If you’re a fresh graduate or still a college student, you may find job interviews challenging. Especially if the interviewers ask you generic questions like “Tell me about yourself,” which is a tricky question to answer if you have no experience.

When an interviewer says, “Tell me about yourself,” you can answer by following the past-present-future formula, where you talk about your past experiences, present involvement, and goals. Your answer should be brief, relevant to the job, and able to showcase your strengths and successes.

In this article, I’ll give you some sample answers and tips on how to ace this personal question for your next interview.

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Recruiters often begin job interviews by asking applicants to talk about themselves. They will say, “Tell me about yourself,” “Describe yourself,” or “Tell me about your background.” They do this to have a better idea of what you’re like–your personality, achievements, goals, and even work style. 

Basically, they ask you to talk about yourself, so they may size you up and figure out what questions to ask next. This question is an opportunity for you to give a great first impression!

There are two simple formulas that you can follow when preparing to describe yourself during a job interview. Let’s take a look at what these formulas are and how they can be used in actual interview scenarios.

The first formula is the past-present-future. The idea here is to start with past experience, followed by a brief peek into what you’re currently doing, and then end with what your career plans are. If you have no work experience, fret not. You can still use this format by taking your interviewer back to achievements or extra-curricular activities in college. 

Here are some sample answers that you can follow:

My involvement in conservation work began in college when I became a volunteer Forest Ranger with “Non-Profit Organization” during my freshman year, conducting field surveys to monitor wildlife, their population, and the condition of their habitats. 

It was then that I truly understood that conservation work takes not just love for the environment but dedication and commitment.

I am still an active volunteer at “Non-Profit Organization:, where I now focus on monitoring endangered species and conducting IEC campaigns in neighboring communities to help stop poaching and other illegal forest activities.

I am also volunteering in other environmental groups that advocate for converting communities into environmental defenders. Through my work with Non-Profit Organization, I have helped convert ten poachers into active forest wardens who now advocate for the protection of endangered species in their own communities.

I also enjoy going on hikes, camping, and bird-watching and have a deep love for nature. This is why I would love to work with an organization like yours that pursues the protection of our forests and wildlife.

I believe that my extensive volunteer experience and the skills that I have gained will make me a valuable asset to your organization.

I have been active in conservation work since college when I became a part-time Forest Ranger with “Non-Profit Organization” during my freshman year. At “Non-Profit Organization”, I conducted field surveys to monitor wildlife, their population, and the condition of their habitats. 

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It was then that I truly understood that conservation work takes not just love for the environment but dedication and commitment.

Currently, I am a Science Researcher at “Non-Profit Organization”, where I focus on monitoring endangered species and conducting IEC campaigns in neighboring communities to help stop poaching and other illegal forest activities. I am also volunteering in other environmental groups that advocate for converting communities into environmental defenders. 

Through my work with Non-Profit Organization, I have conducted extensive research about two critically endangered species in Place. I have also helped convert ten poachers into active forest wardens who now advocate for the protection of endangered species in their own communities.

I enjoy going on hikes, camping, and bird-watching and have a deep love for nature. This is why I would love to work with an organization like yours that pursues the protection of our forests and wildlife on a much larger scale.

I believe that my experience and the skills that I have gained will make me a valuable asset to your organization.

Another format that you can use is the present-past-future formula. It’s best to use this format if you want to highlight your present work involvement, such as if you believe that it is the most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

This format is also great if you want to emphasize the applicable skill sets you learned during your study or in your past student jobs.

I have been an intern at ABC Company for three months now. My responsibilities include creating reports and presentations, updating and organizing records, and assisting in ongoing manpower research.

During my senior year in college, I was president of the student council, where I conducted school-wide and external initiatives, such as community outreaches, an anti-bullying program, and sports events. My work with the student council has helped hone my leadership skills and equipped me to be a better team player.

Moving forward, I would love to put my knowledge in human resource management and leadership skills into practice by working at a company like yours that is known to have an excellent HR program. I believe that my experience and background will make me a valuable asset to your organization.

I am currently working as a Human Resource Assistant at ABC Company. My responsibilities include creating reports and presentations, updating and organizing records, and assisting in ongoing manpower research.

Prior to my job at ABC Company, I was president of the student council during my senior year in college, where I conducted school-wide and external initiatives, such as community outreaches, an anti-bullying program, and sports events. My work with the student council has helped hone my leadership skills and equipped me to be a better team player.

Moving forward, I would love to put my knowledge in human resource management and leadership skills into practice by working at a company like yours that is known to have an excellent HR program. I believe that my experience and background will make me a valuable asset to your organization.

With enough preparation and a little bit of confidence, you can make a lasting impression that can land you that dream job–regardless of whether you’re a fresh graduate with no experience or someone with years of experience in their resume. 

Here are some pointers to take with you when you’re preparing to face that inevitable “Tell me about yourself” question.

If you’re struggling to come up with an answer, it may be because you’re not using the role you’re applying for as a guide with which to shape your answer. Sure, there are plenty of interesting things to know about you, but you need to pick only those details that are relevant to the job.

In other words, if it’s not going to boost your chances of getting selected, there is no need to mention it. You will only be wasting both your and your interviewer’s time. 

Expect that you won’t be the only one to be interviewed for the job. For all you know, they are going through hundreds of applications for the same role. So you need to dig deep into your experiences, skills, and background to look for strengths that you know will set your application apart from the rest.

To do this, do not be content with mentioning typical strengths or qualities. In the first sample answer that we mentioned earlier, you will notice that the applicant mentioned that they were able to convert poachers into environmental defenders. 

Notice that they said that their responsibility was conducting educational campaigns and research; they were not there to convert violators. However, they did that too, and they made sure to include that in their answer. 

So without saying it directly, they were able to communicate that they were not only passionate about environmental protection but that they were also someone who went above and beyond what is asked of them.

It’s not enough to just say that you will be a good sales representative or that you have good marketing skills. You need to back up your claims with figures and specific details. For example, if you have received recognitions and awards in the past, don’t forget to mention those. Say exactly how much your department’s sales have increased since you got on board. 

This will add credibility to your claims and help convince your interviewer that you indeed possess the strengths that you say you do.

Your answer should be complete (past, present, and future) but concise. You don’t want to bore your interviewer or for them to forget what you said because you rambled on about the past two decades of your life.

To help you keep your answer short, plan it ahead of time. Write it down. Read it aloud to yourself, and edit until you’re convinced that you have the best version possible. And when you have your answer down just as you want it, practice, practice, practice. Know it by heart, but don’t memorize it.

Memorizing your answer may make you sound like you’re talking through a script. Also, when the nerves get to you, you may risk forgetting the entire thing and blanking out.

Lastly, give your interviewer an idea of what you are like as a person and not just details about what you have achieved and can do. Don’t be afraid to add a bit of humor, so long as you remain respectful and keep a professional tone throughout the interview.

Answering a “Tell me about yourself” can be nerve-wracking, but it’s also an excellent opportunity to convince your interviewer that you’re the man–or woman–for the job. Hopefully, these tips will set you off to a good start.

About The Author

Nathan Brunner is a labor market expert. He is a mathematician who graduated from EPFL. He is the owner of Salarship, a job search engine where less-skilled candidates can find accessible employment opportunities.