Why Does Every Job Interview Start with “Tell Me About Yourself”?

“Tell me about yourself.” If you have ever sat in a job interview, you have almost certainly heard this question. It is often the first thing an interviewer says, delivered as if it holds deep meaning or purpose. But what does it actually achieve?

If you have my résumé in front of you, then you already know the basics — my education, work experience, skills, and relevant background. That is the whole point of a CV. So why ask me to repeat what is already on paper? If you had read it, you would not need me to summarize it again.

This question is vague and open-ended. It does not ask anything specific. In one interview, I asked the interviewer directly, “Have you read my CV?” I explained that I was happy to discuss anything relevant but needed a clearer question. As expected, that answer did not go down well. But I still believe it was a fair response.

If you are being interviewed by someone who did not take even a few minutes to review your background, is that really a serious interview? The question “Tell me about yourself” is often used as a lazy opener — a way to shift the burden onto the candidate while the interviewer figures out what to ask next.

Worse, it puts candidates in an awkward position. Are you supposed to talk about your personal life? Your hobbies? Your entire career history? People often end up rambling or guessing what the interviewer wants to hear, instead of offering something meaningful.

A thoughtful interviewer will ask targeted questions — ones that relate to the job, your experience, and how you approach challenges. That kind of conversation actually reveals something useful. This broad question, on the other hand, rarely leads to anything productive.

So if you are asked “Tell me about yourself,” take a breath. Be professional, but also be honest. And if the interview starts to feel like a guessing game, it might be a sign that the employer is not as prepared as they should be.