How to Answer 'Tell Me About Yourself' (With Sample Answers + Templates)

Tell me about yourself - The first question of many interviews. And one of the most nerve-wracking ones too.

You'd think talking about yourself would be easy - after all, who knows you better than you? 👀

So why do we get anxious? You immediately start questioning all your life choices leading up to this moment.

That's because a lot is at stake with this opening question. It sets the tone for the interview and your first impression. The way you answer will guide where the conversation goes next.

You wrack your brain trying to cram every accomplishment ever into a compelling 1-2 minute story. Meanwhile, the interviewer isn't expecting your whole life story here!

What they want is a concise yet meaningful summary that reveals,👇

• How your background connects to the role
• Key skills and strengths you offer
• What motivates you

They're looking for relevant qualifications, not just a chronological recap.

This question may also get phrased slightly differently, 👇

"Walk me through your background"

"Give me an overview of your experience"

"Tell me a little about yourself"

But the objective remains the same - a compelling overview showcasing fit. ✔️

In this blog, we'll break down proven strategies to craft and master your "tell me about yourself" response with sample answers + answer template.

You'll learn how to highlight experiences, skills, and interests - in a way that sounds natural, not like you're reading off your resume.

Let's ace this opening question together! 💪

Why do interviewers ask this question?

TL;DR - It's an easy starter question that reveals key communication abilities, personal insights beyond formal credentials, and rapport fit.

Firstly, it's an easy way to break the awkward silence that often happens at the beginning of an interview. As humans, we feel tension and nervousness when talking to strangers.

So the interviewer asks this to calm your nerves by getting you to talk casually about something you know really well - yourself! It eases that initial anxiety and sets a friendly tone from the start.

This also tests how well you can quickly organise thoughts and coherently highlight relevant experiences. You have to be concise in showcasing your top strengths here.

📌 Your candid response also provides those unique personal angles that resume or LinkedIn miss - what motivates you, work styles you thrive in, and what you value.

This gives recruiters a glimpse into cultural matches beyond just skills and achievements. Finding shared synergies matters big time.

In summary - it may seem like a simple introductory question, but make no mistake, this first-impression response generates a goldmine of insights for interviewers. Make sure you use it strategically! ✔

How to answer “Tell me about yourself” - What to include + Answer Formula

💡 The Golden Rule: Don't ramble on for 5+ minutes! Seriously, nobody wants to sit through your entire memoir.

You want to keep this tight at 2 minutes max.

• Aim for about 30 seconds to briefly summarise your current role,
• A minute highlighting your most relevant experiences/skills for the position (3-4 max),
• 15-20 seconds noting 1-2 awesome personality strengths,
• And 15 seconds to throw in an easy-to-connect hobby or interest.

Tada! You've covered the key pieces.

What to include in your answer: 👇

• Experiences tailored to be relevant for the role: Example - Tech Project Manager position? Showcase your hackathon wins and agile leadership of a student tech club.
• Transferable skills from past positions: Emphasise transferrable skills that apply to the new company or role - things like "comfort presenting complex data through past analyst internships".
• Values and motivations that fit company mission: Incorporate the vibe/mission of the company in your answer - "I'd love to leverage my skills to shape your company's innovative social content".
• Genuine interest and fit: Make them feel you're in it for the right reasons!

The Formula:

🌟Past:

Briefly mention 1-2 relevant past experiences or education that brought value in roles. This builds credibility.

Example: "I earned my computer science degree which equipped me with coding languages and problem-solving abilities."

🌟Present:

Summarise your current role and responsibilities. Share what you enjoy or value about it.

Example: "Currently, I work as a software engineer at X Inc. building backend systems that analyse customer data to enhance user experiences."

🌟Future:

State what motivates your next step such as growth opportunities, and working on products/missions you believe in.

Example: "Moving forward, I'm passionate about using my skills to increase technological access and education for underserved communities."

Overall, this format gives concise yet compelling scope - where you've been given context for where you are, which then supports where you hope to go.

It shows an arc of intentional development.

Let's see it in action:

"I earned my computer science degree which equipped me with coding abilities to solve complex problems. Currently, I work as a software engineer at X Inc building backend systems that analyse customer data to enhance user experiences. Moving forward, I'm passionate about using my skills to increase technological access and education for underserved communities."

Sample Answers for Different Situations

✔ For working professionals:

👉 Example 1:

“Well, currently I serve as lead developer at ABC, building intelligent models in Python to improve backend efficiency for app systems while mentoring junior engineers.

Before this, I architected a traffic optimisation mobile solution at our startup that reduced commutes by 10%.

But beyond coding skills, I enjoy analysing problems and designing innovative solutions. Moving forward, I aim to leverage AI techniques to better serve customer needs at scale.”

👉 Example 2:

“As the senior data analyst at XYZ Solutions, I work cross-functionally to extract insights from our finance datasets shaping product strategy and investment priorities.

