Interview Question: "Tell Me About Yourself" (With Answers)

Whether it's an in-person, phone, or video interview, the opening question, "Tell me about yourself," allows hiring managers to gain insight into you as a candidate and distinguish you from others. This article discusses why employers ask this question, provides variations of it, suggests how to answer it effectively, and offers example responses for reference while creating your own.

Why employers ask the interview question "Tell me about yourself":

- It serves as a common starting point to ease both you and the interviewer into the conversation.

- Enables the interviewer to obtain a summary of your background and skills relevant to the position.

- Can be used as an icebreaker for casual conversation or as a segue into other interview questions.

Variations of "Tell me about yourself" that interviewers may use:

- "I have your resume in front of me, but tell me more about yourself."

- "Take me through your resume. I'd love to learn more about your journey."

- "Tell me a little bit more about your background."

- "Describe yourself."

- "Tell me something about yourself that's not on your resume."

How to answer "Tell me about yourself":

To make a strong impression and set the tone for the rest of the interview, follow these steps when crafting your response:

1. Mention experiences and successes relevant to the job:

- Review the job description and highlight skills required.

- Identify recent actions that showcase those skills.

- Utilize the STAR method to tell compelling stories during interviews.

2. Connect your current job to the job you're applying for:

- Discuss your current role and its relation to the open position.

- Highlight increasing responsibilities if applying for a senior role.

- Explain how your existing skills can be applied in a different role if transitioning laterally.

3. Emphasize strengths supported by examples:

- Focus on details and outcomes that can be quantified.

- Provide specific achievements and demonstrate growth.

- Make estimated values if exact information is unavailable.

4. Showcase your personality:

- Share hobbies that demonstrate intellectual development or community engagement.

- Mention interests like reading, music, volunteering, or team sports.

- Discuss personal discipline and achievement, such as learning a new skill.

5. Format your response:

- Organize your answer using a format or formula.

- Two common formulas are "Present, past, and future" and "Past, present, and future."

- Choose the formula that highlights the most relevant roles from your experience.

Example answers to "Tell me about yourself":

Here are a few concise scripts demonstrating how this question can showcase strengths and successful results:

Example 1 (health care industry):

"I transitioned from retail management to the health care industry due to my strengths in leadership and goal-oriented teamwork. As a driven health administrator, I've focused on office efficiency and patient outcomes in my current role at XYZ Medical Center. By implementing a communication system for scheduling procedures, I increased communication efficiency by 20%. I actively engage with health care personnel to address their concerns. Outside of work, I enjoy reading and hiking."

Example 2 (interior design industry):

"Interior design has been my passion since I participated in remodeling my parents' house during high school. I pursued interior design in college and have spent the past four years building my portfolio at an interior design firm in Savannah, Georgia. Working on both residential and commercial spaces, I developed proficiency in cutting-edge technologies and built strong relationships with local suppliers. My expertise lies in the preservation of historical buildings, and I'd love to contribute to a design firm with a similar focus."

Example 3 (restaurant industry):

"I currently work as a hostess at XYZ Restaurant, where I've mastered multitasking and time management. Prior to that, I gained customer service experience as a floor associate in retail. Now, I seek to further develop my customer service and problem-solving skills in a restaurant environment. Your restaurant's reputation for top-notch service and vibrant atmosphere appeals to me. Outside of work, I enjoy baking and attending mixology classes, which refine my professional skills."