Expert · English at work and interviews · topic 52 of 59 · 18 min
Job interviews: tell me about yourself
Explanation
The interviewer does not want your life story. They want a short professional story (पेशेवर परिचय) that shows you fit the job. The easiest shape is present, past, future: who you are now, what you have done that matters for this job, and what you want next.
| Part | What to say | Example (a fresher) |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Who you are now | I'm a final-year B.Com student in Indore. |
| Past | Relevant experience and one result | I did a two-month internship at a CA firm, where I prepared GST invoices for ten clients. |
| Future | Why this job, why now | Now I'd like to start my career in accounts, and this role fits my skills well. |
I'm currently working as a customer support executive at a fintech company.
Say it: aim KUR-unt-lee WURK-ing az a KUS-tum-er sa-PORT ig-ZEK-yoo-tiv at a FIN-tek KUM-pa-nee
मैं अभी एक फ़िनटेक कंपनी में कस्टमर सपोर्ट एग्ज़ीक्यूटिव के तौर पर काम कर रहा हूँ।
Before that, I worked for two years in a call centre, where I handled about eighty calls a day.
Say it: bi-FOR THAT, ai WURKT for TOO YEERZ in a KAWL SEN-ter, wair ai HAN-duld a-BOWT AY-tee KAWLZ a DAY
उससे पहले, मैंने दो साल एक कॉल सेंटर में काम किया, जहाँ मैं रोज़ लगभग अस्सी कॉल संभालता था।
I'm now looking for a role where I can lead a small team.
Say it: aim NOW LUK-ing for a ROHL wair ai kan LEED a SMAWL TEEM
अब मैं ऐसी भूमिका ढूँढ रहा हूँ जहाँ मैं एक छोटी टीम को लीड कर सकूँ।
Two sample answers (fictional people)
Fresher: "I'm Rohit, a final-year B.Com student in Indore. Last summer, I did a two-month internship at a CA firm, where I prepared GST invoices for ten clients and learned Tally. I enjoyed working with numbers and deadlines. Now I'd like to start my career in accounts, and your firm's work with small businesses is exactly what I want to learn."
Experienced: "I'm Meera. I'm currently a customer support executive at a fintech company, where I handle payment complaints and train new joiners. Before that, I worked for two years in a call centre in Noida. Last year, my team's customer rating went up from 3.8 to 4.5, partly because of a reply guide I wrote. Now I'm looking for a team lead role, and this position is a great match."
Other opening questions
| Question | Good shape | Example line |
|---|---|---|
| Why do you want to join us? | Something specific about the company + how you fit | I like that you build apps for small shops, and I built two such projects in college. |
| Why should we hire you? | Two or three strengths that match the job, with proof | You need someone calm with customers. In my last job, I handled the complaints desk for a year. |
| Where do you see yourself in five years? | Growth in this field; realistic and linked to the role | I see myself as a senior analyst, maybe leading a small team. |
The STAR method
For questions like "Tell me about a time when you solved a problem", use STAR: Situation (स्थिति: what was happening), Task (काम: what you had to do), Action (क़दम: what YOU did) and Result (नतीजा: what happened, with a number if possible). Say "I", not only "we", so they know your part.
As a result, customer complaints fell by thirty percent in two months.
Say it: az a ri-ZULT, KUS-tum-er kum-PLAYNTS FEL by THUR-tee per-SENT in TOO MUNTHS
इसका नतीजा यह हुआ कि दो महीने में ग्राहकों की शिकायतें तीस प्रतिशत कम हो गईं।
End every STAR answer with a clear result like this.
It was smooth, thank you. The metro was quite fast today.
Say it: it woz SMOOTH, THANK yoo. the MET-roh woz KWYT FAAST to-DAY
सफ़र अच्छा रहा, धन्यवाद। आज मेट्रो काफ़ी तेज़ थी।
A reply to the small talk question "How was your journey?". Answer in one or two friendly sentences, then smile and wait.
Online interviews: test your camera, microphone and internet fifteen minutes early. Sit in a quiet room with a plain background and light on your face. Look at the camera when you speak. Keep your phone silent. If the network drops, stay calm and say: "Sorry, I lost the connection for a moment. Could you repeat the question?"
Watch the lesson
Job interviews: tell me about yourself · 1/7
Hello! Today we prepare for the most common interview question: tell me about yourself.
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In real life: The first minutes of an interview at an accounting firm
Interviewer: Good morning, Rohit. Please have a seat. How was your journey? Rohit: Good morning. It was smooth, thank you. The metro was quite fast today. Interviewer: Good. So, tell me about yourself. Rohit: Sure. I'm a final-year B.Com student in Indore. Last summer, I did a two-month internship at a CA firm, where I prepared GST invoices for ten clients. Rohit: I enjoyed working with numbers and deadlines, so now I'd like to start my career in accounts. Interviewer: Why do you want to join us? Rohit: Your firm works with many small businesses, and I want to learn that side of accounting. I'm also comfortable with Tally and Excel. Interviewer: Where do you see yourself in five years? Rohit: I see myself as a senior accountant here, handling bigger clients and maybe guiding new trainees.
Practice (0/4 done)
Say this opening line confidently, with a smile.
I'm a final-year B.Com student, and I'd like to start my career in accounts.
मैं बी.कॉम फ़ाइनल ईयर का छात्र हूँ, और मैं अकाउंट्स में अपना करियर शुरू करना चाहता हूँ।
Listen and type the sentence.
Write and then say aloud your own answer to "Tell me about yourself" for a job you want. Keep it between 60 and 90 seconds when spoken.
In the STAR method, which part says what YOU did?
Quick quiz
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