Why Interviewers Ask This Question
- •To break the ice and make you comfortable
- •To assess your communication skills and how you present yourself
- •To understand your professional journey and career trajectory
- •To gauge if your background aligns with the role requirements
- •To see what you choose to highlight about yourself
How to Structure Your Answer: PRESENT Method
A structured approach specifically designed for this question that keeps your answer focused, relevant, and compelling.
- 1
Present - Who you are professionally right now
- 2
Relevant - Recent accomplishments and responsibilities
- 3
Experience - Key experiences that shaped your expertise
- 4
Skills - Core competencies relevant to this role
- 5
Enthusiasm - Why you're excited about this opportunity
- 6
Next - Where you want to go (why this role)
- 7
Transition - Smooth handoff to interviewer
Generic vs. Personalized Answer
Generic Answer
What most candidates say
"I'm a software engineer with 5 years of experience. I've worked on various projects involving web development and databases. I enjoy coding and solving problems. I graduated from a good university with a degree in Computer Science. I'm a team player and I work hard. I'm looking for new opportunities to grow my career."
Why this falls short:
- •Too vague - "various projects" doesn't tell the interviewer anything specific
- •No quantifiable achievements or impact
- •Doesn't explain WHY you're interested in THIS company or role
- •Generic platitudes ("team player", "work hard") that everyone says
- •No clear narrative connecting your past to this opportunity
- •Misses chance to highlight unique value proposition
Personalized Answer
Based on your specific experiences
I'm currently a Senior Software Engineer at TechCorp, where I lead the payments infrastructure team serving 2 million daily transactions. What drew me to this space was a project during my first role at StartupXYZ — I built a real-time fraud detection system that reduced chargebacks by 60%, and I realized I loved the intersection of scale, security, and financial systems. Over the past 5 years, I've specialized in building resilient distributed systems. At TechCorp, I architected our microservices migration that improved our payment success rate from 94% to 99.2% — that 5% improvement translates to $12M in recovered revenue annually. I'm particularly drawn to your company because you're solving payment challenges in emerging markets, which combines my technical expertise with my passion for financial inclusion. I noticed your recent expansion into Southeast Asia, and having built similar systems for international markets, I'm excited about the unique scaling challenges you're tackling.
Why this works:
- •Opens with current role and specific scope (2M daily transactions)
- •Tells a compelling origin story showing genuine interest in the domain
- •Quantifies impact with concrete numbers (60% reduction, $12M revenue)
- •Demonstrates expertise progression (individual contributor → team lead → architect)
- •Shows research about the company (emerging markets, Southeast Asia expansion)
- •Connects personal experience directly to company needs
- •Natural, conversational tone without generic buzzwords
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- •Starting with childhood or irrelevant personal history
- •Reciting your entire resume chronologically
- •Talking for more than 2 minutes (aim for 90 seconds)
- •Focusing only on technical skills without showing passion or fit
- •Not tailoring the answer to the specific company and role
- •Being too modest about achievements (especially common in some cultures)
- •Using filler words and lacking confidence in delivery
Expert Tips
- •Practice out loud, not just in your head — timing and flow matter
- •Record yourself and watch it back to catch nervous habits
- •Have 2-3 versions ready: 60 seconds (elevator pitch), 90 seconds (standard), 2 minutes (detailed)
- •End with a question or transition that gives control back to interviewer
- •Update your answer for each company based on their mission and challenges
- •Use the word "I" confidently — this is YOUR story
- •Smile while speaking (even on phone interviews) — it changes your tone
The Psychology Behind Interview Success
Daniel Kahneman
Thinking, Fast and Slow (2011)
Your opening answer sets the tone. Practice until your first 30 seconds are polished and confident—it creates a halo effect for everything that follows.
Amy Cuddy
Presence (2015)
Lead with warmth, not just credentials. Smile genuinely, show enthusiasm, acknowledge others' contributions before showcasing your own.
Robert Cialdini
Influence (1984)
Give value in the interview—share insights, offer ideas, show genuine interest in their challenges. Don't just take (ask for job) without giving (demonstrating value).
Elizabeth Loftus
Eyewitness Testimony Research (1970s-present)
Include specific details in your stories (dates, numbers, names). Vague answers feel fabricated; vivid details feel authentic.
From Our Blog
Why Most Candidates Bomb the 'Any Questions?' Moment (And the 5 Questions That Actually Work)
The 'Any questions for us?' moment separates good candidates from great ones. Here's why most people get it wrong and the five questions that actually impress hiring managers.
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