How to Answer "Please Tell Us More About Yourself"

You’ve been hunting for a job for who knows how long. You’ve applied to more jobs than you can remember. You got through a few phone screens. And then—an interview.
Congratulations. You made it to an interview.
Yeah, it’s a reason to celebrate. But it’s not over yet. You’re probably wondering, what are they going to ask me during the interview? How should I answer their questions? What should I wear? How should I present myself?
Then, there’s the single most dreaded question of all.
How do you answer “Please tell us more about yourself”?
How do you even begin to answer that question?

Why do employers ask “Please tell us more about yourself?”
Let’s start with the purpose of the question. Knowing why employers ask this question will help you understand the varying range of appropriate responses.
When a recruiter or hiring manager says to you, “Tell me about yourself,” they’re doing one of two things. First, they’re just breaking the ice. It’s an open-ended question that gets the interview started. Second of all, savvy interviewers will use it as a way to assess you based on what you say.
When you’re selected to have an interview, whether it’s a face-to-face interview or a phone interview—it means that you’ve met their basic criteria for hiring. It could be related to your education level, how much job experience you have, or something they saw in your resume.
Whatever the case is, when recruiters and hiring managers ask you to tell them about yourselves, they’re looking for consistency between you and what you’ve written on paper.
For example, if you graduated from a top school, they’re going to have certain expectations about your professional decorum and your competence. But if you come in dressed sloppily and are munching on crispy snacks while talking to them during the interview, you’re not getting the job.
During the interview, they’re still looking to weed people out.
That means that it’s not the time to make any off-color jokes or remarks in response to the question. You’re going to want to put your best foot forward. At the very least, you’re going to aim to not get ruled out as a candidate. At best, you’re going to wow them right at the beginning of the interview.
So how do you impress employers with your response? How do you answer that tough question?

Plan your response
Proper planning prevents poor performance. The key to success is to make a plan so that you have an idea of where you’re going and what you’re trying to achieve during an interview. The strategy is to use this as a chance to bring up things that you couldn’t fit into a resume or job application.
Demonstrate your motivation
Employers want to hire someone who’s motivated. You can show just how motivated you are by telling them how you feel about the chance to meet them. Prep yourself to respond to this question with great energy. Tell them how excited you are for this opportunity and thank them for their time and attention.
Tell your story
When recruiters and hiring managers look at your resume, it tells them the facts. But what it doesn’t do is bring you to life.
When an employer asks you to tell them more about yourself, it’s an excellent opportunity to tell a story in a way that is easily understood and connects with the interviewer.
You can take the chance to give some context about how you got from one job to another, and what brings you to the present moment. Shape your narrative in a growth-oriented mindset. Even if you stayed in positions just for a short while, focus on the positive parts. Bring your story to life by being vibrant and excited, and don’t be afraid to bring your personality to the table (as long as you stay professional).
Summarize your work experience
The best way to respond to an employer telling you to tell them more about yourself is to cover the most relevant points on your resume and to provide some added context. Unless you have solid information about connecting with the interviewers on an interpersonal level (such as noticing that the manager is a fan of a sports team based on a poster on her wall), your best bet is to stay focused on your achievements and professional goals. This gives them a menu of options to easily choose to discuss in further detail. It also reminds them of the value that you bring to the company. Many people believe that past performance is the best indicator of future performance, so show employers what a great job you’ve done in the past. It’ll give them confidence that you can continue to do a great job for them too.
Promote yourself
As you tell the interviewer more about yourself, you’re going to want to make brief mentions of the biggest achievements that you’ve made. If supervisors have complimented you or rewarded you, now’s the time to bring that up. Think back to times when you were praised for doing a good job. If you’ve made any measurable, quantifiable progress, mention that too. You can prepare to quantify your achievements by looking at things that are measured: how many customers have you served? How many projects or tasks have you completed successfully? How often did you show up early?
If you don’t have any facts and figures, you can think about what you learned in each of your jobs, and how you grew from it.
Just remember that it’s not the time to go into detail, but you can whet their appetite. A few words about each job is all it takes to give the interviewers a chance to get interested and ask for details.

Samples of how to respond to “tell us about yourself”
Here are some samples of how to tell an employer more about yourself during an interview. Remember, now is the chance to impress interviewers with bullet points. Save the details for later!
Response for a Customer Service
“I started my career working at THI Corporation, where I got my passion for customer service. From there, I moved to my next position as a customer service agent at Orange. That’s when I realized that I really wanted to specialize in serving people and giving them solutions, which is what brings me here today. I’m really passionate about this company’s commitment to sustainability, because I believe in living a sustainable life too.”
Why This Interview Answer Works
You’re giving a brief overview of your career and showing your motivations for moving from one position to another. You’re also showing that you researched the company’s values or mission. In addition to that, you’re showing that you connect with the organization’s values, as well as the mission that drives you in your career. When employers see that you are making purposeful moves, it reflects well on you and gives them more confidence that you’re going to stick around.
Response for a Sales Position
“In my first position, I showed that I had a knack for sales and am a fast learner. Within the first month, I exceeded my quota by 28%. Eventually, I became interested in selling electronics because I’m kind of a geek. So when I saw a position at Best Buy, I jumped at the opportunity. Why not combine my love for electronics with my newfound sales skills? It was a seasonal position, and I showed up early every day by beating rush hour traffic. When I hit the sales floor, my supervisor praised me for my enthusiasm and professionalism. And that’s what I aim to bring to this position: a combination of enthusiasm for the products we sell, professional knowledge, and a proven ability to meet my sales quotas.”
Why This Interview Answer Works
Just like the previous response, you’re telling the story of why you moved from one job to another. You’re also highlighting a measurable achievement, as well as telling a story about how you grew. Finally, you impress employers by showing them that you’ve carefully considered this position and what value you bring to the company.

Response for a Cashier
“In my first position, I was hired because it was a seasonal position and there were a lot of customers. I used it as a chance to show my excellent customer service: my supervisor praised me for being so cheerful with the customers. After that position ended, I worked at Main Street Grocers. I always showed up to work on time, and I learned the new POS very quickly. My boss said that I was easy to train. I’m moving to this neighborhood soon, that’s why I’m applying here. I want to bring the same cheerfulness to your team.”
Why This Interview Answer Works
You’re telling a story that’s relatable by mentioning details that wouldn’t fit into a resume or job application. You’re also showing off your best traits and what you did very well.

Acing the Interview
Now that you know why employers ask you to “please tell us more about yourself” and are armed with some strategies, go ahead and plan your response. This will give you confidence for your interview. Good luck with your job search!