“Tell Me About Yourself” – The #1 Mistake and the 3-Minute Fix!

“Tell Me About Yourself” – The #1 Mistake and the 3-Minute Fix! 

You’ve tailored your résumé, aligned it with the job, and earned the interview! Next up: the “tell me about yourself” interview question.

Congratulations! You ARE making progress!

Now comes the next challenge: proving you’re not just qualified, but the perfect fit for the role at the interview.

It’s time to prepare your answer to the #1 interview question that you knew was coming, whether it’s a federal or private-sector interview: 

“Can you tell me about yourself?” 

Most job seekers expect it, but few answer it strategically. 

Instead of using it to lead the conversation and create a sense of connection, they recite their résumé.

They ramble. They talk about their career path without tying it to the job at hand. 

This isn’t a throwaway question.

It’s your opportunity to guide the conversation, connect with your interviewers, and position yourself to land the job! 

This is your moment to bring your resume to life and position yourself as the ideal candidate! And I’ll show you exactly how to do that without memorizing a whole speech. 

You already positioned your value—now build the connection! 

You’ve proven you meet the qualifications. Now the focus shifts. 

Hiring managers already know your background from your resume and any research they have done. What they’re looking for now is: 

• Likability. 

• Communication skills. 

• Culture and team fit. 

• How well you’ve done your research. 

• Whether you understand what matters most to them. 

You’re being evaluated on clarity, connection, and confidence—not just your background. 

This is where you guide the conversation to set yourself apart by showing how you align with their mission, priorities, initiatives, and people.

Some people struggle with talking about themselves, others don’t. But if you are just talking about yourself then that could be why you aren’t landing the job.
 

The Fix: Use My V.I.P. Intro Framework™ to Guide the Conversation 

This is the framework for one of the interview strategies I teach my clients. It’s simple, repeatable, and powerful.

As a result, it consistently transforms shaky answers into powerful first impressions and takes out all the overwhelm. 

The V.I.P. Intro Framework™ helps you bring structure, confidence, and direction to your response. 

V.I.P. Intro is your framework for answering “Tell Me About Yourself” with clarity and IMPACT: 

V – Value Today. Start with your current or most recent role. Share what you do and the results you’ve achieved, including the impact it has had. 

I – Informed Journey. Summarize your career path in 5-7 sentences focusing on what is most relevant to the role and what you have accomplished along the way so they can ‘hear’ what you can do for them.

P – Purpose + Fit. Explain why you’re excited about this opportunity and how it’s the natural next step in your career, why it matters to you, how you align with their mission, values or a current initiative, and how you can contribute.
 

Here’s How The V.I.P. Intro Framework™ for “Tell Me About Yourself” Works 

Value Today: What you’re doing now + results + impact

Lead with your current or most recent role. Give context, results, and measurable outcomes. Make your impact clear. 

Federal example:

“I’m currently a Senior Program Analyst at the Department of the Interior, where I manage agency-wide improvements for grant reporting and compliance. I lead cross-functional efforts that touch over 250,000 beneficiaries.

Last year, I overhauled our regional data collection system, reducing reporting delays by 30% and helping us meet OMB deadlines for the first time in three years. That change improved not just workflow, but our funding credibility with external partners. 

Before this, I served in the Army’s Medical Service Corps and later joined HHS to coordinate pandemic response. I thrive at the intersection of structure, communication, and service. I was especially drawn to this EPA role because of your commitment to environmental justice. That’s the kind of impact I want to support.” 

Private-sector example:

“I’m currently an Operations Director at a global e-commerce company, where I lead a 22-person team focused on last-mile delivery. I introduced a predictive analytics tool that improved delivery accuracy by 18% and cut fuel costs by 9% across five regions. That led to a contract renewal with one of our largest clients, valued at $6.5M annually.” 

Informed Journey: How you got here + relevant accomplishments 

Now give your career context in 4-5 sentences. Don’t tell your entire life story. For example, share the highlights that show why you’re ready for this role. 

Federal example:

“Before that, I served in the Army’s Medical Service Corps, where I led global logistics operations in support of joint humanitarian missions. I managed more than $15M in medical assets and directed teams across three countries.

After transitioning to civilian service, I brought those skills to the Department of Health and Human Services, where I helped build a multi-agency task force to coordinate pandemic response efforts. That role deepened my expertise in interagency communication, compliance, and systems thinking.” 

Private-sector example:

“My background started in quality assurance, where I quickly gravitated toward improving internal processes. At a former employer, I helped reduce onboarding time for new sales reps by 45% through a revamped training program that integrated CRM tools and real-time coaching. That experience helped me transition into operations, where I now combine process improvement, data analytics, and team development to drive long-term growth.” 

Purpose + Fit: Why you’re excited + how you align 

This is where you make it about them. Reference something from the job announcement, their mission, or a current initiative. Tie it directly to your own goals. 

Federal example:

“What drew me to this role with the EPA is your leadership in environmental justice, especially the expansion of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. That kind of data-informed community investment is exactly where I want to contribute. With my experience leading cross-agency coordination efforts and managing complex reporting systems, I see this as a perfect opportunity to bring operational strategy and mission impact together.” 

Private-sector example:

“I was excited to see that your team is rolling out a new sustainability initiative tied to smart packaging. I’ve worked on similar optimization projects, and I’m passionate about reducing waste while maintaining performance. This role combines strategy, collaboration, and innovation, which is where I do my best work. The direction your company is headed really resonates with me.” 

Keep it to 2-3 minutes if you want the interviewer to lean in and say, “Tell me more!”  

This answer is your chance to create a connection. Connecting is how you stand out from every other candidate being interviewed. 

Most people give a safe, surface-level answer. But when you use your response to inspire trust, highlight alignment, and show that you understand what matters most to the organization, you build a bridge that makes the rest of the interview easier. 

Think of your V.I.P. Intro like a perfectly portioned appetizer.

It curbs the hunger pang, but it’s so tasty you want more.

Your V.I.P. Intro should be enough to showcase your value, inspire trust, and position yourself as the ideal person to hire, making them excited to learn more about you! 

You’re not trying to deliver a monologue or hog the spotlight. You’re setting the tone for a two-way conversation. 

And if you’ve followed me for any length of time, you already know my golden rule:

Make it about them…always! 

When you do this well, your interviewer leans in, nods, and says the magic words:

“That’s interesting — can you tell me more about that?” 

That’s when you know you’ve connected and moved from qualified applicant to serious contender. 

Need help practicing this? I’ve got you! 

I’ve created a free worksheet and templates to help you map out your own V.I.P. Intro, including:
 

• Templates and fill-in-the-blank prompts 

• Federal, private-sector, and career-changer examples 

• A checklist to make sure you hit all the right notes 

• Practice tips that help you sound polished but natural 

Grab the Tell Me About Yourself Guide here.

Your résumé positioned your value. 

Now it’s time to nail your interview starting with the answer that shapes the entire conversation and could help you land the job: 

Tell me about yourself. 

You’ve got this!