Free guides • By Akshit Nag, Soft Skills & Communication Trainer • 15 November 2026
How to introduce yourself in an interview
“Tell me about yourself” is usually the first question in an interview, and it sets the tone for everything after it. A good answer takes 60 to 90 seconds and follows a clear structure. You do not need perfect English. You need a clear order and a calm pace.
Use the present, past, future structure
- Present: who you are now. Your current role or course, and what you mainly do.
- Past: one or two achievements or experiences that are relevant to this job. Give a result if you can.
- Future: why you want this role and what you hope to do in it.
Example answer
“I’m currently a final-year business student, and I lead the marketing team of our college fest. Last year I ran our social media campaign, and registrations went up by about 30 percent. Before that I did a two-month internship in sales, where I learned to speak with customers every day. I’m now looking for a marketing role where I can combine those two things, and that’s why this position interests me.”
Notice what the answer does not include: your school marks, your family background, or every line of your CV. The interviewer has read your CV already.
Common mistakes
- Reciting the CV. Pick two highlights and tell the story behind them.
- Speaking for three minutes. Stop at around 90 seconds. The interviewer will ask for more if they want it.
- Starting with “Myself…”. Say “I’m…” or “My name is…”.
- Filling silence with “um” and “basically”. A one-second pause sounds more confident than a filler word.
- Ending without a link to the job. Finish with one line on why this role fits you.
How to practise
- Write three bullet points only: present, past, future. Do not write full sentences.
- Say the answer out loud and time it. Aim for 60 to 90 seconds.
- Listen back or read the transcript. Count your filler words.
- Repeat two or three times. Change the wording each time so it does not sound memorised.
Try this out loud with Rehearse, our free practice tool.