“Tell me about yourself”: a three-part interview answer

The rule

Answer in three short parts: now (your current role or studies), past (experience that fits this job) and future (why you want this job). Four or five sentences are enough.

The question sounds open, so many candidates tell their life story or read their CV aloud. The interviewer wants a short summary that shows why you fit the job.

Examples

In a conversation

A: Thanks for coming. So, tell me about yourself.

B: I'm a receptionist at a city hotel. Before that, I studied tourism and did an internship abroad.

A: Go on.

B: Now I'd like to work in a bigger team, so this job is a great fit for me.

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. Interviewer: Tell me about yourself. You: “___”
   • a) My name is Lina and I'm 25 years old.
   • b) I'm a nurse at a children's hospital.
   • c) I was born in a small town in 1998.
2. I'm an accountant at a small firm. ___
   • a) Before that, I worked at a bank.
   • b) I have two brothers and a sister.
   • c) I was a good pupil at primary school.
3. ___, and that's why I applied for this role.
   • a) My salary is too low now
   • b) I live near your office
   • c) I'd like to grow in sales

Tip

Don't start with My name is… or where you were born. Start with now: I'm a final-year IT student. End with the job: That's why I applied for this role.

Answers

1. b) I'm a nurse at a children's hospital. Start with now: your role or your studies.
2. a) Before that, I worked at a bank. After now, give past experience that fits the job.
3. c) I'd like to grow in sales. End with the future: what you want from this job.

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