“Tell me something interesting about you” (With 25 Examples)
Most likely, the interviewer will start by asking you a few questions to break the ice. These kinds of questions can put you at ease and help the interviewer get to know you better. If you know how to answer these kinds of questions, you can seem more sure of yourself.
This article talks about why employers ask, “Tell me something interesting about yourself,” and gives examples of answers you can use as ideas.
Why do employers say, “Tell me something interesting about yourself”?
“Tell me something interesting about yourself” is a question that employers ask to break the ice and find out more about you as a person. You can use this question to start a conversation about something interesting you did at work or in your life. You can also stand out by giving an answer that shows a skill that no one else has. Come up with a unique answer to make yourself stand out as a candidate.
How to answer “Tell me something interesting about you”
Follow these steps when asked in an interview to tell something interesting about yourself:
1. Think back on what you’ve done before.
Think about what you’ve done in the past when you’re trying to think of something interesting about yourself. You might realize that you did something special or learned a skill that no one else has. For example, you may remember a trip where you learned how to surf. If you tell this fun fact, it could show that you are open to new experiences and like to try new things.
2. Choose something related to the job.
Choose a fact that has something to do with the job you’re applying for. Talking about a fun trip can show that you’re open to new experiences. Sharing a unique skill you have can show that you like to learn new things. When you answer this question, find a way to talk about your strengths and skills. Think about how your interesting fact shows who you are as a person and as a worker when you choose it.
3. Make it fun and also important.
When an employer asks, “Tell me something interesting about yourself,” they can learn a lot about you. Choose something interesting and fun to talk about. Even a joke can be part of your answer. Keep it both fun and business-like. That’s the main thing to keep in mind. Since you are talking to an employer, you should only talk about work-related things.
How to respond
You can get ideas for your own answers by looking at these:
Example 1: Marine biologist
“When I was seven, the bottom of my foot was bitten by a small shark. As my family rushed me to the hospital, I kept thinking about how cool the shark looked. After this, some people might be afraid of the ocean. It was the first thing that made me curious about sea life.”
Example 2: A Spanish teacher
“Even though English is my first language, I can only speak Spanish in my dreams. I saw this happen after I got my master’s degree in Spanish. It helps me keep my language skills up-to-date.”
Example 3: Graphic designer
“I won a contest for making a book cover in my last year of college. The cover of a book that made the New York Times Best Seller list has one of my paintings on it.”
Example 4: A fireman
“Every year for the past five years, I’ve done an Iron Man race. I find that training for the race makes me both physically and mentally ready for anything.”
Example 5: Nanny
“When I first started out in this field, I was a nanny for famous people. I learned a lot about my job and about how busy some families’ lives can be.”
Makeup artist (Example 6)
“I did the makeup for the host of the Met Gala last year. Putting on makeup that went with the theme of the event was so much fun.”
Example 7: Accountant
“For an accountant, it may seem like a cliche that I know the first 500 digits of pi. The idea of pi is so interesting to me.”
Example 8: The company’s leader
“I can speak English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Mandarin Chinese, as well as English, Spanish, and Italian. This makes it easier for me to do business with people from other countries.”
People who study food are called
“I spent three months in Japan so I could learn how to make sushi. I’m always looking for ways to find out more about food.”
Example 10: Horticulturist
“I collect samples of wildflowers from all over the world. I press them down and put them in a book. I could tell you what each one was called without looking at the labels. My collection has between 100 and 200 species.”
Example 11: Pet walker
“I went to Alaska so I could race sled dogs. I came in second place in the beginner’s group. I liked that the huskies were smart and cute.”
Example 12: Bank teller
“I’ve saved up more than 300 rare coins. My goal is to find an American-made penny from the first year they were made.”
Example 13: Floral designer
“Last spring, I went to the Netherlands to see the tulips in full bloom. As a florist, this was one of the best times I’ve ever had. I liked how the flowers were all different and had different colors.”
Example 14: Dancer
“I danced in the background during the main act at the New Year’s Eve party in New York City in 2015. It was a lot of fun. I had two weeks to learn the routine, which was both hard and a lot of fun.”
Example 15: Librarian
“I read one book a week last year. I want to double that amount this year. This goal has helped me learn new words and given me a fresh perspective on life and books.”
Example 16: Civil engineer
“I won an award for having the most creative design for my college capstone project. I was excited to start my job as a civil engineer because of this.”
Example 17: Doctor
“I helped more than 1,000 people while I worked for Doctors Without Borders for two years. I learned a lot about life during this time in my career.”
Example 18: A nutritionist
“Later this year, I’ll publish my first cookbook. It has a lot of healthy recipes that are easy to make. I can’t wait to share what I know about food with other people.”
Example 19: Website designer
“I taught myself how to code when I was 15 years old. When I was in college, many of my professors asked me to help them plan their lessons. I thought that was a great way to find out something.”
Example 20: Telemarketer
“When I was in high school, I won the national competition for the forensics club. I got better at persuading people and talking in front of a crowd by training for this competition.”
Example 21: Retail manager
“Almost always, when I guess how much something costs, I’m right. I can do this fun party trick because I know how clothes are made and what materials are used.”
Example 22: Social media manager
“By spreading the word on social media, I was able to raise $10,000 for an animal rescue charity. I can’t believe how many great things we can do with social media. If you have good writing and interesting pictures in a social media post, you can do a lot with it.”
Example 23: Hotel clerk
“I’ve been to and lived on six of the seven continents. I think this has taught me about other cultures and helped me understand how different they are. I want to go to Antarctica one day and watch the penguins swim.”
Example 24: Biologist
“I have seven pets at home. They include two dogs, two cats, a snake, a lizard, and a hedgehog. I like finding out how they act and finding the best places for them to live.”
Example 25: A car repairman
“When we have free time, my husband and I like to ride our motorcycle with a sidecar around town. We see a lot of laughs and smiles when we drive by people. We put the motorcycle back together from scratch by working together.”
