Tell me about yourself

This is probably the first question you’ll be asked, and it’s a great opportunity to make a strong impression. So, play your cards right.

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Tell your story. Go chronologically, but don’t make it a monotonous list of what you did. Avoid numbers. Instead, focus on the why behind each decision: why you chose your undergrad college and degree, why you picked your job, why you made that switch, and finally, why you’re pursuing an MBA.

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Towards the end, make sure to include your extracurriculars. This helps the interviewer see that you have more depth and character beyond your professional achievements.

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This is also the right time to highlight your spikes, the standout moments or strengths that make your profile memorable. It could be a promotion, a major project or account you led, or even something impactful from your extracurricular journey. As a rule of thumb, aim for three spikes in your story: at least one professional, and one personal. These will help your interviewer remember you as a well-rounded and distinctive candidate.

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It’s also smart to drop “breadcrumbs” for your interviewer, subtle hints that can guide the conversation toward areas you want to highlight. For example, if you want to discuss a specific project, you could say something like, “One project I’m particularly proud of during my time there was…” This way, you encourage them to ask about it, helping the conversation flow in your favor.

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Step 1: Chronological Story Flow

NOTE

Do this exercise to answer your whys. Please remember this is just a template. Your story can be much more exhaustive. Generally, TMAY answers follow a Past-Present-Future structure to cover the breadth of your personal and professional journeys. Everything you mention here should be preceded/succeeded by your motivation for taking that action.

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Use this template to frame your answer:

I grew up in ________ and did my undergrad in ________ at ________.

I chose this course because ________.

During college, one experience that shaped me was ________.

After graduation, I joined ________ as a ________.

The key reason I chose this role was ________.

A major learning from this experience was ________.

Later, I decided to move to ________ because ________.

Currently, I’m working as ________, where I ________.

Now, I’m looking to pursue an MBA because ________.

Step 2: Identify 3 Spikes

Choose at least one each from professional and personal categories.

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Spike Type	My Example	What It Shows
Professional		Leadership, problem-solving, impact
Personal		Resilience, initiative, learning mindset

Step 3: Add “Breadcrumbs”

These are subtle hints to steer your interview toward some major experiences you’ve had in life or at work. These lines should invite the interviewer to ask you more questions about these important episodes. These will help you control the flow of the conversation.

Examples:

“One project I’m particularly proud of was…”
“That’s where I realized my interest in analytics…”
“Outside work, I’ve been deeply involved in…” </aside>

Your breadcrumbs:

Step 4: Practice

Crucial Step. Aim for 1.5 minutes, as it will tend to get longer on the interview day. Again, don’t memorise, but remember the overall flow of your answer and the specific points you want to mention.

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Checklist:

[ ] Practise in front of mirror(or record yourself)
[ ] Time yourself
[ ] Covering every important aspect such as your spikes, your breadcrumbs, and your whys?