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How to Answer “Tell Us About Yourself” in a Job Interview? (5 Sample Responses)

• Klara Cervenanska , 
• Updated October 31, 2023 7 min read

Learning how to answer "tell us about yourself" is a crucial step in preparing for any job interview . It's the most commonly asked interview question and it's usually the very first thing the hiring managers ask.

But don't be fooled. This question isn't just an ice breaker to make you feel comfortable. Instead, they want to see:

• who you are as a professional;
• how well you can pitch yourself for the job.

Your answer to this question sets the tone for the entire interview. It’s your chance to showcase your strengths, experiences, and why you’re the perfect fit for the position. 

In this article, we will provide sample answers for practice, help you tailor an answer that best represents your professional journey, and avoid common mistakes. 

Table of Contents

Click on a section to skip

Understanding the question

How to prepare your answer.

• How to answer "tell us about yourself"
• Common mistakes to avoid when answering "tell me about yourself"

Tips for delivering your answer confidently

• Key takeaways: How to answer "tell us about yourself"

When interviewers ask "tell us about yourself," they're not asking for your life story.

They want a brief but comprehensive summary of your professional journey, tailored to the job you’re applying for.

What they look for:

• Relevant professional experience. Highlighting past jobs and responsibilities that are pertinent to the role you're interviewing for. Sharing the skills that make you an asset to their team.
• Confident communication. Clearly and confidently articulate your thoughts, ensuring you provide a well-structured and thoughtful answer, rather than being quiet or unprepared.
• Cultural fit. Showing traits that prove you'd blend well with the company’s values and work environment.

It’s a simple question, but it’s easy to misstep. Some might think it’s a casual ice-breaker and start delving into personal stories. That’s a common pitfall.

This question is not about making you comfortable; it's a structured opportunity for you to sell yourself from the get-go.

Why it can be tricky:

• Misinterpretation. Thinking it’s a casual conversation starter when it’s actually a strategic interview question.
• First impression. It’s usually the first question, so nailing it sets a positive tone for the rest of the interview.
• Lack of structure. Failing to provide a concise, well-thought-out response.

To ace this question, recognize it for what it is: your moment to shine professionally right from the start, setting a strong and positive first impression.

Prepare for your next interview with AI.

AI interview questions generator will help you practice answering the most common interview questions for your job position.

Preparing for how to answer "tell us about yourself" question is a step you shouldn't skip. By planning ahead, you gain control over how you present yourself, ensuring clarity and relevance in your response.

Here's how to structure your answer to "tell me about yourself" in 4 steps:

Begin by discussing your current role, explaining why you are a great match for the job, and highlighting your top three qualifications. Example: "I'm a data analyst with seven years of experience, now part of the team at TechSolutions. In this role, I manage extensive datasets and analyze them to guide strategic decisions. I bring to the table strong expertise in R, a solid grasp of data visualization, and the ability to demystify complex data for stakeholders without a technical background."

Next, you want to highlight examples of past successes, ensuring they are relevant to the position you're aiming for. Example: "What I'm really proud of is a project back at DataGen, where we got to unravel customer feedback layer by layer. We put advanced predictive analytics to work, honing in on ways to amp up our product game. It was a huge win, with customer satisfaction scores soaring by 20%"

After that, pick one thing from this particular job or company that excites you. Example: "I am particularly drawn to this role because of your company’s innovative approach to data analysis, and the opportunity to work with big data applications, something I am very passionate about."

Connect your future career aspirations with the potential role. You can also connect this to the previous point. Example: "Looking forward, I’m eager to dive deeper into predictive modeling and I believe this position offers the perfect platform to expand my skills and contribute to innovative solutions."

By preparing your answer and structuring it, you not only showcase your technical expertise but also your enthusiasm for the role.

How to answer "tell us about yourself"

Now that we've walked through how to structure your answer, let’s put theory into practice.

Below are five sample answers tailored to different job positions, applying the strategies we discussed in the previous chapter.

