Background question
Tell me about yourself and what has brought you to apply for this role.
30 seconds to think2 minutes to answer
What they’re really asking
It’s a warm-up, but it’s also a test of judgement: out of everything you could say, what do you choose? The interviewer wants a short, relevant account of who you are and a clear line from your path so far to this role. The second half of the question matters as much as the first.
How to structure your answer
- Start with nowOne or two sentences on where you are: your degree or job, and the part you enjoy most.
- Pick two or three stepsThe experiences that led you here, each with a line on what it taught you or showed you about yourself.
- Land on the roleFinish by connecting your story to this job, using a detail from the advert that genuinely appeals to you.
- Keep it tightStop in under two minutes, on the role, so the interviewer has an easy next question.
For more on answering this kind of question, including the mistakes to avoid, read our guide to background questions.
An example outline
This is an example outline, not a script. Use it to see the shape of a strong answer, then build yours from your own experience, in your own words.
- Now
- Final-year geography student. Dissertation on how flooding disrupts food deliveries.
- Steps
- Two summers in a warehouse: saw how one late lorry knocked on to every shift. Hiking society treasurer: planned transport and budgets for 40 people.
- The role
- The scheme’s rotations cover planning and operations, the two things I’ve enjoyed most. I want to learn to do properly what I’ve been doing informally.
Related questions
- Why do you want this role, and what do you think it will involve day to day?2 minutes to answer
- What would you bring to this team that other graduates might not?1 minute 30 seconds to answer
- What achievement are you proudest of, and what does it say about you?1 minute 30 seconds to answer
- What did you learn on a placement, internship or part-time job that your degree couldn’t have taught you, and how would you use it here?2 minutes to answer
Read the guide
- How to prepare for an interview in a week: a day-by-day planInterview guide · 7 min read
- Changing career into data: how to answer the interview questionsInterview guide · 7 min read
- Telephone and first-round interviews: what they ask and how to prepareInterview guide · 6 min read
Last reviewed 28 September 2026 by the Deeplink Interview team. How we write and check our questions.