What's the Best Way to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" Question in Consulting Interviews?

Question

What do you expect candidates to cover when answering the 'Tell me about yourself' question in an interview?

The way I'm thinking of structuring mine is to briefly introduce myself by mentioning my name, where I'm from, and that I was born and raised in the region. Then I'd talk about my degree and university, highlight a few key experiences from university and my internship, and finally wrap up by explaining why I'm interested in joining the firm and excited about the opportunity. Do you think that's a good structure, or is there anything you would change? Do I mention my hobbies?

Answer 1

I'd keep it simple and structured around Present → Past, especially if you're an experienced candidate. Starting with your current role immediately gives the interviewer context before explaining the experiences that led you there.

Then briefly walk through the 2 to 3 experiences that best define your profile, highlighting what you did and, more importantly, the skills you developed.

I wouldn't mention where you were born or raised, unless it's directly relevant, and I wouldn't include hobbies unless they're particularly distinctive or the interviewer asks about them.

The goal is not to summarize your resume, but to give the interviewer a clear overview of the experiences that make you a strong candidate. Aim for 2-3 minutes.

Best,
Franco

Answer 2

I'd change one thing.

The first thing you say is usually the one that sticks with the interviewer. So I wouldn't start with your name or where you're from—they already know that.

Instead, ask yourself: what is the one quality that should make them hire you?

Just one.

Maybe you're particularly analytical, maybe you've shown leadership, maybe you have a very entrepreneurial mindset. Start from that, then use your education, internships and experiences to support it.

After that, explain why consulting and why that firm. That creates a much more coherent story than simply walking through your CV chronologically.

I wouldn't mention hobbies unless they're genuinely interesting or they come up naturally in the conversation or are supporting the qualities you mention.

The goal of "Tell me about yourself" isn't to tell your life story. It's to leave the interviewer with one clear message about who you are and why you're a strong fit for the role.

Answer 3

Hi there,

Your structure broadly works. Few thoughts:

Target a tight, structured 60-90 seconds. This is your first live test of whether you can be concise and organized, so don't recite your CV line by line.
Aim for a clear story, not a list. Open with a quick line on your name and where you're from, then walk through your path as a sequence of deliberate choices: where you started, what you picked and why.
Be ruthless about what goes in. You can't cover everything in 90 seconds, so pick the two or three things that actually earn their place (a relevant experience, a result you're proud of) and let the rest sit on the CV.
Close with something personal. One line on a hobby or interest, but only if it's genuinely distinctive or reveals something (leadership, discipline, an unusual pursuit). "I like reading and football" adds nothing; a real conversation starter is much better, and it helps build a personal connection with the interviewer.

One more thing: I'd personally leave the "why consulting, why this firm" part out of your intro. It tends to come up properly later in the interview, and forcing it into your intro makes the answer unnecessarily longer.

Hope it helps and good luck with the prep!

Federico

Answer 4

hey there!

from my experience, it should be a max 3‑minute story that shows why you are here today and why your CV makes sense for consulting. You don’t need your name or where you’re from; they already know that. Go straight into the parts of your background that prove you can do the job: your degree, one or two experiences that show problem‑solving, ownership, teamwork, and impact. Then close with why you want consulting and why this firm. Hobbies only if they add colour and take ten seconds. The key is that your CV narrative should clearly lead to consulting, not feel like a list. Happy to practise this together in a personal fit session!

Best, ALessa