How to Answer “Tell Me about Yourself” in a Job Interview

Wouldn't it be great if you knew exactly what a hiring manager would be asking you in your next job interview?

While it’s unfortunate we can't read minds, we are giving you the next best thing: How to Answer “Tell Me about Yourself” in a Job Interview

While we don't recommend having a canned response for every interview question (in fact, please don't), we do recommend spending some time getting comfortable with what you might be asked, what interviewers are really looking for in your responses, and what it takes to show that you're the right candidate for the job.

So, in all probability the first question you’re going to get in an interview is, “Tell me about yourself.” Now, this is not an invitation to recite your entire life story or even to go bullet by bullet through your resume. Instead, it’s probably your first and best chance to pitch the hiring manager on why you’re the right one for the job.

A formula that we recommend to use is called the Present-Past-Future formula. So, first you start with the present—where you are right now. Then, move into the past—a little bit about the experiences you’ve had and the skills you gained at the previous position. Finally, finish with the future—why you are really excited for this particular opportunity.

Here is an example:

If someone asked, “tell me about yourself,” you could say:

“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 you.”

Remember throughout your answer to focus on the experiences and skills that are going to be most relevant for the company when they’re thinking about this particular position. And ultimately, don’t be afraid to relax a little bit, tell stories and anecdotes—the interviewer already has your resume, so they also want to know a little more about you.