Tell Me About Yourself: Interview Questions and Answers

Answer tell me about yourself in about one minute with three parts: who you are now in your career, the past experience that led you here, and why this job is your next step. Link each part to the job, use one short example, and leave out personal details that do not relate to work.

Key facts

• The UK National Careers Service notes that employers often ask questions to get to know you, such as what you do in your spare time and what your hobbies and interests are. (National Careers Service, Top 10 interview questions, 2026)
• The National Careers Service advises preparing for interviews by reading the job description carefully, researching the company's website, reviewing your CV and preparing examples. (National Careers Service, Interview advice, 2026)
• The National Careers Service recommends the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for answers that need an example. (National Careers Service, The STAR method, 2026)
• For video interviews, the National Careers Service advises speaking clearly, not talking too fast, pausing at the end of a question because of the online delay, and looking at the camera to keep eye contact. (National Careers Service, How to do well in video interviews, 2026)
• MIT's career office runs practice interviews in which it asks common interview questions and gives constructive feedback on the answers. (MIT Career Advising and Professional Development, Interviewing, 2026)

Among all tell me about yourself interview questions and answers, this one matters most because it usually comes first. Your answer sets the tone for the whole interview. A clear, confident answer makes the interviewer want to hear more. A long, wandering one makes the next questions harder. The good news is that this is the one question you can be sure to prepare for in advance.

This guide gives you a simple structure, sample answers for different career stages and the mistakes that make this question go wrong.

What the interviewer really wants to know

Tell me about yourself is not a request for your life story. The interviewer wants three things: a quick picture of who you are professionally, a sense of whether your background fits the job, and a first impression of how you communicate. It is also a gentle start that gives you the chance to steer the conversation toward your strengths. The UK National Careers Service notes that employers often ask questions simply to get to know you; this is the most common of them.

A simple three-part structure

1. Present: who you are now. Your current role or studies and your main strength.
2. Past: the experience that led you here. One or two highlights that relate to the job, with a short result.
3. Future: why this job is your next step. Link your goals to what the employer needs.

Aim for about one minute, and no more than two. That is roughly 150 to 250 words spoken at a calm pace.

Tell me about yourself interview questions and answers: samples

All sample answers were written for this guide. Change every detail so it is true for you.

Graduate or first job

I have just finished a degree in business studies, where I focused on marketing. In my final year I ran social media for the student union's events and grew attendance at our smaller events over one term. I also worked part-time in a café, which taught me to stay calm and friendly when things get busy. I am looking for a role where I can learn from an experienced marketing team, and your focus on local businesses is exactly the kind of work I want to do.

Experienced professional

I am a project manager with eight years of experience in construction. For the past three years I have led projects worth several million dollars, delivering most on time and within budget, and I am known for keeping clients and contractors working well together. I am now looking for a larger role managing several projects at once, and your expansion into public infrastructure is a strong match for my experience.

Career changer

I have spent six years as a secondary school teacher, where I planned courses, trained colleagues and used data to track student progress. Over the last year I trained in instructional design and built two online courses for adult learners. I want to bring my teaching experience to corporate learning, and your role designing training for new staff is the perfect next step.

Returning after a break

I am an accountant with seven years of experience in small business accounts. I took two years out to care for a family member, and during that time I kept my skills current with a course in new accounting software. I am ready to return to full-time work, and your firm's focus on growing businesses fits my experience well.

How to prepare your answer

1. Read the job description and pick the two or three most important requirements. The National Careers Service also advises researching the company and reviewing your CV before an interview.
2. Choose your highlights that match those requirements.
3. Write bullet points, not a full script, for present, past and future.
4. Say it aloud and time it. Cut anything that does not help the employer see your fit.
5. Practise with someone and ask for honest feedback. Many careers services, such as MIT's, offer practice interviews with common questions and feedback.

What to leave out

• Your full life story or childhood.
• Personal details such as age, marital status, religion or health, unless you choose to share them and they relate to the job.
• Complaints about past employers or colleagues.
• A word-for-word repeat of your CV.
• Salary expectations, unless asked.

More sample answers by field

These samples were also written for this guide.

Customer service

I have worked in customer support for three years, most recently for an online retailer where I handle about 50 chats a day. I am good at calming upset customers and solving problems on the first contact, and my satisfaction scores are among the highest on my team. I am now looking for a team lead role, and your plan to grow your support team is a great chance to help train new advisers.

Information technology

I am a software developer with four years of experience building web applications. In my current job I rebuilt our booking system, which made pages load much faster and cut support tickets about slow pages. I enjoy turning messy problems into simple, reliable tools. Your team's work on accessible public services is exactly the kind of software I want to build next.

Nursing

I am a registered nurse with five years of experience on a busy medical ward. I am known for calm communication with patients and families and for training new nurses on the unit. I have recently completed a course in critical care, and I am applying to your intensive care unit to develop those skills with an experienced team.

International applicant

I am a civil engineer with seven years of experience on road and bridge projects in Kenya. I have led site teams of up to forty people and worked with international contractors, so I am used to clear communication across cultures. I am moving to your country next spring with the right to work, and your infrastructure projects match my experience closely.

Other ways the question is asked

• Walk me through your CV. Use the same structure, but follow your CV in order and keep each step short.
• Describe yourself. Give two or three words that fit the job, each with a quick example.
• What should we know about you that is not on your CV? Share one strength or experience that adds to your story, such as volunteering or a project.
• Why are you interested in this role? Spend more time on the future part of your answer and the employer's needs.

