How do you answer introduce yourself in an interview?

Key Takeaway

1. Start with an important fact about yourself. Talk about your most recent role, a past role, and why you're excited for
this opportunity.
2. Put a couple big achievements in your tell us about yourself answer. ...
3. Review tell me about yourself sample answers. ...
4. Introduce yourself by referencing the job's needs.
What to say when you introduce yourself?
1. Decide that less will always be more. Brief introductions are always best. ...
2. Stay aware of the setting. If you meet another parent at a school meeting, for example, just say, "Hi, I'm Joe. ...
3. Embrace understatement. Unless you're in a business setting, your job title is irrelevant. ...
4. Focus on the other person. Ask questions.

RIGHT
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.

A: (1) I really enjoy providing robust software solutions. (2) I’ve led a software engineering team of 10 programmers at Xyzzy
Solutions for three years. Our proudest moment was receiving the 2018 Bossie award. (3) Before that I worked for two years
as a software engineer at SurgeWallop. I slashed security breaches 70% by winning full employee buy-in for our Principle of
Least Privilege drive. (4) It’s been a great run, but I’m chafing at the bit to sink my teeth in with a high-performing DevOps
team like the one at Brass LAMP Dev.
WRONG
I’ve always been really interested in computers. I guess for the past nine years now I’ve been a programmer, but my passion
for tech started way back when I was a kid. I’ve always loved monkeying around with code, but it wasn’t until I moved to
Arizona that I tried to make a living off it. I got really into it and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Night and day.

The second of those tell me about yourself sample answers is what people typically say.

It’s nice, but—

The first answer will make the interviewer hope you don’t have other offers.

Next question:

How to introduce yourself professionally in an interview to achieve this effect?

Let me show you, next.

Pro Tip: Don’t ramble. Rehearse and time your answer. Have a solid ending. The worst something about you answers
take too long and trail off into silence.

It’s frustrating.

Tell us about yourself sample answers are nice, but—

Making your own is a different story.

Take heart.

You can introduce yourself fast in a way that interviewers love.

How?

The best tell me about yourself answers add achievement.

Include:

1. Your best achievement from a recent role.

2. Your best feat from a past job.

These tell me about yourself interview examples show how:

 About Me Examples

What does this sample answer to tell me something about yourself for experienced applicants do right?

RIGHT
Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: I really enjoy being at the center of a top design team. I worked as lead designer at Studio256 Designs for the past four
years. (A) I was in charge of four designers who delivered over 150 client projects a year. Before that I worked at Ricardo’s
Crop Shop for two years, where (B) I chipped in on a customer website that won a Shopify Design award. It’s been a great
learning experience, but I’m ready to spread my wings at a high-end design firm like Arnolfini’s. That’s why I’m so excited for
this position.
WRONG
I live and breathe design. I’ve been into art for many years, and I just love that I can do this kind of work and get
paid for it. I’ve been working for seven years now in graphic design, and I just adore it. I’m so gratified that I get to
go to work every day and do something that I love.

See that?

The second of those tell me about yourself examples isn’t bad.

But the first will make employers hope they can afford you.

But there’s a trick to it.

You have to pick the right achievements, and—

They have to fit the job.

I’ll show how next.

Pro Tip: Put metrics in your tell us about yourself answer. We use percents, dollars, and other numbers in
our something about you examples. They show the size of the achievements.

To ace your job interview, you need to prepare in advance. Here you’ll find tons of interview advice for all
stages of your big day: Best Job Interview Tips, Advice and Techniques.
Know Before You Go to Introduce Yourself Correctly
You know your tell us about yourself answer has to show accomplishments.

But which ones?

Don’t fret.

It’s easy to pick the perfect introduce yourself achievement.

You just have to understand the job.

To do that, read the job offer carefully.

This tell me about yourself example job offer shows how:

That about me example job description wants two key things:

1. A receptionist who can handle lots of regular clients.

2. Someone who can triage calls and emails.
So—

Make your answer like the first of these tell me about yourself examples:

Tell Us About Yourself Examples

This interview introduction is chock full of relevant things to say about yourself.

RIGHT
Q: Tell me something about you.

A: Well, I thrive in the excitement of a fast-paced office. As a receptionist at Drake & Caswell, I loved interacting with our 200
regular clients and managing training and travel schedules for 25 employees. Before that at Mindon Well Drilling, I really
enjoyed being the contact point for hundreds of client calls and visits every week. In fact I saved 20 management hours a
month by triaging calls and emails. Those were great opportunities, but I’m at the point where this position at Maven
Consulting Solutions would really let my talents shine.
WRONG
Well I’ve been a receptionist for the past seven years and I love it. You know, interacting with all the people and taking calls
and just working with people in general. I’m a people person. I love the back and forth and energy. Even on my days off I
love hanging out with friends and being around family. I’m also a hard worker and I’m very dependable.

See the difference?

The second of those tell me about yourself examples represents the other candidates.

The first is you, when you understand the job.

Can’t find enough info in the job ad?

Try:

 Reaching out to employees on LinkedIn.

 Researching the company online.
 Reading the company website.

That’ll give you enough beta to nail the something about you question.

Now let me show you five great introduce yourself examples.

Pro Tip: It can take a little head-scratching to pull the job’s needs from the ad. Highlight the skill setin it.
Then pick the most important for your tell me about yourself interview answer.

Need more job-winning answers to the introduce yourself interview question?

Here they are.

Notice—

Each one starts with a key fact.

Then it uses present, past, and future to describe the candidate’s work experience and career goals.

Finally, it lists two accomplishments that fit the job.

Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question Sample Answers

Q: Tell me something about yourself.

A: I shine in a fast-paced office where I can work on ratcheting up efficiency. At Castle Rock Mineral we
often had over 100 customers a day come through the doors. I was able to slash scheduling errors by 25%
and resolve complaints 50% faster than the previous assistant. Before that at TD Dental, I helped raise
patient satisfaction scores 20% by streamlining our intake flow. I’m ready to grow into a position where my
efficiency can make a difference to a larger team. That’s why I’m so excited about this role.

That self introduction in an interview for experienced candidates shows you have what the job needs.

Q: Tell me about yourself.

 A: I’m an incredibly prolific web developer. At ExamTeam5, I regularly completed full-stack development
for websites in 7 or 8 weeks. I cut delivery times at VerifEye Solutions by 30%. I enjoyed both positions, but
HF7 Technologies is well-known for its aggressive work schedule. I think my productivity would really be
valued here.

Q: Please introduce yourself.

A: I love using my talents to bring more business to a worthy product. I worked as marketing manager at
Ninequist Interactive for three years. During that time, my team and I presided over a period of 40% revenue
growth. Before that at Spintegrity, I was able to increase conversions for email campaigns by 25%. I’m
ready for a bigger challenge, and I would thrive in a fast-growing tech firm like Sequoia5 Global.

That’s a great answer for tell me about yourself in an interview for experienced applicants.

Q: Tell us something about you.

A: I really enjoy working as an OR nurse. For three years at Chrontos Medical, I received consistent
commendations for my performance in the peri-operative setting. Before that at Barstow General, I was first-
choice for the team of 15 surgeons. I’ve enjoyed every step along the way. Mass General was my first choice
when I moved East because of your reputation for high-level health care in a safe, compassionate
environment.

That tell about yourself answer for experienced candidates proves your nursing skills beyond question.

Q: Let’s start with a brief self-introduction.

A: When I’ve got a product I believe in, I excel at selling it. I’ve loved working as a sales associate at
Peterboro-Munchen for the past two years. The job gave me an opportunity to increase revenue by over
$100,000 a year for some of the best pumps and hoses on the market. Before that at Belsden Group, I
consistently outsold the 10 other reps by 10% to 15%. Again, great product. Those were both great positions
and I learned a lot, but now I really want to show what I can do. You’ve got the most respected, highest
value security systems in the world, and a big market to sell them in. I’m very excited at the chance to use
my skills to put your revenue through the roof.

See how those work?

Each of those interview tell me about yourself answers does three things right:

1. It kicks off with a key fact that fits the job.

2. It hits present, past, and future.
3. It lists achievements that convince employers.

Pro Tip: Doing a phone interview? There’s no shame in writing down basic interview questions answers.
But—don’t sound like you’re reading.

What achievements work in tell us about yourself answers?

Which ones will make employers worry someone else will snap you up?

In a great tell me about yourself interview answer, list accomplishments like:

 Cut costs X%.

 Raised quality X%.
 Increased revenue by X%.
 Trained X employees.
 Saved X hours per week.
 Received X professional award.
 Boosted customer review scores X%.
 Slashed waste X%.

About me questions with achievements like the ones above impress employers.
 Pro Tip: Whatever achievement you pick, tailor it to fit the job. The closer your achievement to the job
skills, the likelier it is that you’ll get hired.

Need one more self-introduction in interview for experienced candidates sample?

Here are two.

Remember, here’s how to respond to tell me about yourself:

1. Know the skills most vital to the job.

2. Say how you used those skills to help your recent employer massively.
3. Tell about a time you used those same skills to help a previous employer.
4. Say you’re excited about the new position because it’ll let you do even more.

These tell me something about yourself answers for experienced applicants show how.

How to Describe Yourself Examples

This example answer shows how to respond to tell me about yourself.

It’s for a job that needs a machinist skilled in Lean and 5S.

RIGHT
Question: Tell us a bit about yourself.

Answer: I live, breathe, and eat Lean-5S machinist work. For the past seven years I worked at Raytheon as a machinist. I
was promoted to head of the Lean program for our department. With my guidance we reduced setup times by 70% and cut
kitting times by 50%. Before that I worked at BAE Systems for two years. There, I created a Poka-Yoke device that saved us
120 labor-hours per year and over $15,000. I’m really excited to get the chance to work at Toyota, because here my Lean-5S
skills can really get a chance to shine.

That brief description of yourself example links you to the most important job skills.

But what about this next tell me about yourself sample answer for experienced candidates?

WRONG
Well I’ve been a machinist for the past seven years. I’m highly skilled in setups, kitting, and machine maintenance.
I’m very punctual and I haven’t had a sick day in seven years. I’m a hard worker and I get along really well with the
rest of my team.

That’s not the best answer for tell me about yourself.The format is wrong. Also, in a tell me about
yourselfinterview answer for experienced candidates, you have to prove your experience fits the job you’re
trying for.

Pro Tip: How do you introduce yourself in an interview? They’ll usually say, “Say something about
yourself” or Tell us more about yourself. If not, say you’re excited about the job, then give your best tell me
more about you answer.

Here’s a recap. How to answer tell me about yourself:

1. Start with an important fact about yourself. Talk about your most recent role, a past role, and why you’re
excited for this opportunity.
2. Put a couple big achievements in your tell us about yourself answer. They’ll show the hiring manager you’re
effective.
3. Review tell me about yourself sample answers. They’ll help you give the perfect answer.
4. Introduce yourself by referencing the job’s needs. Learn them by reading the offer carefully and researching
the company