Almost every interview starts with some version of “Tell me about yourself”. It is not a request for your life story. It is a chance to show, in about a minute, who you are professionally and why you fit this role.
The structure: present, past, future
- Present: who you are now — your degree, current role, or where you are in your career.
- Past: one or two relevant experiences — a project, internship, job or achievement.
- Future: why you want this role and what you would bring.
Example: a fresher
“I recently completed my B.Sc in Computer Science. During my final year I built a small inventory app for a local shop with two classmates, where I handled the database and testing. I also did a two-month internship in technical support, which taught me how to explain problems clearly to non-technical users. I’m now looking for a support or junior developer role where I can keep building those skills, which is why this position interested me.”
Example: returning after a break
“I have six years of experience in accounts payable, most recently at a manufacturing company. I took a two-year break to care for my young child, and during that time I completed a course in advanced Excel. I’m now ready to return full-time, and this role matches both my experience in vendor payments and the reporting work I want to do more of.”
Tips
- Keep it to about 60–90 seconds.
- Focus on facts relevant to the job, not personal details.
- Practise out loud, but do not memorise it word for word.
- End with something that links to the role, so the interviewer’s next question flows naturally.
