How Do You Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” Without Sounding Boring?

Let’s be honest.

“Tell me about yourself” feels like a trick question. It’s vague. It’s open-ended. And worst of all—most people give answers that are forgettable at best, and rambling at worst.

But when you learn to answer it well, this question becomes a powerful way to stand out, build instant connection, and make the interviewer think:

• “We need to talk to this person again.”

Here’s What Most People Get Wrong

Most people either:

1. Read their resume out loud

2. Tell their life story

3. Talk forever without landing a point

The problem isn’t that they’re unqualified; it’s that they haven’t been taught how to shape their story for the person listening.

That’s the key.

Your Answer Should Change Depending on the Context

In a 15-minute phone screen, your job is to get invited to the next round. You don’t need your whole story—just enough to show that you’re competent, confident, and aligned with the job.

In a 60-minute second or third interview, you have more time. But that doesn’t mean you should ramble. It means you can go deeper—connecting your experience, goals, and values to the role and the company’s mission.

Time-awareness is critical. A great answer is like a great pitch—it’s tight, compelling, and tailored to the moment.

Great Answers Include the Interviewer

Here’s the real secret:

The best answers aren’t just about you. They’re about how you fit them.

Before your interview, do this:

1. Research the company’s mission, product, or culture

2. Understand the pain points of the team or role

3. Look up your interviewer if possible (LinkedIn is fair game)

Then, when they say, “Tell me about yourself,” say something like:

“I’m a marketing student who discovered I love analytics and storytelling. I’ve led two student orgs and just finished an internship where I worked on social strategy and email automation. I noticed this role focuses on lifecycle marketing—something I’ve been obsessed with lately—and I’d love to learn more about how your team approaches that.”

That answer:

• Shows who you are

• Shares relevant experience

• Makes it clear you did your homework

• Starts a real conversation

It doesn’t sound like a script. It sounds like a person, a thoughtful, prepared, interesting person who might be a great hire.

Final Thought

If you’re still answering “Tell me about yourself” by walking through your resume or listing every role you’ve had… It’s time to upgrade.

Tell a short story. Make it relevant. Invite them into the conversation.

That’s how you stop sounding boring and start sounding like a future teammate.

Want help crafting your story? That’s exactly what we do at Second Step. We help students and recent grads land paid internships and first jobs by teaching the strategies that real employers respond to.