“Tell me about yourself” – It’s the question that opens almost every job interview, from a tech startup in Yaba to a multinational bank in Sandton. It sounds simple, almost like a casual greeting.
But don't be fooled. This is not an invitation to share your life story, your family history, or your favourite football club. In the context of a Nigerian or African job interview, this question is a carefully calibrated test. It’s your first and best opportunity to make a powerful impression, to set the tone for the entire conversation, and to prove, in about 90 seconds, that you are the right person for the job.
Many talented candidates falter here. They either ramble, undersell themselves, or share irrelevant personal details. This guide is designed to ensure you are not one of them. We will break down this crucial question, providing you with a powerful, culturally aware framework to craft a compelling answer that resonates with Nigerian and African employers. This is your ultimate resource for mastering the most important question in your job search.
Deconstructing “Tell me about yourself”
When a Nigerian interviewer asks, “Tell me about yourself,” they are not asking for your biography. They are asking a series of implicit questions rolled into one simple phrase:
- “Can you communicate effectively?” Your ability to answer this question clearly, concisely, and confidently is a direct reflection of your professional communication skills.
- “Are you confident and professional?” They are assessing your composure, your “steeze.” Do you project an aura of competence and self-assurance?
- “What is your value proposition?” This is the core of it. They want a high-level summary of your career that immediately tells them why you are a strong candidate.
- “Do you understand this role and our company?” A great answer is never generic. It is tailored to show that you have done your research and understand what they are looking for.
- “Will you fit into our work culture?” Your tone, your choice of words, and the way you frame your experience give them clues about your professional demeanor and whether you'll integrate well with the team.
In the African professional context, there's a strong emphasis on respect, clarity, and getting to the point. An answer that is direct, professional, and value-focused will always outperform one that is vague or overly personal.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Before we build the perfect answer, let's clear the ground by highlighting the common traps that candidates fall into. Avoiding these mistakes is half the battle.
- The “Life Story” Blunder: This is perhaps the most common mistake. Resist the urge to start from your childhood or share details about your family. Phrases like, “I was born in Lagos…” or “I am the firstborn of my family…” are immediate red flags. The interviewer is not your biographer; they are a business partner assessing your potential.
- Reciting Your CV Word-for-Word: The interviewer has your CV in front of them. They don't need you to read it to them. Your answer should bring your CV to life, providing context and narrative, not just repeating bullet points.
- Being Overly Humble or Vague: While humility is a virtue, an interview is not the place for it. Avoid vague statements like, “I'm a hard worker” or “I'm a team player.” These are clichés. You must provide concrete evidence and achievements.
- Oversharing Personal Details: Do not discuss your marital status, religion, political views, or personal challenges. This is considered unprofessional and can make the interviewer uncomfortable.
- Appearing Unprepared: Answering with a question like, “What do you want to know?” or “Where should I start?” signals a lack of preparation. You should have a polished, ready-to-go answer.
- Sounding Robotic or Memorized: While you must prepare, your delivery should be natural and conversational. Practice your answer until it flows smoothly, but don't memorize it to the point that it sounds like a script.
- Forgetting Non-Verbal Cues: Your body language speaks volumes. Slouching, avoiding eye contact, or fidgeting can undermine even the most well-crafted answer.
The “Present – Past – Future” Model
The most effective way to structure your answer is the universally acclaimed “Present – Past – Future” model. It's a simple, logical, and powerful framework that allows you to tell a compelling career story in a concise manner.
Let's break down each component.
The Present: Who You Are Professionally, Right Now
Start with a strong, confident opening that summarizes your current professional identity.
- Formula: Your Title/Specialization + Years of Experience + Key Area of Expertise.
- What to include:
- Your current job title and the company you work for (if you're employed).
- A brief overview of your core responsibilities and expertise, focusing on what's most relevant to the job you are interviewing for.
- Mention one or two key skills that define you as a professional.
