How to Answer the Common 'Tell Me About Yourself' Interview Question.

There are so many questions that can come your way during an interview with your prospective employer. From queries about your skillset, to knowledge checks on the company and questions like “why do you think you’re the right fit for this role?”.

One of the most asked, open-ended questions in interviews is the ambiguous ‘tell me about yourself’ query. It can be daunting to know how to respond and how much to tell. But this daunting ambiguity actually gives you an opportunity to shine. You can choose exactly how to respond, making it easier to stand out.

Read on to learn more about how to answer these types of questions in a way that will highlight your skills and experience, and discover free tools from Adobe Express to help you put your best self forward.

Why do employers say, ’tell me about yourself‘ in an interview?

‘Tell me about yourself’ is one of the most asked questions in a job interview. This question is often used as an icebreaker, and a way to see straight off the bat if the interviewee can talk clearly and concisely about themselves in a professional way.

Essentially, it’s an opportunity to pitch yourself – your potential new employer is not asking for a round-up of your hobbies or what you had for dinner last night, but a concise overview of your working style, achievements and skills.

This question is often the first an interviewer will ask. This is because it acts as an easy transition from small talk to serious interview questions and helps both interviewer and interviewee to relax and get to know one another.

Common ‘tell me about yourself’ interview question variations.

While not every interviewer will say ‘tell me about yourself’ verbatim, there will almost certainly be questions that achieve a similar outcome. For example, some employers may go with variations on the theme or more specific questions, such as:

• Describe yourself in three words.
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
• What are your greatest accomplishments?
• Talk me through your CV.
• Tell me more about your background.
• Tell me something interesting about you that isn’t on your CV.
• I’d love to hear more about your journey.

These are not always as open as “tell me about yourself” but are essentially asking for the same information.

How to answer ‘tell me about yourself’ questions.

The best way to answer this question will depend on you – your particular skills, experience and even personality will affect your answer. However, there are some things you can do to prepare so that you know what you want to talk about at each interview.

1. Tailor your answer for each individual interview.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to the best way to present yourself in an interview. Not only will your answer depend on you, but it should also be tailored to the specific role, company, industry and, if you have any advance knowledge, interviewer. The question really means ‘tell me about yourself as a candidate for this job’, so be sure you know why you would be a good fit.

2. Do your research ahead of time.

Potential employers want to know that you have a genuine interest in their company. You can demonstrate this in your interview by researching ahead of time and peppering your answers with extra knowledge.

This might be a simple reference to the products and services, but it could also include the style of leadership, company values and any other nuggets of information you discover. You can then tailor your answer based on the research.

3. Summarise your key strengths and skills.

Your potential employer wants to know what you will bring to the table, so include a summary of your key strengths and skills in your answer. Start by telling them about what you do in your current position, then go back to your university degree and other roles and learning experiences to show how you developed your specific skillset to achieve your current position. Try not to make things seem rehearsed though and ensure that answers are kept on-subject.

4. Keep it concise and professional.

While you want to highlight why you are best suited for the role, there’s no need to list every single qualification or experience that makes you so. Instead, choose just a few of the best and talk about them clearly and concisely. You can use numbers to emphasise key achievements, such as the percentage of growth you helped achieve in your current role, or how many years’ experience you have in the field.

5. Try to sound natural, rather than rehearsed.

While preparation is key, you don’t want to sound like you’re reading from a script. Make notes about the areas you want to talk about, and practice with friends and family, but try to avoid writing out your answer entirely.

Not only does this help you sound more natural – it also ensures that if your interviewer should interrupt to ask for clarification or more details about something, you won’t lose your flow.

6. Share an anecdote to bring your story to life.

While prospective employers want to get to know you professionally, you can still bring your story to life by sharing an anecdote or two.

This could be something interesting or unusual that happened in a previous job, or it could be the way having four dogs has influenced the type of role you look for – whatever you think will engage the interviewer. It’s an icebreaker, but it’s also relevant – win-win.

7. Tie all this experience back to the role you’re applying for.

The final part of your answer should tie everything you’ve mentioned to the role you are now applying for. Summarise why your experiences make you a good candidate and talk a little about what you would like to do in the future. You can finish by asking the interviewer a question of your own. As an example:

“I’d love to start developing my leadership skills – does your company have a strong culture of fostering leadership?”

“Tell me about yourself” sample answers.

How to showcase your best self in interviews with Adobe Express.

Looking for other ways to prepare for your interview? Adobe Express has plenty of free online tools and templates that can help you get ready for upcoming interviews and showcase yourself in the best possible light.

Check out some of the ways Adobe Express can help you:

1. Summarise your key experience and skills with an editable CV template.

Your CV is the first place a prospective employer will see what skills and experience you have – use an editable CV template and make yours stand out from the crowd.

2. Create an eye-catching cover letter.

A cover letter is just as important as a CV, as this is your opportunity to let prospective employers know who you are and why you would be perfect for the role. Choose a professional cover letter template that reflects the role you’re applying for and personalise with key details about your experience.

3. Craft a bespoke portfolio to discuss in your interview.

You can showcase previous work and start discussions in your interview by creating a bespoke portfolio. Get started with the Adobe Express portfolio maker.

Try Adobe Express for free now

Good to know.

What is the best answer to tell me about yourself?

A clear, concise answer that highlights your more relevant skills and experience for the role is usually the best answer to tell me about yourself.

What are three more common interview questions?

Alongside the classic ‘tell me about yourself’ interview question, three other common questions you might be asked include:

• What are your key strengths and weaknesses?
• What skills are you currently working on improving?
• Where do you see yourself in five years?

Is Adobe Express free?

Yes, our free plan offers many core features including thousands of templates, photo editing and effects, animation, and 5 GB of storage. See our  pricing page for details and to compare plans.