself” question should be detailed but concise, giving your employers an overview of who you are as a professional. Also, make sure to stick to the “present + past + future” structure as you speak; that way, your story will flow well and you’ll avoid rambling.
And if you need help securing an interview, remember to use our CV templates to build the perfect application. Simply select the right one for your industry, fill it with your information, and submit it to your employer within minutes.
