How to answer: Tell me about yourself.

What the interviewer is testing.

A short story of who you are professionally, ending on why you are here. Whether you can describe yourself professionally in a minute, and make it relevant to this job.

An outline for this question.

1. Start with where you are now: your role and one thing you are proud of.
2. Add one or two earlier steps that led here, in a sentence each.
3. Finish with why you are interested in this role, using one detail from the job.
4. Keep it near a minute, and stop so the interviewer can ask for more.

The mistake to avoid.

Starting from your childhood or reading out your resume. Begin with the present and make it relevant.

The general method: honest, specific, brief.

The same shape works for most hr questions, whatever the topic.

• Answer the question that was asked in your first sentence.
• Back it with one specific example or fact, not a general claim.
• Tie it to this role, and stop. A calm thirty to sixty seconds is enough.

Practice it, out loud.

Reading an outline is not the same as saying it. Answer this question in a mock interview, in your own words, then compare it with the outline above.

Practice this questionSee live interview help

More to practice.

• What is your greatest strength?

  Any role, HR

• What is your greatest weakness?

  Any role, HR

• Why do you want to work here?

  Any role, HR

• Why should we hire you?

  Any role, HR

This is a Replysis practice question. It is not a leaked or official question from any company, and the outline is a guide to structure, not a script. Use your own experience and facts.