Delivery tips

How you say it matters as much as what you say. Speak at a calm, steady pace. Smile and make eye contact. On video, the National Careers Service advises speaking clearly, not talking too fast, pausing at the end of a question because of the slight online delay and looking at the camera rather than the screen. On the phone, keep your notes in front of you and stand up if it helps you sound energetic. End your answer clearly, for example by saying: and that is why I was excited to apply for this role.

Common mistakes

• Starting with where you were born or went to school, unless it relates to the job.
• Talking for five minutes without a clear point.
• Sounding rehearsed because you memorised every word.
• Saying nothing about why you want this job.
• Being too modest to mention any result or strength.
• Sharing private details that are not relevant and may distract the interviewer.

A five-day practice plan

1. Day 1: read the job description and list the top three requirements.
2. Day 2: write bullet points for present, past and future.
3. Day 3: say your answer aloud three times and time it.
4. Day 4: practise with a friend or careers adviser and ask for one improvement.
5. Day 5: record yourself, watch it back and adjust your pace and ending.

Checklist

• My answer takes about one minute.
• It follows present, past and future.
• It includes one result or example.
• It ends by linking me to this job.
• It leaves out unrelated personal details.

Example: turning a long answer into a strong one

This example was written for this guide and is not about a real person. Amira's first answer took four minutes and began with her childhood. A careers adviser helped her cut it to one minute: her current role as an operations assistant, one result from improving a supply process, and why the operations coordinator job was her next step. She practised it every day for a week. In her next interview the panel nodded along and asked follow-up questions about the supply process, which let her talk about her strongest work.

Matching your answer to the company

The future part of your answer is where you show you have done your homework. Before the interview, read the company's website, recent news and the job advert. Find one or two things that genuinely interest you: a project, a value, a new market or a product. Mention one of them in your last sentence. For example: I was excited to see your new clinic opening in the north of the city, and I would like to help set up its patient services. A specific detail like this shows real interest and makes your answer memorable.

When the interviewer interrupts

Some interviewers jump in with follow-up questions before you finish. That is usually a good sign: they are interested. Answer the follow-up briefly, then decide whether to return to your structure. If the conversation has moved on, let it. Your aim is not to recite a perfect answer but to have a good conversation about why you fit the job.

Panel interviews

If several people interview you, look mainly at the person who asked the question, but include the others with your eyes as you speak. Panel members often have different interests: one may care about technical skills, another about teamwork, another about culture. A short, balanced answer that touches on your skills, your results and your motivation will speak to all of them.

Using this answer in other places

Your answer to tell me about yourself is also a short personal pitch you can use elsewhere. Adapt it for networking events, career fairs, online profiles and the opening of your cover letter. Keep the same structure and change the length and details for each setting. The more you use it, the more natural it becomes, and the easier it is to introduce yourself with confidence whenever an opportunity appears.

For online and recorded interviews

Some employers use recorded video interviews, where you answer questions on screen with no person present. Tell me about yourself is often the first question. Treat the camera as the interviewer: look at it, smile and speak clearly. You may have a short time limit, so practise a version of about one minute. Check your lighting, background and sound before you start, as the National Careers Service advises for any video interview.

Why this question is your best chance

Most interview questions put you on the spot. This one gives you control. You choose what to highlight, what story to tell and where to lead the conversation next. Interviewers often follow up on something you mention, so include a result or project you would love to talk about in more detail. If you mention that you improved a process, expect a question about how you did it, and have the full story ready using the STAR method. In this way, a good answer to tell me about yourself sets up your strongest examples for the rest of the interview.

Think of it as the opening scene of a short film about you as a professional. In one minute, the viewer should know who you are, what you have done and where you are heading, and should want to see what happens next.

Adapting the answer for internal interviews

When you apply for a new role inside your own organisation, the panel may already know you. Do not skip the question. Use it to remind them of your strongest results, show how you have grown and explain why the new role is your natural next step. Mention projects they may not know about, especially work you did with other teams. Keep it just as short and focused as you would with strangers, and finish by linking your experience to the goals of the team you hope to join.

Students and school leavers

If you are still at school or college, keep the same structure but draw on study and activities. Present: what you are studying and what you enjoy. Past: one project, job, sport or volunteering role and what you achieved. Future: why this job, apprenticeship or internship fits your plans. Interviewers know you are early in your career; they want to see interest, effort and a willingness to learn. A short, honest answer will stand out far more than a long list of everything you have done.

Final tip

Write your answer today, say it aloud tomorrow and refine it before every interview. A clear, practised introduction is one of the simplest ways to start an interview with confidence and to make the rest of the conversation easier. Keep a short note of your current version on your phone, update it whenever you gain a new result or skill, and read it once before every interview so the key points are fresh in your mind. With a little practice, you will find that this first question becomes the part of the interview you actually look forward to the most, because you know exactly what to say.

Live on Dev Global Jobs

Right now there are 143,868 open jobs on Dev Global Jobs (live count, 30 October 2026). Practise your answer with the interview preparation tool, and make sure your CV supports your story with the CV builder.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Top 10 interview questions, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.
2. Interview advice, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.
3. The STAR method, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.
4. How to do well in video interviews, National Careers Service (UK). Accessed 3 October 2026.
5. Interviewing, MIT Career Advising and Professional Development. Accessed 3 October 2026.

Source: Dev Global Jobs, updated 30 October 2026.