So many interview candidates get lost on the first and most simple question… “Tell me about yourself?”
Today, you will learn how to master your self-introduction:
Part 1: Use a simple but effective structure
Part 2: What key phrases to include
Part 3: How to answer follow up questions
PART 1
Structure
A good interview self-introduction has three parts:
Who you are: Your name, job title and an overview of your experience
e.g. "My name is Alex, and I’m a software engineer with over five years of experience in developing cloud-based applications."What you’ve done: Highlight your key achievements or projects
e.g. "I recently led a team to redesign our company’s customer portal, which resulted in a 40% increase in user engagement."Why you’re here: Explain your motivation for applying to the position
"I’m excited about this opportunity because it aligns with my passion for creating scalable and innovative solutions."
Level Up: Use parallel structure to ensure your sentences flow smoothly. For example, if you say, "I’m skilled in A, B, and C," make sure A, B, and C are grammatically similar.
(Study parallel structure in our textbook)
Do you mention your hobbies and interests in your interview self-introduction?
PART 2
Key Phrases
I have a background in software development with a focus on mobile apps.
I specialise in optimising front-end performance.
I’m passionate about creating user-friendly designs.
My most recent project involved leading a team to develop…
In my role as DevOps Engineer, I improved deployment processes, reducing release times by 30%.
Level up: Avoid going into too much technical detail in your self-introduction. If you are listing skills or interests, stick to the rule of 3 to keep the interviewer engaged.
PART 3
Follow Up Questions
Practice how you would answer these follow up questions:
Can you tell me more about [specific project or skill]?
→ Prepare to deep dive into one or two projects that highlight your skills.
Why did you choose to work in [industry/role]?
→ Focus on what excites you about your work. Do not say because of the money!
Why do you want to leave your current role?
→ Avoid negative answers like ‘I don’t like my team’ or ‘the salary is too low.'
Level Up: Don’t be afraid to clarify if you don’t understand a question. For example, “Sorry, do you mean in my current role or my previous role?”
Last Week’s Poll
We asked you: What type of company do you work in?
It was interesting to see that 28% of you work in start-ups!
Dmitri said: “I work in a large corporation and also in a startup. Because of remote working, I can have two jobs. It is not easy, but I learn many things from both!”
Submit your opinions in our weekly poll to be featured!
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