How to answer “tell me about yourself”

“Tell Me About Yourself” might be the easiest thing to ask in an interview but is not as easy to answer. This question generally puts applicants in a SPOT, and you may start thinking “What does the panel want to know about me? Everything is right there on my CV, what else do I talk about?”

Even when we know all about ourselves, this question can feel like a pressure situation because the answer is likely to build a first impression for the interviewer.

We are going to help you ace “Tell Me About Yourself” question with some interesting facts and ideas to give the perfect answer.

“Tell Me About Yourself” is a great start for interviewers because it helps them ease into the conversation and allows them to look through your profile while you answer them. It also helps the interviewer gauge your communication skills at the very beginning of the conversation.

Different questions which mean the same as “Tell me About Yourself”:

Let us talk a bit more about building the best Tell Me About Yourself answer

You might want to start answering with details about your educational background or your first job and the domain you worked in right after college. For example, if you started at an accounting job, you could say “Right after I finished my MBA in Finance from X college, I started my professional career with Y company as an associate. You are covering both your educational background and transitioning smoothly into talking about your first job!

When responding to the question "Tell me about yourself," it is crucial to emphasize your strengths. This is an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities, experiences, and accomplishments that make you a valuable candidate. Highlight your core strengths, such as your skills, expertise, and personal attributes that align with the requirements of the role. By focusing on your strengths, you not only demonstrate self-awareness but also portray yourself as a confident and capable individual ready to contribute effectively to the organization.

One more key to answering “Tell me about yourself” is to highlight your achievements in your professional life like your promotions, additional projects undertaken, or a great idea that was implemented by you. Keep in mind, that all of this must be relevant to the job you are applying for.

If you are a fresher, you should talk about extracurricular activities, college projects, your hobbies and additional courses/certifications completed. This will help the panel understand your strengths better and they will already start thinking about how you will be beneficial to the growth of the company.

Try not to move away from the topic of conversation. We need to stay relevant to our work profile since the panel is going to be interested mainly in our professional attributes. Include some interesting facts about your professional career to build a full picture for the panel. This will also enable them to ask relevant questions and will guide the conversation in a productive direction.

Let your passion show in your answers, speak with confidence and be sure to prepare the flow of the Tell Me About Yourself answer beforehand.