“Tell me about yourself.”  

While many people can fumble on answering this question in a job interview, it is actually very simple to answer. That is if you know how to approach answering it correctly.  

Why do interviewers ask this question? 

There are many reasons why interviewers tend to favour asking this question, including: 

  • Sometimes the interviewer doesn’t have time to fully prepare for the interview and quickly needs to know who you are and why you’re here. 
  • It can be a great conversational transitional tool from pre-interview small talk to the start of the interview. 
  • It allows an interviewer to quickly identify your communication ability. In other words, can you communicate a lot of information in a clear, concise, and engaging manner? 
  • Keep in mind that interviewers may ask different variations of this question, including “Walk me through your resume.” Generally, the Tell Me About Yourself question in all its varieties will come at the beginning of the interview, most likely as the first question asked. 

“Tell me about yourself” dos and don’ts 

Dos 

  • Be professional  
  • Restate your name 
  • Start with a professional or objective statement (e.g. “I am an accounting specialist with over 6 years of experience working in a variety of sectors looking for a new challenge”) 
  • Describe your relevant education and experiences 
  • Show your passion 
  • Be concise (e.g., speak for 1 to 1.5 minutes) 
  • Bring your answer back to the job posting 
  • Demonstrate an understanding and excitement for the role and organization 
  • Practice your answer beforehand and (if possible) with someone else 
  • If applying for a career-changing role, or you have less ‘professional’ relevant experience, discuss any transferable skills and/or experiences 

Don’ts 

  • Talk for too long (i.e., 2 minutes or longer) 
  • Talk too fast 
  • Talk about irrelevant information (e.g., irrelevant hobbies) 
  • Be too conversational 
  • Be obnoxious 
  • Come unprepared 
  • Sound scripted (it comes off disingenuous) 

Example answers 

Example 1 (Career Advancement) 

My name is Taylor and I have worked in the peer tutoring sector for over 6 years coaching children aged 5 to 18 to help them achieve their academic best. I attended McGill University, where I majored in Mathematics and Statistics. There I discovered my passion for peer tutoring when I began helping my classmates study for upcoming tests. After graduation, I specialized in tutoring for grades 1-12 mathematics, SAT, and CAT prep to name a few, and have worked for a variety of academic-focused organizations including After School Tutors and Math Helpers. In these roles, I crafted individualized lesson plans with a focus on increasing test scores, knowledge retention, and practical mathematical applications. I pride myself in creating strong connections with my students, and my direct-instruction approach has allowed over 90% of my students to increase their scores to a full letter grade after one term of tutoring.  

And that’s why I’m here! I love being a part of a team where myself, my colleagues, a student’s parents, and teachers are all working together to support a child’s growth, which is something that really excited me about the opening of Head Student-Tutor Advisor with ABC Peer Tutoring Inc. and I’m looking forward to learning more about the role through this interview. 

Example 2 (Career-Shifting) 

My name is Alex and after working as a professional accountant for over 20 years, most recently with Accounting Made Easy INC, I am looking to make a career shift toward wildlife management. As an accountant, I worked closely on leading various teams within our organization where I’ve crafted a respected reputation for being kind, detail-oriented, and proactive. 

While I have valued my career as an accountant, I have always had a passion for nature conservation. For example, as a child, I’d always be outside learning about animals and plants, and how we can create a better planet for each new generation. 

The COVID-19 pandemic allowed me the opportunity to re-evaluate my strengths and passions, which has led me on this journey to your organization and the incredible work you do to support the “Get Clean” nature project. 

Since deciding to pursue this profession I have upskilled my resume. Specifically, as my resume states, I have taken several wildlife management courses at the local community college, and I’ve been volunteering with the local SPCA’s wildlife conservation rehabilitation department. 

And that’s why I’m here! I love organizational leadership and animal wildlife conservation, and I am excited to share more of my background in this interview. 

Final thoughts 

Interviews are hard, so, be sure to start your next interview off on the right foot by coming prepared to answer one of the most basic, yet nerve-racking interview questions: “tell me about yourself”!