We highlighted the best opener sentences for each part of your answer:

• Introduction to your current role and top skills
• Highlighting your past achievements
• Pin-pointing one thing that excites you about the job/company
• Discussing your future career aspirations

1. Marketing manager

Example answer:.

“ I’ve been spearheading the marketing team at TrendingNow for over seven years, really honing in on digital advertising and SEO.

I’m particularly proud of how we managed to boost our main product line’s organic traffic by 40% last year, all thanks to a solid strategy and a bit of elbow grease.

When I look at your company, I’m genuinely excited about your commitment to data-driven decisions. It’s right up my alley, especially with my experience in analytics and content creation.

Looking ahead, I’m keen on bringing my skills to your team, growing with a company that’s as forward-thinking and innovative as you guys.”

2. Software developer

“ I’ve dedicated the last five years to honing my software development skills at DevSolutions, primarily working with Python and Java to solve complex challenges.

Just recently, we successfully implemented a new feature that significantly enhanced our user experience, a project I played a key role in.

I’ve been following XYZ’s work closely and am impressed with your dedication to agile methodologies, something I value highly as a developer.

I’m at a stage in my career where I’m looking to elevate my skills and contribute to innovative projects, and I believe XYZ provides the perfect environment for that growth. The challenging and innovative work you do here is precisely what I am seeking in my next role.”

3. Project manager

“ I’ve spent the last six years immersed in project management at BuildRight, where I’ve successfully led teams through the entire lifecycle of numerous projects, always ensuring we stay on time and on budget.

One of my proudest moments was steering a project that was initially behind schedule back on track, ultimately delivering it two weeks early and 15% under budget.

I’m particularly drawn to GlobalInnovate due to your commitment to sustainability and innovative tech. This aligns with my passion for eco-conscious project management.

I see a great opportunity to contribute my skills here, and I’m eager to be part of your innovative journey, further developing as a project manager.”

4. Graphic designer

“ In my four years as a graphic designer at CreativeSolutions, I’ve mastered various design tools and developed a keen eye for aesthetics, which has greatly enhanced our visual content and branding efforts.

A project I’m particularly proud of involved rebranding a client’s visual identity, resulting in a 30% increase in their customer engagement.

I’ve been following your work at DesignInnovate, and I’m really impressed with your commitment to creativity and innovative design solutions.

I’m excited about the chance to bring my unique style and skills to your team, and I believe this role is the perfect opportunity for me to further refine my design capabilities.”

5. HR specialist

“ Over the last five years at PeopleFirst, I’ve honed my skills in employee relations, benefits administration, and talent acquisition, playing a key role in creating a positive work environment and improving our employee retention rate by 25%. I’ve successfully implemented various employee engagement programs that have not only boosted morale but also enhanced productivity across departments.

I’m particularly proud of the mentorship program I spearheaded, which has significantly aided in the professional development of our staff.

I’ve been keeping an eye on the innovative HR practices at TalentInnovate, and I’m thoroughly impressed by your commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

The chance to bring my expertise to your esteemed team, contributing to your progressive HR initiatives, is an exciting prospect.”

Of course, you need to tailor your answer to "tell us about yourself" according to the job you're applying for. The samples provided are just a guide to show you how you might structure your answer in various roles.

Aim for your answer to be concise yet comprehensive, typically lasting between 1-3 minutes . This length allows you to provide enough detail without losing the interviewer’s attention.

Rehearsing is key – practice your response out loud until you feel confident.

Common mistakes to avoid when answering "tell me about yourself"

Navigating through the "tell us about yourself" question in an interview can be tricky, and even the most confident speakers might find themselves stumbling.