Example:
“Good morning. My name is Chiamaka Eze. I am currently a Senior Software Developer at Interswitch with over six years of experience, specializing in building secure payment gateways and scalable backend systems using Java and Spring Boot.”
This opening is powerful because it's direct, packed with relevant keywords (Software Developer, payment gateways, Java), and immediately establishes her as an experienced professional.
The Past: How You Got Here (Your Relevant Experience)
Next, briefly touch on your past experiences to provide context and evidence for your skills. This is where you connect the dots for the interviewer, showing them the journey that has prepared you for this role.
- Formula: Mention a Previous Role + Highlight a Key, Quantifiable Achievement.
- What to include:
- Don't just list your previous jobs. Select one or two past experiences that are most relevant.
- Focus on achievements, not just duties. How did you add value?
- Quantify your success. Use numbers, percentages, and metrics to demonstrate your impact. This is critical.
Example (Continuing from above):
“Before my time at Interswitch, I was a developer at Paystack. It was there that I honed my skills in API development. I was a key member of the team that developed and launched a new invoicing feature, which was adopted by over 10,000 merchants in the first six months and directly contributed to a 15% increase in transaction volume.”
This section proves her expertise. She didn't just say she “worked on APIs”; she linked it to a specific, successful project with measurable results (10,000 merchants, 15% increase).
The Future: Where You're Going (And Why It's With Them)
This is the most important part of your answer. You must connect your past and present directly to this specific opportunity. This is where you show you've done your research and are genuinely interested in this company, not just any job.
- Formula: State Your Goal + Explain Why This Company/Role is the Perfect Fit + Reiterate Your Value.
- What to include:
- Clearly state what you are looking for in your next role.
- Explain what specifically about this company or position excites you. Mention their mission, a recent project, their company culture, or a specific challenge you want to help them solve.
- Conclude with a confident statement about how your skills and experience can directly benefit their organization.
Example (Concluding the answer):
“I've been following your company's work in the agricultural tech space, and I am incredibly impressed by your mission to empower smallholder farmers through technology. I am looking for an opportunity to apply my skills in building robust, scalable systems to a mission-driven company, and I am confident that my experience in developing secure financial platforms can be a great asset to your team as you build out your new credit-scoring feature.”
This conclusion is perfect. It shows she has done her research (“agricultural tech space,” “credit-scoring feature”), aligns her personal goals with the company's mission, and clearly states the value she will bring.
Tailoring “Tell me about yourself” for Different Career Stages
The “Present – Past – Future” model is flexible. Here’s how to adapt it for your specific situation.
For the Fresh Graduate (or NYSC Member)
If you have limited professional experience, your focus should be on your potential, academic background, and transferable skills.
- Present: Your recent academic qualification. “I am a recent First-Class graduate in Economics from the University of Lagos.”
- Past: Focus on internships, NYSC placements, significant university projects, or volunteer work. “During my NYSC placement at the Ministry of Finance, I was part of a team that analyzed budget data, where I used my skills in Excel and STATA to help identify a 5% efficiency saving.”
- Future: Express your enthusiasm for starting your career with their company. “I am eager to apply my analytical and research skills in a practical business environment. Your company's graduate trainee program is renowned for its excellent training, and I am keen to learn and contribute to a forward-thinking team like yours.”
For the Career Changer
Your goal is to build a bridge between your past experience and your new career path.
- Present: State your intention clearly. “I am a seasoned communications professional with over eight years of experience, and I am now transitioning my career towards project management.”
- Past: Focus on transferable skills. Highlight experiences from your previous career that are highly relevant to the new one. “In my role as a Communications Manager, I was responsible for planning and executing multi-channel campaigns from start to finish, managing budgets of over ₦20 million and coordinating with cross-functional teams. This experience has given me a strong foundation in stakeholder management, resource allocation, and timeline adherence, which are all core to project management.”
