There’s a Right Way to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself.” Most Candidates Get It Wrong.
Interview committees ask very specific questions for very specific reasons — and most candidates walk in without knowing what those reasons are. Here is one of the most common mistakes we see, and how we fix it.
Interview Answers Have a Structure. Most Candidates Never Learn It.
Every question on an admissions panel is asked for a reason. If you do not know that reason, you end up answering the question that was technically asked — while completely missing what the committee actually wanted to learn about you.
“Tell Me About Yourself”
This is usually the very first question in the room — and the one candidates prepare for the least, because it feels the most casual. It is not casual. Here is what we see, and what actually works.
They ramble. They start with where they were born, then walk through their entire CV step by step — undergrad, dental school, every job, every year — slowly working their way to the present.
- Recites the CV the panel is already holding
- Chronological, not purposeful
- No sense of who they are as a person
The committee asks this question to get to know the person, not the paperwork. A strong answer balances who you are professionally with who you are personally — the journey and the human being behind it.
- Answers the real question, not just the words
- Purposeful, not a timeline
- Leaves the panel knowing who you are
This Is One Question Out of Many We Cover
“Tell me about yourself” is just the start. Our Interview Preparation program walks you through the questions committees actually ask, how to structure your answer to each one, and the vibe to carry into the room.
Walk Into Your Interview Knowing Exactly What to Say
Interview Preparation with Dr. T and Dr. Slesnick — live, one-on-one coaching built around the questions committees actually ask.