How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" in a UK Interview

Almost every UK interview opens with some version of "Tell me about yourself". It feels easy, yet it is where many candidates ramble, recite their CV or go too personal. Done well, it sets the tone for the whole conversation.

What the interviewer really wants

They are not asking for your life story. They want a short, relevant summary that shows you understand the role, can communicate clearly and have the experience to do the job. Aim for 60 to 90 seconds.

A simple structure: present, past, future

• Present: your current role or situation and one or two strengths that matter for this job.

• Past: two or three relevant achievements or experiences that brought you here.

• Future: why this role and this organisation are the logical next step.

Example answer

I am currently a finance assistant at a mid-sized manufacturing firm, where I manage accounts payable and month-end reconciliations. Over the last three years I reduced our invoice processing time by around a quarter by tidying up our approval workflow, and I completed my AAT Level 4. I am now looking for a role where I can take on more reporting responsibility, which is why your management accountant position appeals to me.

Mistakes to avoid

• Reading your CV aloud from start to finish.

• Sharing personal details that are not relevant, such as family or health.

• Being vague. Use specific, concrete examples instead.

• Speaking for more than two minutes.

Practise your answer out loud until it feels natural but not memorised. On UK Interview Prep Pro you can see model answers to this and hundreds of other questions for your exact role.