Tell me about yourself: how to answer in a job interview

Why they ask you to talk about yourself

The question sounds open, but it has a clear purpose. The employer wants to hear how you sum yourself up, what you choose to highlight and whether you can connect your background to the job. It says a lot about how you communicate and whether you have understood what the role involves.

It also works as a warm-up. Interviews in Norway often start with a little small talk and a short presentation of the company and the role, and then it is your turn. A good answer here makes you feel more confident and gives the interviewers something to follow up on. So it is a good idea to mention things you would like to talk more about later.

The tone in Norwegian interviews is usually calm and matter-of-fact. You do not need to sell yourself with big words. Concrete facts about what you have done do that job for you.

A simple formula: now, then and why this job

The easiest way to structure your answer is in three parts. Start with where you are today, go briefly back to what brought you there, and finish with why you are applying for this particular job.

The order matters. If you start with your childhood or school years, you spend your time on what is least relevant. If you start with the present, the interviewers know straight away who they are talking to. The ending is what they remember best, so make sure you land on the job instead of just trailing off.

• Now: What do you do today, or what are you studying? Mention your role, the kind of tasks you have and perhaps one responsibility you are proud of.
• Then: Which education or experience brought you here? Choose one or two points that are relevant to the job, not everything.
• Why this job: What is it about the role or the employer that made you apply? Link it to something you can do and something you want.

How long should you talk?

Aim for one to two minutes. That is roughly 150 to 250 words at a calm pace. Less than a minute gives the interviewers little to work with, and more than two minutes means they start to lose the thread.

Time yourself when you practise. Most people talk for longer than they think, especially when they are nervous. If the interviewers want to know more, they will ask. It is better that they ask for more than that they have to interrupt you.

Example 1: You have experience and want to move up

The situation: you have worked in the same industry for a few years and are applying for a role with more responsibility. Here is an example from someone applying to be a buyer:

“I work as a purchasing assistant for a building supplies chain in Trondheim, where I am responsible for agreements with around twenty suppliers. Before that I did a bachelor's degree in logistics, and I started at the chain as a part-time warehouse worker while I was studying. That gave me a good understanding of what happens when a delivery does not arrive. Over the past year I have led the renegotiation of several agreements, and that is the part of the job I enjoy most. That is why I am applying to be a buyer with you. I want to work more with negotiations, and you have a wider range of products than the ones I work with today.”

Notice that the answer has one specific responsibility, a short background and a clear reason for applying. It contains no words like “passionate” or “solution-oriented”. The examples show those qualities instead.

Example 2: You have just graduated

As a recent graduate you have less work experience to point to, so your degree, projects and part-time jobs get more space. Here is an example from someone applying for their first job as a marketing coordinator:

“I finished my bachelor's degree in marketing this spring. I wrote my thesis on how small online shops use email to bring customers back, and I interviewed six shop owners for it. Alongside my studies I have worked in a shop for four years, the last two as a shift supervisor, so I am used to dealing with customers and taking charge when it is busy. I am applying to you because the role combines analysis and content, and because you sell directly to consumers, which is what I know best from both my degree and the shop.”

Here the thesis and the part-time job do the same work that experience does for others. You will find more tips in the guide on CVs for recent graduates.

Example 3: You have moved to Norway or changed direction

If you have recently moved to Norway, changed industry or been out of work for a while, it is wise to mention it yourself, briefly and without apologising. That way the interviewers do not have to wonder, and you decide how it is explained. Here is an example from a project coordinator who has moved to Oslo:

“I worked as a project coordinator at an engineering firm in Manchester for six years, mostly on infrastructure projects with many subcontractors. My partner is Norwegian, and we moved to Oslo last year. Since then I have been taking Norwegian classes three evenings a week, and I can follow meetings in Norwegian, although I still write more confidently in English. I am applying because your projects are very similar to the ones I ran in the UK, and your team works in English, so I can contribute from day one while my Norwegian keeps improving.”

If you have had a break because of illness, caring for children or unemployment, one sentence is enough: “I was at home with my children for two years, and now I am ready to come back.” There is more on this in the guide on gaps in your CV.

Common mistakes when you talk about yourself

Most mistakes come down to the answer being too long, or not focused enough on the job. Look out for these when you practise:

• You retell your whole CV in chronological order. The interviewers have already read it.
• You start too far back, for example with where you grew up or your school years.
• You spend a lot of time on family and hobbies. One sentence is enough, if you want to include it.
• You speak negatively about your current or former employer.
• You list qualities like “responsible, flexible and positive” without examples.
• You apologise at length for your Norwegian. Say briefly what your level is and move on.
• You have memorised the answer word for word, so it sounds like a speech.
• You stop abruptly without saying why you are applying.

Practise your answer out loud before the interview

Write down keywords for the three parts, not full sentences. Say the answer out loud a few times, time it and adjust. It helps to record yourself on your phone and listen afterwards. You will quickly hear if you spend too many words on what matters least.

Adapt the answer to each job. The first two parts are often quite similar from interview to interview, but the last part has to be rewritten every time. It should show that you have read the ad. See also the guide on common interview questions, since your answer here often leads straight into them.

If you want to practise with feedback, Selja has Interview practice, where the questions are built from the job ad and your CV. You answer by speaking or writing, and get feedback on each answer and a report at the end. Interview practice is included in Premium.