- Future: Explain why you are making the change and why this company is the right place for it. “I am making this transition because I am passionate about turning strategic plans into tangible results. I was drawn to this role because your company is known for its agile project management methodologies, and I am confident that my strong communication and organizational skills will allow me to quickly add value to your project delivery team.”
For the Experienced Professional or Manager
Be concise and strategic. The interviewer wants to see the big picture of your leadership and impact.
- Present: Start with your current senior title and scope of responsibility. “I am a Commercial Banking Manager at Zenith Bank, where I lead a team of 10 relationship managers and oversee a loan portfolio valued at over ₦5 billion.”
- Past: Summarize your career progression and highlight a major strategic achievement. “Over the past 12 years, I have progressed from an analyst to a team lead. My most significant achievement was developing and implementing a new client acquisition strategy that targeted the manufacturing sector, which grew our portfolio in that area by 35% in two years.”
- Future: Frame your next move as a strategic step and explain how you will bring high-level value to their organization. “I am now looking to leverage my experience in team leadership and strategic growth in a larger, regional capacity. Given your bank's planned expansion across West Africa, I believe my track record in market penetration and building high-performing teams would be instrumental in helping you achieve your strategic objectives.”
Sample Answers to “Tell me about yourself.”
Here are a few more complete examples to guide you.
Sample for an Accountant
“Good afternoon. I'm Adebayo Adekunle, a Chartered Accountant with five years of experience in financial reporting and auditing within the telecommunications industry. Currently, I work at MTN, where I'm responsible for preparing monthly management accounts and ensuring compliance with IFRS standards. In my previous role at a mid-sized audit firm, I led an audit for a client that uncovered procedural inefficiencies, and my recommendations helped them save approximately ₦15 million annually in operational costs. I am looking for an opportunity to take on more responsibility in a dynamic finance team, and I've been very impressed with your company's recent growth and market leadership. I'm eager to bring my meticulous attention to detail and my experience in cost-saving analysis to your team.”
Sample for a Customer Service Representative
“Good morning. My name is Funke Adebayo. I am a dedicated Customer Service Professional with four years of experience, specializing in conflict resolution and customer retention. In my current role at Jumia, I handle escalated customer complaints and have maintained a 95% customer satisfaction rating for the past year. I also proposed a new follow-up email template that reduced repeat complaints by 20%. I thrive in fast-paced environments and am passionate about creating positive customer experiences. I know that your company prides itself on its customer-centric approach, and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills in problem-solving and communication to help maintain your excellent reputation.”
Etiquette and Non-Verbal Communication
In Nigeria and across Africa, how you present yourself is just as important as what you say.
- Dress the Part: The standard is formal. For men, a dark suit, a tie, and polished shoes are expected. For women, a skirt or trouser suit, or a formal dress with a jacket, is appropriate. It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
- Punctuality is Paramount: “African time” has no place in a job interview. Plan your journey, account for traffic (especially in cities like Lagos), and aim to arrive 15-20 minutes early.
- The Greeting: Offer a firm, confident handshake (but not bone-crushing). Address the interviewer(s) formally using their title and surname (e.g., “Good morning, Mrs. Okoro,” “Good afternoon, Dr. Bello”).
- Body Language: Sit up straight, lean slightly forward to show engagement, and maintain steady eye contact. Keep your hands rested on your lap or the table. Avoid fidgeting, as it can be interpreted as nervousness or dishonesty.
Conclusion: Your Story, Your Opportunity
The “Tell me about yourself” question is not a hurdle to overcome; it is an opportunity to seize. It’s your chance to present a compelling, confident, and concise narrative of your professional journey.
By using the Present – Past – Future model, you can move beyond simply listing your experiences and instead tell a memorable story that highlights your value. Remember to tailor your answer for every single application, quantify your achievements, and align your ambitions with the company's goals.
Practice your answer until it feels natural. Deliver it with the calm confidence and professionalism that Nigerian and African employers value. Master this question, and you will not only set a positive tone for the rest of the interview but also take a giant leap toward landing the job you deserve.