How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” for an Internship

Behavioral interviews often start with the deceptively simple, “Tell me about yourself.” One of our lead recruiters for early talent at Cox shares a quick, easy formula to answer this question. 

It’s a question that isn’t really a question. Almost every interview begins with it, and you can be sure it’s coming your way. But when you’re in the hot seat, your mind can still race: do you start with your major? Your summer job? That time you studied abroad?  

For many students and recent grads, behavioral interviews can feel intimidating, especially when the kickoff is, “Tell me about yourself.” Without years of work history to lean on, it’s natural to wonder what to say.  

The good news? Because this is the opener you can always count on, you can prepare for it. With the right structure, you can deliver an answer that’s clear, concise and sets the right tone for the rest of your conversation.  

Here, our university recruiters walk you through a simple formula to boost your confidence and get your interview off to a great start. 

Go beyond your resume

This is your chance to connect the dots between your education, experiences and the opportunity you’re going after. And you don’t need a long job history to make a strong impression. You just need a clear structure.  

“A lot of students will run through their entire resume when we ask them to tell us about themselves — but I’ve read your resume, I know what it says,” explained Sam Brown, lead university relations recruiter at Cox. “Instead, what I want you to think about doing is packaging a small story in about 60 to 90 seconds.” 

3 steps to answering this question

Instead of giving a play-by-play of your resume, follow this simple formula to keep your answer short and sweet: 

1. Start with your current focus: your major, your year in school (or graduation date, if you recently graduated) and any key skills or interests. 

2. Explain what excites you about the role or how it relates to your career goals. Tell the interviewer what you are passionate about in your chosen field or major, and how you would want to apply what you’re learning in school in an internship with Cox.

This is also a good opportunity to mention any relevant skills, experience and accomplishments that fit the role you’re applying for. 

“You should have a project that you’re super proud of ready to discuss — especially if it aligns directly to the work that you’re interviewing for,” Sam said. 

3. Lastly, share a little more about who you are outside of school and work. Think about your hobbies and what you like to do in your spare time: “Do you run marathons, do you like to bake, do you garden? Throwing out a personal hobby can help you make a connection with your interviewer,” Sam explained. 

“Tell me about yourself” might sound casual, but it’s one of the most important parts of your interview. By focusing on where you are now and where you want to go, you’ll give your interviewer a clear, memorable picture of who you are — and the potential you bring to the table. 

“If you follow these three steps, you’re going to have a statement that you can use at career fairs, in elevator pitches and especially in that opening question during your behavioral interview,” Sam said. 

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