The simplest answer to “tell me about yourself” has three steps: present, past, future. Start with what you do now, add the experience that got you there, and finish with the work you want next. Each step is one or two short sentences, so the whole answer takes about a minute and the listener knows your trade, your experience and your goal.
This guide shows the formula, three examples for different trades, and how to make the answer shorter or longer. The same words work as a live answer in an interview and as the script for a self-introduction video.
What the formula is, and why employers ask the question
The Australian Government’s advice for job seekers says employers ask this question to get an idea of who you are, your work-related experience and skills, and how you will fit into the team. It is not a request for your life story. Tahatū Career Navigator, New Zealand’s government careers service, gives a short version of the same advice: summarise your work experience and qualifications and talk about your goals.
That advice already has a shape. Work now and qualifications are the present. Work experience is the past. Goals are the future. The formula only puts them in a clear order, so you do not have to decide what to say first while you are nervous.
Step 1: present, what you do now
Begin with your trade and the work you do every day. If you are between jobs, say the trade you work in and the kind of work you do best. Use plain words: “I am a welder. I weld steel frames for factory buildings.” Do not start with “I am a hard-working and motivated person”. The listener cannot check that yet.
Step 2: past, the experience that proves it
Now give the years, the kind of sites or kitchens, and one example. The Australian advice says you can use this question to highlight your past experience and show you have the skills for the job, with examples that relate to the job you are applying for. Pick the example from your own list, not from a book. If it helps, use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) in two sentences.
A licence or ticket belongs here too. The same advice says to list relevant licences with the expiry date of each one, so check the date before you say it aloud. Never name a licence you do not hold.
Step 3: future, the work you want next
End with one honest reason you want this job, using the words in the job ad. The Australian advice says to use the same keywords the employer uses. Keep it about the work, not about the visa or the pay. Then stop. A clear last sentence tells the listener you are finished and it is their turn.
The formula in one table
| Step | Question it answers | What to include | Leave out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | What do you do now? | Trade, type of work, current or last workplace type | Age, family, religion |
| Past | Why should I believe you? | Years, one real example, a licence you hold | Every job you ever had |
| Future | Why this job? | One reason that matches the job ad | Pay, visa, complaints about old employers |
The Human Rights Commission in New Zealand says an employer should not generally ask about your age, date of birth, or partner and children. You do not need to offer them either.
Three examples for different trades
These examples are not real people. Replace every detail with your own true facts.
A welder
An example for a welder: “I am a welder. I weld steel frames and platforms for factory buildings, mostly with MIG and stick. For [number] years I have worked in a fabrication workshop, and last year I fixed a cracked frame before the delivery date by cutting out the bad weld and testing the new one. I hold [name of your welding ticket]. Now I want to work on site-built structures, which is why your advertisement caught my eye.”
A cook
An example for a cook: “I am a cook. I work the grill and sauce sections in a hotel kitchen. I have [number] years in busy kitchens, and I plan my prep list the night before so service starts on time. I hold [name of your food safety certificate]. Next I want to join a team that cooks fresh food every day, and that is what your advertisement describes.”
A care worker
An example for a care worker: “I am a care worker. I help older people with daily routines, meals and mobility. For [number] years I have worked in a residential home, where I learned to notice small changes and report them to the senior staff. Now I want to work in a smaller team where I can know each person well.”
Make it shorter or longer
The same three steps stretch and shrink. Choose the length from the situation, and keep the order.
- Short, about 30 seconds. One sentence for each step. Use it in a phone call, at a job fair or when a form allows only a short clip. The SelfIntroVideo script length of 90 to 160 words is about 30 to 60 seconds.
- Standard, about 60 seconds. Two sentences for the present, three for the past with one example, and two for the future. Tahatū advises preparing a short talk about yourself that takes no more than 60 seconds to say.
- Long, up to 90 seconds. Add a second example in the past step. Tahatū says video CVs are usually 1 to 3 minutes long, but the Australian advice says to keep a video resume under 2 minutes, because attention spans drop with anything longer. Do not go further than 90 seconds in a live interview unless you are asked for more.
For help with the word count, read how long a self-introduction video should be.
How to build your own answer, step by step
- Write one sentence for each step, present, past and future, in your own words.
- Read the job ad again and choose the past example that matches it best. Tahatū advises re-reading the job description before an interview.
- Add the second sentence to the past step: the licence, the machine or the result.
- Say the answer aloud and time it on your phone. Cut any word that does not help the listener.
- Practise on a friend or family member. The Australian advice says to practise your answers with someone you trust.
- Film it once on your phone and watch it back. Our guide to recording a self-introduction video on your phone covers light, sound and framing.
Common mistakes with present, past, future
- Starting in the past. “I was born in a small town” is not the present step. Begin with the work you do now.
- Making the past a full CV. One example is enough. Your written CV, which a tool such as Build AI CV can help you write, holds the rest.
- Skipping the future. An answer that stops at the past feels unfinished. Close with the work you want.
- Using one script for every job. Change the future step each time, so it matches the ad.
- Exaggerating. The Human Rights Commission says an employer can withdraw a job offer if false or misleading information, such as exaggerated qualifications or experience, is discovered.
From the formula to a live interview and a video
In a live interview, use the formula as your first answer and let the interviewer ask for more. If you do not understand the question, you can ask for it to be explained or repeated. For the greeting and the sound check, read how to introduce yourself in a video interview. If you practise for interviews, InterviewTraining.ai offers mock interviews where you can try the answer.
Our tell me about yourself answers for tradespeople use a four-part version of the same idea, and the 60-second scripts give more lines for five trades.
How the SelfIntroVideo app helps with this step
SelfIntroVideo is an Android app that is coming soon and is not on Google Play yet; an iPhone version is coming later. It needs a Talent Tabloid account and writes a script from your profile, which you can edit, practise with the teleprompter and record again. See how it works for the steps.
Rules and requirements can change. Check the official government website before you act.
Frequently asked questions
What is the present, past, future formula?
It is a three-step answer to “tell me about yourself”. You say what you do now, the experience that proves it, and the work you want next. Each step is one or two sentences, so the answer stays short and the order is easy to remember.
Should I start with my past if my current job is not in my trade?
Start with the trade you want to work in and the kind of work you do best, then use the past step for your real experience. Be honest about the gap. You can say you are looking for work in your trade and that you have kept your skills up.
How long should the answer be?
About one minute suits most interviews and most videos. A short version of about 30 seconds works for a phone call or a short clip, and a longer one can reach 90 seconds if the listener asks for more detail.
Can I use the same answer in a video and in a live interview?
Yes. The order is the same. In a live interview, speak to the person and pause for questions. In a video, look at the camera, because Tahatū advises looking at the camera to make virtual eye contact.
Do I need to mention hobbies or family?
No. The Australian advice says you can mention hobbies that say something good about you, such as a team sport, but it is optional. Leave out family and religion, since employers should not generally ask about them.
Key takeaways
- Say the answer in three steps: present, past, future.
- Give one real example in the past step, with a licence only if you hold it.
- Match the future step to the job ad and keep pay and visa talk out of it.
- Keep it to about a minute and practise it aloud before you film or speak.
- Be honest: exaggerated experience can cost you a job offer.
