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INTERVIEW QUESTIONS › TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF

How to answer “Tell me about yourself.”

It is almost always first, and it sets the frame for everything after it. Here is the shape of a strong answer, then rehearse yours out loud against an interviewer who will push on the weak part.

THE SHAPE OF A STRONG ANSWER

01

Say where you are now

One line: your current role and the thing you are known for. Not your whole CV.

02

Give two specifics that point at this job

Pick the parts of your history this role actually needs. Everything else is noise here.

03

Land on why you are in the room

Finish on the reason you applied, so the next question is the one you want.

04

Stop

Ninety seconds is plenty. Running long is the most common way this answer goes wrong.

What most people get wrong: they narrate their CV in order, from university forwards. The interviewer has the CV. What they do not have is which parts of it matter for this job.

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