To make sure you don’t fall into common traps, here’s a rundown of mistakes to steer clear of:

• Being too vague or too detailed: You want to hit that sweet spot. Give them the “just right” amount of information to showcase your qualifications without turning it into a monologue. A rule of thumb is to stay in a 1-3 minute range.
• Turning it into a personal story-time. While it's nice to add a personal touch, this is not the time to delve deep into your personal life. Share a tidbit if it's relevant, but keep the spotlight on your professional self.
• Forgetting to tie it back to the job. It’s not just about you; it’s about ‘You + Job’. Every skill or experience you mention should be a breadcrumb leading them straight to why you’re perfect for the role.
• Saying "I don’t know," "ummm," or "sooo". These filler words are conversation killers. Practice makes perfect, and perfect means no unnecessary 'umms' and 'uhhs.'
• Memorizing a script. Practice, but don’t memorize. If you sound like you're reading off a teleprompter, it’s not a good look. Remember, it’s a conversation, not a performance.

Delivering your answer with confidence is just as important as the content of your answer.

Here's how to nail it:

• Master your body language. Stand tall and make eye contact. No slouching or fidgeting; show them you're confident and engaged.
• Practice, practice, practice. Run through your answer multiple times. Use your mirror; it won’t judge you, but it will help you judge yourself.
• Watch videos. YouTube is your friend. Watch how others do it, and pick up on their confidence-boosting techniques. Here's a great example .
• Role-play. Grab a buddy and practice. Let them throw curveballs at you so you’re ready for anything.

Remember, the goal is to seem comfortable and in control, even if your stomach is doing somersaults.

Practice in front of a mirror. It might feel a bit awkward, but it’s a tried-and-true method that really helps in presenting yourself clearly and confidently.

Key takeaways: How to answer "tell us about yourself"

Wrapping up our journey on how to answer "tell us about yourself", it’s clear that this common interview opener is more than just a casual question.

It's a strategic opportunity to present yourself as the ideal candidate.

Here’s a quick recap of the structure for your answer:

• Introduction to your current role and top skills. Clearly state your current position and emphasize the skills that make you excel in your role.
• Highlight your past achievements. Showcase specific achievements from your past roles, demonstrating your capability and experience.
• Pin-point something exciting about the job/company. Express genuine enthusiasm for the job or company, highlighting what specifically excites you about the opportunity.
• Discuss your future career aspirations. Illustrate how this role fits into your broader career plans, showing alignment and long-term interest.

And while you're at it, don’t forget to prepare for other common interview questions like:

• Why should we hire you?
• Why did you leave your previous job?
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Klara graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. After having written resumes for many of her fellow students, she began writing full-time for Kickresume. Klara is our go-to person for all things related to student or 'no experience resumes'. At the same time, she has written some of the most popular resume advice articles on this blog. Her pieces were featured in multiple CNBC articles. When she's not writing, you'll probably find her chasing dogs or people-watching while sipping on a cup of coffee.

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51 Meaningful Quotes About How Life is a Journey

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They say that life is about the journey and not the destination. But what does that really mean?

You’ve probably heard this line a million times before, but maybe you couldn’t quite understand what it was trying to illustrate. 

The most successful people will tell you that the process of accomplishing something is far more valuable than the end result. You learn much more from all of your experiences and encounters than you do from arriving at the destination.

Ultimately, the process is the greatest reward. The sweetest moments come when you realize that you have attained the final goal because of everything you have experienced.

You look back on the mistakes, the challenges, and everything you had to endure—but you also celebrate the fact that you faced your problems head-on. Your journey through life is what makes you human.

In this article, we share with you a list of quotes about how life is a journey . We hope that, through these words, you’ll be able to enjoy everything that life has to offer. Even more so, we hope that they will inspire you to live a more meaningful and happier life .

But before we check out our list, let’s discuss how reading these quotes can get you motivated.

Table of Contents

Why Read Quotes About How Life Is a Journey?

Reading these quotes can inspire you to live a better and more fulfilling life.

They are, after all, from people who have found their journeys through life enjoyable and gratifying. There’s no better way to motivate yourself than to get inspiration from people who have already lived wonderful lives.

In the same vein, these quotes can help you appreciate the gift of life. They help you realize that you only live once, so you must relish the moments you have been given.

Finally, reading these quotes can encourage you to share your life with others. You will realize that, in order to be able to live your life to the fullest, you need someone to share both your joys and sorrows with. You require companions to fully live in the moment .

