The interview begins. You’ve prepared, you’re dressed for the part, and then it comes. The seemingly simple, yet incredibly daunting, opening question:
“So, tell me about yourself.”
If your immediate instinct is to start reciting your career history chronologically, stop right there. The single biggest mistake you can make is to say, “Well, my career started back in 2008 at…”
They have your CV. They’ve read it. This isn’t a test of their memory; it’s a test of your relevance. This is your primetime opportunity, the first 60 seconds to tell the story behind the CV and set the tone for the entire conversation.
I see this all the time with my clients. They are seasoned professionals. Project Managers, Senior Analysts and Team Leads with years of incredible experience, yet this question causes a crisis of confidence. They default to a dry summary of their job titles, completely missing the chance to make a powerful first impression.
Let me reframe this for you. This question is your chance to connect the dots for the hiring manager and prove, from the very start, that you are the solution to their problem.
To nail this, I coach my clients to use a simple, powerful framework: Present – Past – Future.
It’s concise, compelling, and transforms your answer from a nervous monologue into a confident, strategic narrative.
1. Present: Start with Who You Are, Right Now
Don’t start at the beginning of your career. Start with where you are now and what you do.
Begin with your current role and title, giving a high-level summary of your position. This sets the immediate context without getting lost in details too early.
For example, a client of mine, a Senior Manager in finance, used to start with his first graduate job. We reframed it.
His new opening sounded like this:
“I’m currently a Senior Project Manager at a global financial services firm. I’ve been in this role for the last 3 years and I’ve successfully achieved my goals within this role.”
This immediately establishes his seniority and stability. The hiring manager is now primed to hear how he has been successful, which you will touch upon next.
2. Past: Briefly Connect the Dots That Led You Here
This is not a detailed walk through every job you’ve ever had. This is the “why.”
Briefly mention the key experiences from your past that have equipped you with the skills needed for this role. You are creating a narrative arc.
Think about the 2-3 most relevant roles or experiences that directly relate to the job description in front of you. Connect them with a theme. Perhaps you’ve always been drawn to complex problem-solving or leading teams through technological change.
Following on from the example above:
“My career has been focused on navigating complex change within highly regulated environments. Before my current role, I spent five years at a Big Four firm where I honed my skills in stakeholder management on large-scale transformation projects. That experience taught me how to align technical teams with executive-level business objectives, which has been critical to my success.”
See how this connects his experience thematically? He’s not just listing jobs; he’s explaining how his past has prepared him for the present and, by extension, the future role.
3. Future: Explain Why You Are Here and What You Bring
This is the crucial final step. You’ve shown what you do and how you got here. Now, you need to explain why you want this specific opportunity.
This demonstrates your ambition, your research, and your genuine interest. Connect your skills and aspirations directly to the company and the role.
The finishing touch:
“The reason I’m so interested in this particular opportunity at your company is because it perfectly aligns with my experience in navigating complex change. I’m excited by the prospect of applying my skills to the challenges in the fintech space, and I’m confident I can bring my track record of success to your team.”
This final piece is what seals the deal. It’s forward-looking and shows you’re not just looking for any job, but this job.
Putting It All Together
When you combine the Present, Past, and Future, you get a response that is compelling, under 90 seconds, and perfectly pitched. It tells the hiring manager exactly what they need to know: who you are, what you’ve achieved, how you’re relevant, and why you’re here.
If you find yourself dreading this question or feel your interview performance is holding you back, it might be time for a new approach.
Feeling stuck and unsure how to tell your career story?
Book a free, no-obligation 30-minute consultation with me.
We can discuss where you are now, where you want to go, and how to build the confidence to get there.