How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" in Any Interview

Why this question matters

"Tell me about yourself" is often the first thing an interviewer asks. It's your chance to set the tone, highlight what's relevant, and show you're prepared. A clear, concise answer builds confidence for the rest of the conversation—whether the role is in tech, operations, or any other field.

A simple structure: present, past, future

• Present – Where you are now: your current role (or most recent), one or two key responsibilities or achievements, and what you enjoy about it.

• Past – How you got here: a brief line or two on your background, education, or a pivot that led to this point. Only include what supports the story.

• Future – Why this role: why you're interested in this company and this position, and how it fits your goals.

Keep the whole answer to 90 seconds to 2 minutes. Practice out loud so it sounds natural, not memorized.

What to avoid

• Don't recite your resume line by line.
• Don't go into personal details unless they're relevant (e.g. relocation, career change).
• Don't ramble. If the interviewer wants more, they'll ask.

Practice with ClavePrep

Use ClavePrep to practice your "tell me about yourself" answer and get feedback. You can refine it until it feels natural and fits within the time you want.