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Interview question

How to answer “Tell me about yourself”

It's usually the first thing a recruiter asks, and your answer sets the tone for the rest of the call. Keep it to about a minute: what you do now, one highlight from before, and why this job is next.

A woman in a rust sweater at her desk in the evening, introducing herself out loud to her laptop

What the recruiter is checking

  1. What you think matters

    Indeed's guide for employers says the answer shows a candidate's priorities and how they see themselves.

  2. How you talk

    The screen is the first chance to hear you communicate. A recruitment manager quoted by SHRM listens for whether you carry a conversation easily or sound overly rehearsed.

  3. A quick first read

    In a CareerBuilder survey of 1,014 hiring and HR managers, 49% said they know within the first five minutes of an interview whether a candidate is a good or bad fit.

Build it in three parts

  1. 1

    Now

    Your current role and one result, with a number if you have one.

  2. 2

    Before

    One or two past jobs or projects that match the posting. Leave out the rest.

  3. 3

    Next

    What you want to do more of, and why this job is the place to do it.

It also comes as “Walk me through your background” or “Tell me a little about yourself,” and the same answer works. Some people start with before and finish on now. Either order is fine as long as you end on this job.

What to say, and what not to

  1. Start with work

    Say“I'm a [job title] at [type of company], where I [one result].”

    Don't say“Well, I grew up in…” It spends your first minute on something they didn't ask about.

  2. Pick what fits the posting

    SayThe two parts of your background this posting cares about most.

    Don't sayEvery job in order. They already have your résumé.

  3. End on this job

    Say“That's why this role caught my eye. You need [one thing from the posting], and that's what I've been doing.”

    Don't sayTrailing off with “…so yeah, that's me.”

  4. Keep it short

    SayAbout a minute, then stop and let them ask.

    Don't sayFive minutes on your whole career. Past two minutes, it starts to feel like too much.

Sample answers

Fill in the brackets with your own facts, then say it out loud a few times until it sounds like you.

  1. IF YOU'RE WORKING NOW

    “I'm a [job title] at [type of company], where I [one result, with a number]. Before that I spent [time] as a [earlier role], so I know [skill from the posting] from the ground up. I'm looking for a role with more [what this job offers], which is why this one stood out.”

  2. IF YOU JUST GRADUATED

    “I just finished my degree in [field] at [school]. In my [internship, project or part-time job], I [one result]. I'm looking for my first full-time role in [field], and this one fits because [one detail from the posting].”

  3. IF YOU'RE CHANGING CAREERS

    “I've spent [time] as a [old role], and the part I've liked most is [task that matches this job]. Over the last [time] I've [course, project or side work]. This role is that work full time, which is why I applied.”

  4. IF YOU'RE RETURNING FROM A BREAK

    “I was a [job title] at [type of company] for [time], where I [one result]. I took [time] off for [reason, in a few words], kept current with [course or project], and I'm ready to get back to [field].”

Practice it out loud

An AI recruiter opens with this question, then runs the rest of the screen: why you're looking, what you want next, the money, your timing and your questions. Your scorecard rates five things recruiters listen for, communication included.

Practice the recruiter screen

More to practice: Phone screen questions · Reasons for leaving a job · Why do you want to work here? · Salary expectations · Questions to ask the interviewer