How to answer "Tell me about yourself"

The formula: present, past, future

• Present: what you do now, or most recently, in one or two sentences.
• Past: one or two experiences or results that make you a fit for this role.
• Future: why this job is the logical next step.

Example: experienced hire

I am a [title] with [years] years of experience in [area]. Most recently at [company], I [specific result]. Before that, I [relevant experience]. I am excited about this role because [reason tied to the job], and it builds directly on what I have been doing.

Example: career changer

I spent [years] in [old field], where the part of my work I enjoyed most was [skill]. Over the last [time], I have focused on building that skill through [course, project or role]. This role is where those two things meet, which is why I applied.

Example: new grad

I just graduated from [school] with a degree in [field]. During [internship or project], I [specific result]. I am looking for a role where I can keep building [skill], and this one stood out because [reason].

Example: after a layoff

I was most recently a [title] at [company], where I [specific result]. My role was part of a restructuring earlier this year. Since then I have been focused on finding a team where I can do more of [what you do best], which is exactly what this role is about.

Common mistakes

• Starting from childhood or your first job.
• Reciting your resume line by line.
• Talking for more than two minutes.
• Forgetting to connect it to this job.

Interview prep checklist