Now that you know why it’s important to read journey quotes, let us check out our list!

Meaningful Life is a Journey Quotes

• “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. If you can’t walk, then crawl. But by all means, keep moving.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
• “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
• “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Tony Robbins
• “The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance, and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” – Oprah Winfrey
• “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson
• “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.” – Heraclitus
• “Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know. Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land.” – Walt Whitman
• “The most important reason for going from one place to another is to see what's in between, and they took great pleasure in doing just that.” – Norton Juster
• “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” – Steve Maraboli

• “Some beautiful paths can't be discovered without getting lost.” – Erol Ozan
• “For me, becoming isn’t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn’t end.” – Michelle Obama
• “I am no longer afraid of becoming lost because the journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist.” – Billy Joel
• “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy
• “Never stop just because you feel defeated. The journey to the other side is attainable only after great suffering.” – Santosh Kalwar
• “There is a strange comfort in knowing that no matter what happens today, the Sun will rise again tomorrow.” – Aaron Lauritsen
• “Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” – Drake
• “ Transformation is a process , and as life happens there are tons of ups and downs. It’s a journey of discovery – there are moments on mountaintops and moments in deep valleys of despair.” – Rick Warren
• “The journey is never-ending. There’s always gonna be growth, improvement, and adversity; you just gotta take it all in and do what’s right, continue to grow, continue to live in the moment.” – Antonio Brown
• “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson
• “On your journey, don’t forget to smell the flowers. Take time out to notice that you are alive. You can only live one day.” – Ray Fearon

• “If my ship sails from sight, it doesn’t mean my journey ends. It simply means the river bends.” – Enoch Powell
• “It’s not an easy journey, to get to a place where you forgive people. But it is such a powerful place because it frees you.” – Tyler Perry
• “Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way. It is all those little steps that make the journey complete.” – Chanda Kochhar
• “Sometimes we make the process more complicated than we need to. We will never make a journey of a thousand miles by fretting about how long it will take or how hard it will be. We make the journey by taking each day step by step and then repeating it again and again until we reach our destination.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin
• “Your journey never ends. Life has a way of changing things in incredible ways.” – Alexander Volkov
• “Each one of us has our own evolution of life, and each one of us goes through different tests which are unique and challenging. But certain things are common. And we do learn things from each other's experiences. On a spiritual journey, we all have the same destination.” – A. R. Rahman
• “Going by my past journey, I am not certain where life will take me, what turns and twists will happen; nobody knows where they will end up. As life changes direction, I'll flow with it.” – Katrina Kaif
• “Enjoy the journey and try to get better every day. And don't lose the passion and the love for what you do.” – Nadia Comaneci

• “But it's a journey and the sad thing is you only learn from experience, so as much as someone can tell you things, you have to go out there and make your own mistakes in order to learn.” – Emma Watson
• “The seeker embarks on a journey to find what he wants and discovers, along the way, what he needs.” – Wally Lamb
• “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.” – Oliver Goldsmith
• “The Sun will rise and set regardless. What we choose to do with the light while it's here is up to us. Journey wisely.” – Alexandra Elle
• “We may run, walk, stumble. drive, or fly, but let us never lose sight of the reason for the journey, or miss a chance to see a rainbow on the way.” – Gloria Gaither
• “Whole life is a search for beauty. But, when the beauty is found inside, the search ends and a beautiful journey begins.” – Harshit Walia
• “Not everyone will understand your journey. That's okay. You're here to live your life, not to make everyone understand .” – Banksy
• “I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom.” – Les Brown
• “It was being a runner that mattered, not how fast or how far I could run. The joy was in the act of running and in the journey, not in the destination.” – John Bingham
• “As you journey down the path, don't forget to be present moment-by-moment and absorb the beauty and richness of simply being alive.” – Cary David Richards
• “If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all.” – Dan Rather