For example, my analysis of customer spending patterns this year informed new premium tiers generating 15% more revenue.

I consider myself very analytical but combine that with the visual storytelling of data for decision-makers. I'd next like to take on more technical team leadership guiding modelling and metric tracking.”

✔ For fresh graduates:

“I just completed my computer science degree at State University which honed my coding abilities across languages like Java, Python and R.

Beyond core CS topics, I have hands-on experience building apps like an emergency response portal for campus security enhancing incident tracking. I'm passionate about the potential for technology to drive social change.

One area I aim to contribute to is equitable access to education through better systems.”

✔ Career transition

"I've spent the last 5 years working as a software engineer at X Inc, building scalable systems and machine learning models in Python. While I enjoy coding, over time I realised I'm more drawn to the analytics and insights side of data.

So I've been upskilling lately through online data science courses and certifications to complement my engineering background. As I explored real-world datasets, I loved the puzzle-solving aspect of transforming raw data into impactful insights through techniques like statistical modelling and visualisation.

I'm now hoping to fully transition into an analytics role where I can blend my software skills with advanced analytics to help organisations optimise through data-driven decisions. I also stay on top of industry trends by participating in local data science meetups."

✔ Switching from service to product

“Well, I've been working for the past 3 years as a software engineer at ABC Services - building web apps and APIs for their customer service SaaS product.

It's been a great learning experience collaborating with product and design teams to deliver new user-facing features and backend tools. I've picked up skills in languages like JavaScript, Python and modern frameworks like React.

While I enjoy coding challenges, recently I've realised that I'm seeking opportunities to contribute to products that directly empower consumers or businesses.

So I'm now hoping to transition to a software engineer role at XYZ (the company you’re applying to) where I can leverage my development experience and teamwork abilities to build solutions generating value for end users.”

Answer Template

"In the past, I earned my degree in [field] from [college], where I honed skills in [relevant coursework, projects, academics]. Before that, I [internship/job] where I gained experience in [transferable responsibilities]."

"Currently, I work at [company] as a [role] on the [team/product], where I focus on [1-2 responsibilities] leveraging skills like [technical/soft skills]. What I enjoy most is [favourite aspects of the current job]."

"Moving forward, I'm passionate about [growth goals] and hope to apply my background in [ways you can add value] at a company like yours doing [type of work you find meaningful]. In my spare time, I stay connected to [interests related to field] which allows me to [share knowledge, continue learning etc]."

Customise the details and talking points under each section to reflect your own background and the role you are interviewing for.

Essential Tips to Keep in Mind

📌 Practise Out Loud

I cannot stress this first one enough! It doesn't matter how perfect your answer seems on paper - you absolutely need to say it out loud.

Verbalising it will reveal awkward phrases, unnatural transitions and tough spots you stumble over. Pinpoint those gaps so you can smooth them out.

Speaking it also allows you to time yourself to keep it concise.

Also don’t memorise the answer word for word! If you're staring at notes or reciting an obvious script, it won’t sound authentic. The key is sounding conversational, and confident.

📌 Time Response to Under 2 Minutes

I would like to repeat the above golden rule here - set a firm 2-minute limit and practice keeping within it.

This requires deciding what to highlight vs leave out.

If it helps, use your phone timer so you have a visual cue not to exceed the time limit.

📌 Incorporate Specific Examples

Instead of "I built apps" say "I built a campus safety app helping security track incidents". Use real metrics or outcomes when possible to quantify achievements.

This convinces the listener of the value you offer.

📌 Maintain Confident Tone & Body Language

Yes, what you say matters enormously.

But how you say it matters too.

Speak slowly, loudly and clearly while making comfortable eye contact. Project assurance through upright posture.

This nonverbal confidence makes your words even more convincing and likeable.

Conclusion - Key Takeaways

And there you have it! With the right strategy, you can tackle this common interview question in a compelling yet genuine way.

Key takeaways 👇

• Tailor your content to the role
• Structure using past, present, and future
• Emphasise relevant experiences and skills
• Showcase what motivates you
• Practice aloud until delivery feels smooth

It takes work to craft and internalise your personalised story arc. But nailing this first response sets positive momentum for the rest of the interview.

For extra practice, I'd recommend connecting with a behavioural interview mentor. Having an objective mentor give feedback can help identify gaps so you can refine your answer.

I mentor folks prepping for interviews - and would be happy to schedule a free session together!

Or feel free to check out other great mentors by clicking the link below. 👇

Wishing you the best as you prepare to wow interviewers and land the job you love. You've got this!

Now that you know how to ace the first question, let's move on the other important interview questions:

How to answer "What are your salary expectations?" (With Scripts)

'Why do you want to work here?' Best Answers + Templates

How to Answer “What is Your Greatest Weakness?” (With 9 Sample Answers)

Answering "Tell Me About a Time You Failed" - With Sample Answers