Tackling common interview questions: Tell me about yourself

“Tell me about yourself” is one of the most common interview questions in any industry. Software engineers can expect to answer this question at each stage of an interview and even multiple times during a single onsite. Your answer offers a glimpse into who you are and is often the basis for an interviewer's first impressions. 

Here’s what you need to know to craft the perfect pitch. 

Why the “tell me about yourself” question is so important

First impressions matter. Since this is often the first question you’ll answer, you want the interviewer to see you as a confident communicator. Get them excited to learn more about you. An excellent answer to this question allows you to weave a story that positions you as the ideal candidate.

A solid response: 

• Highlights what you bring to the table. While your resume provides a snapshot of your experiences, the "tell me about yourself" answer allows you to connect the dots, explaining how your journey makes you a perfect fit for the role and the company. 
• Shows you’re a culture fit. Infuse your answer with personal insights and enthusiasm, offering a glimpse of your personality. Your answer can show your potential fit within the team and the organization.
• Helps you stand out from the crowd. A memorable and authentic answer can make you stand out by highlighting your unique blend of experiences, skills, and personality.
• Sets the tone for the interview. This question is one of the few moments in an interview where you have complete control over the narrative. It's an invitation to direct the interviewer's attention to the strengths and experiences you most want to highlight.

How to build your pitch

When building your pitch, you should develop two versions: a short one-minute pitch and a longer, more thorough walk-through of your work history. Don’t use the same pitch for every interview—adjust your pitch to the job, company, and interviewer.

Step 1: Introduce yourself as a software engineer

Lead with the title of the role in the job description. A recruiter is targeting a specific profile, and if you don’t align with that profile, the recruiter may overlook you for the role.

Don't say, “Hello. I’m a data analyst trying to transition to software engineering.”

Do say, “Hello. I’m a software engineer with a strong background in data.”

Step 2: Summarize your experience level and technical focus

One of the main goals for the recruiter is to level you properly. You should briefly summarize your career progression. Share your years of experience, titles, and if you were an individual contributor or tech lead/manager, as well as your area of expertise.

For example, “I’m a senior software engineer at Reddit with over six years of industry experience. Currently, I am the tech lead of my team of six product engineers, and my team is responsible for all of the Ads you see on Reddit.”

Step 3: Include an impact-focused highlight

Avoid listing responsibilities, but do create a 1-2 sentence highlight of an achievement you are proud of.

Don’t say, “I was responsible for a refactoring project that touched over a thousand files.”

Do say, “I consolidated APIs used across three teams, which significantly reduced the complexity of maintaining the codebase and allowed the eng team to ship new features 2x faster because the documentation was unified.”

Step 4: Education

If you have a technical degree or have completed an engineering bootcamp, mention it. If there’s brand recognition around the university, include it. If you’re self-taught, share what sparked your interest in coding.

Don’t say:

• I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2021 and have been looking for a job ever since.
• I attended San Jose State for a few semesters but never graduated.
• I have a degree in political science from U of Illinois.

Do say:

• I hold a degree in computer science from UC Berkeley.
• I completed a Fullstack Bootcamp at General Assembly.
• I hold an Electrical Engineering degree from UMich and completed a software engineering immersive program in 2019.
• I’m a self-taught engineer. I learned how to program in middle school by building little video games for my friends. 

A successful answer to a common interview question

The “tell me about yourself” question doesn’t have to trip you up. Focus on what makes you stand out: your unique mix of skills, your work achievements, and a bit of your personality. 

Be clear, be yourself, and connect the dots between your past work and what you can do for them. Every interview is a chance to show you're not just another candidate—you're the one they need.

Need more? Get holistic interview prep with Formation

The Formation Fellowship gives job seekers everything they need to land their dream roles—including mock interviews with experienced software engineers and hiring managers from top-tier tech companies. 

If you’re having trouble navigating your job search on your own, apply here and get unconditional support from a team of engineering mentors, technical recruiters, career coaches, and more.