An interview “tell me about yourself” answer should be short, structured, and focused on why you’re a strong fit for this role, not your whole life story.

Simple formula to use

A reliable structure many career coaches recommend is Present – Past – Future.

  • Present: Who you are professionally right now and a key recent achievement.
  • Past: 1–2 relevant experiences or skills that led you here.
  • Future: What you want next and why this company/role is the logical step.

Aim for about 60–90 seconds.

Plug‑and‑play template

You can adapt this script to almost any job:

“I’m a [your role/field] with [X years] of experience in [key areas relevant to this job]. In my current/last role at [company] , I’ve been responsible for [your main responsibilities] , and recently [one concrete achievement with a result, e.g., increased sales, improved process, saved time/money].
Before that, I [1–2 short past experiences that are directly relevant] , which helped me build strong skills in [skills the job description emphasizes].
Now I’m looking to [what you want next] , and this role at [company] stands out because [2 reasons tied to the team, product, industry, or mission]. I’d be excited to bring [2–3 strengths] to your team.”

This follows the kind of structured, achievement‑oriented answers experts suggest.

Concrete example answer

Imagine you’re interviewing for a marketing coordinator role:

“I’m a marketing coordinator with about three years of experience in digital campaigns and content marketing. In my current role at BrightView, I manage our email calendar and social media, and recently led a campaign that increased sign‑ups by 25% in one quarter.
Before that, I worked in a smaller agency where I handled a bit of everything—from writing blog posts to tracking campaign analytics—which gave me a solid mix of creative and data skills.
Now I’m looking to focus more on data‑driven digital marketing in a fast‑growing environment, and I’m especially interested in your company because of your strong focus on product‑led growth and experimentation. I’d love to bring my experience in campaign execution and performance tracking to your team.”

The key is that every part connects back to what the employer needs.

Tips to make your answer stand out

  • Keep it professional: Focus on your work persona, not personal details like family or unrelated hobbies.
  • Use 1–2 concrete achievements: Include specific results (percentages, time saved, revenue, etc.) if you can.
  • Match the company’s style: Research the company and mirror their tone a bit (more formal for a law firm, more relaxed for a startup).
  • Practice, but don’t memorize: Know your main points; avoid sounding like you’re reading a script.

If you have little or no experience

If you’re a student, recent grad, or changing careers, you can highlight projects and transferable skills.

“I’m a recent computer science graduate with a strong interest in backend development. During university, I completed projects in [technologies] , including a capstone where I [what you built and the impact]. I also interned at [company] , where I [relevant tasks] and learned **[skills that match the job]. Now I’m excited to apply these skills in a full‑time role, and this position appeals to me because [reasons tied to tech stack, mentorship, or industry]. ”

This approach uses the same Present–Past–Future structure but swaps “jobs” for projects, internships, or coursework.

If you share the role you’re interviewing for and a bit about your background, a tailored answer can be drafted that you can rehearse. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.