As you sit down to your job interview, the first interview question the interviewer may ask is, “So tell me about yourself”. Uh oh!
That’s such a broad question, it will get you thinking, “Should I dive into a full-blown saga about my childhood and adult life, complete with casting?”
No. Instead, your interviewer wants to hear something that will show them that you’re the perfect candidate for the job. With that in mind, I’ll give you the 6 best answers for interview question “Tell me about yourself”. So let’s dive right in!
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How Do You Answer the Interview Question ‘Tell Me About Yourself’
Get this: Your answer will determine the rest of the interview. This is why, when it comes to this question, Stav Ziv, an Editor at CNBC Make It, says:
“You can and should prepare in advance so you can use this common opening prompt to your advantage, setting the stage for a successful interview.”
So to prepare, here are 6 of the best answers for interview question “Tell me about yourself”:
- Tell a relevant story
- Connect your current job to the one you’re applying for
- Match your personal journey with the needs of the company
- Emphasize your strengths with examples
- Highlight your personality
- Provide a brief highlight summary of your experience
1. Tell a relevant story
One way to answer this question is to tell a story that’s relevant to the job you’re applying for. This is a good time to give a bit of background about you, as well as express your passion and mission.
Here is an example answer:
“So, I recently graduated with a degree in Marketing from XYZ University. While in school, I dove headfirst into all things marketing, even snagging an internship at a local agency. It was a whirlwind of social media, content creation, and market research, but I loved every minute of it.
Now, I’m on the lookout for opportunities in the marketing world, and your company stood out to me big time. Your approach to marketing, the whole storytelling thing, it just clicks with me, you know?
I’ve got a knack for digital marketing, content strategy, and crunching numbers. And your company’s vibe—innovative, collaborative, pushing boundaries—that’s exactly what I’m looking for.
I’m excited about the chance to bring my skills and energy to your team. I know we can make some marketing magic happen together!”
This is a good answer for the question ‘Tell me about yourself’ for fresh graduates. Salvatore Tofano, a Career Counselor, gives a warning, though:
“In my experience, I have seen experienced executives go on and on, so be concise and keep it to 2 minutes!”
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2. Connect your current job to the one you’re applying for
Another best way to answer this common interview question is to show you have the right qualifications through your skills and experience. And to do that, connect your current role to the one you’re applying for.
Feel free to talk about your present position and how your work experiences align with the position you’re applying for. Here’s an example answer:
“Presently, I’m employed as a marketing coordinator at ABC Company, where I’ve developed strategies to enhance brand visibility and drive customer engagement across various digital platforms. Through analyzing market trends and consumer behavior, I’ve successfully implemented targeted campaigns that have resulted in increased conversion rates by 25% and brand loyalty. Moving forward, I aspire to transition into a marketing role within a creative agency like yours, known for its cutting-edge campaigns and client-centric approach. I’m confident that my experience and passion for marketing will enable me to make meaningful contributions to your team’s success.”
3. Match your personal journey with the needs of the company
If you want to go down this route to answer the job interview question ‘Tell me about yourself’, you need to research the company’s core values and needs. Once you know what it is, you can grab something from your personal journey to match that.
Bayu Prihandito, a Personal Life Coach, says:
“It’s about adapting your experiences by connecting the dots between your unique story and the specific role so that it’s clear your unique path has naturally led you to this opportunity.”
When the hiring manager asks this question, here’s how you can answer with this approach:
“So, I’ve been fascinated by technology since I was a kid. You know, tinkering with gadgets, fixing computers – it’s always been my thing. Fast forward to high school, my parents got me my first computer, and I was all over it, figuring out how it works and troubleshooting issues like a pro. That’s when I realized, ‘Hey, I want to do this for a living!’
So, I dove into computer science in college, soaking up everything I could about coding, software development, you name it. And just this year, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, ready to dive headfirst into the tech world. And here I am, sitting with you, eager to bring my passion and skills to the team!”
4. Emphasize your strengths with examples
If you don’t want to go into your background and work experience, you can answer this open-ended question by stating your strengths. You can open with “I’m someone who’s excellent at ______”.
For this approach, it’s a good idea to focus on soft skills. This is because a 2019 LinkedIn survey saw a whopping 92% of hiring managers say that they prefer soft skills to technical ones. And this is still true in 2024.
But it won’t do to just say “I’m someone who’s excellent at communication and collaboration”. I wonder how many job seekers said the same thing. This is why you need to provide examples to prove your statement. Include stats to make it even more impressive.
Here’s a sample for how to answer tell me about yourself for internship:
“Well, I’m someone who’s all about communication and collaboration. Back in my internship at ABC Company, I spearheaded a project where we had to coordinate between multiple departments. I kept everyone in the loop, made sure ideas flowed freely, and we nailed our deadline with flying colors.
Oh, and let me tell you about this one time during a group project in college. We had to pull an all-nighter to get it done, but I made sure everyone was on the same page, kept the morale up, and we passed with a 100 mark.
Whether it’s in the office or on a team project, I thrive on keeping the lines of communication open and working together to achieve our goals.”
5. Highlight your personality
Yet another one of the best answers for interview question “Tell me about yourself” is to highlight your personality. Amy Heine, an HR Consultant, encourages this approach. She says:
“Because “Tell me about yourself” is about getting to know you, it’s a good idea to share your personality with your interviewer.”
Plus, a study by TopResume saw that a great personality ranked 3rd among recruiters’ considerations of candidates (followed by potential and previous experience).
Of course, you should choose the areas about yourself that are related to the job description. Here is a sample answer:
“Well, I’m someone who’s always been drawn to challenges and problem-solving. Whether it’s tackling a tough project at work or organizing a community event, I thrive on finding creative solutions and bringing people together to get things done.
I’ve got this natural curiosity that drives me to constantly learn and grow. I’m always up for trying new things and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
And you know what? I’ve got a real passion for data visualization, too. There’s just something about transforming raw data into insightful visuals that gets me fired up and ready to dive in headfirst.
Overall, I’d say I’m a go-getter with a positive attitude, always eager to take on new challenges and make a positive impact wherever I go.”
6. Provide a brief highlight summary of your experience
Kim O’Neill, a Confidence and Interview Coach, gives this advice:
“Always know that your answer to this question is never about your personal life; it’s always about who you are as a professional.”
So if you want to keep it professional, highlight the summary of your experience tailored to the job you are applying for. Again, remember to keep it concise, at least 2 minutes long.
To practice your answer, you can follow this example:
“I’ve dedicated the past 10 years to the medical field, where my journey has been incredibly rewarding. From my early days as a CNA to my recent role as a critical care nurse, I’ve been fortunate to contribute to various facets of healthcare.
Whether it’s optimizing patient care protocols or collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, I’ve developed a strong foundation in patient assessment, medication administration, wound care, and compassionate bedside manner. What drives me is the constant opportunity to make a tangible difference in people’s lives and the ever-evolving nature of medical science.”
Final Words
If you’re not prepared, you won’t know how to answer the common interview question ‘Tell me about yourself’. If you don’t know any better, you might tell facts that are unrelated to the job and company.
Well, to stand out and have a better chance at landing the job, I’ve provided 6 of the best answers for interview question “Tell me about yourself”. You can pick any of these approaches and craft your answer to your background, skills, experiences, and personality. Good luck!
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