• “Life is a journey of either Fate or Destiny. Fate is the result of giving in to one's wounds and heartaches. Your Destiny unfolds when you rise above the challenges of your life and use them as Divine opportunities to move forward to unlock your higher potential.” – Caroline Myss
• “I know it can be tough to imagine how to get from where you are today to where you want to be tomorrow. But I’m here to tell you that change is possible if you enter into this journey with your eyes wide open, and with real intention.” – David Hauser
• “Part of the challenge that comes with striving for success is how the entire journey comes with its own fair share of failures and disappointments.” – Rupert Johnson
• “The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That's all there ever is.” – Alan Watts
• “Life is a journey and it's about growing and changing and coming to terms with who and what you are and loving who and what you are.” – Kelly McGillis
• “Time is a companion that goes with us on a journey. It reminds us to cherish each moment because it will never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we have lived.” – Captain Jean-Luc Picard
• “I just constantly tell myself that I should be the only one to define my worth and what I'm capable of and how I perceive myself. And that I should never source that worth from other people, especially strangers on social media. They don't know who I am, the length of my journey, who I am as a person.” – Catriona Gray
• “ You have learned a lot, but there are still lots of learning for you as you journey through life. Never stop learning.” – Kate Summers

• “One of the most important things that I have learned in my 57 years is that life is all about choices. On every journey you take, you face choices. At every fork in the road, you make a choice. And it is those decisions that shape our lives.” – Mike DeWine
• “I'm different than most people. When I cross the finish line of a big race, I see that people are ecstatic, but I'm thinking about what I'm going to do tomorrow. It's as if my journey is everlasting, and there is no finish line.” – David Goggins
• “The journey matters as much as the destination. By engaging at the moment on set, I've stopped rushing and now find pleasure in the collaborative process – the characters, the costumes – rather than worrying about the finished product.” – Michelle Dockery
• “It's a life's journey of finding ourselves, finding our power, and living for yourself, not for everyone else.” – Mariska Hargitay

Final Thoughts on Life & Journey

Life is a journey, and we all take different paths.

There are those who take the road less traveled and enjoy unique accomplishments, while others go with the crowd but still end up loving the lives they’ve chosen as well. Regardless of our choices, we will all have the potential to become successful in the ways we personally define success.

We hope that these quotes inspired you to enjoy your life’s journey and make it more meaningful. Enjoy the moment and live happy!

And if you want more inspirational quotes, be sure to check out these blog posts:

• 63 Inspiring Walt Whitman Quotes About Life
• 51 Do What Makes You Happy Quotes for 2023
• 107 Quotes About Overcoming Adversity and Challenges in Your Life

Finally, if you want to use these quotes to make a lasting change to your life, then check out and recite these 57 affirmations for success .

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SOLO TRAVEL , SOLO TRAVEL INSPIRATION

100+ life journey quotes to inspire you.

Life is a journey. How often have you heard that?

As we find our road through life, we all need inspiration and guidance. And this is never so true as when we are travelling, especially as solo travellers. 

This can come from many sources: friends, family, self-help books. But sometimes, a simple quote about life’s journey can provide inspiration or make us view our path through a different lens. 

Drawing on the writings of authors and poets, scholars and spiritual leaders here are my favourite life journey quotes. Is your favourite there? 

Are you looking for a short and sharp travel caption to add to your images or social media feed? If so, check out these dreamy travel captions

IN THIS ARTICLE

My Top 10 Life Journey Quotes

There are many quotes about life as a journey out there and picking a list of favourites is a tough call. From Maja Angelou to Mark Twain, here are those that continue to inspire me.

1. Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away. – Maya Angelou

2. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did so. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.   – Mark Twain

3. Remember where you have been and know where you are going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. – Nikita Koloff

4. We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.  – Paulo Coelho

You are far from the end of your journey. The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart. See how you love. Buddha

6. You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending. – C.S. Lewis

7. When setting out on a journey do not seek advice from someone who never left home. – Rumi

One of the greatest journeys in life is overcoming insecurity and learning to truly not give a shit.  J. A. Konrath

9. Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant. – Robert Louis Stevenson 

10. Sometimes life takes you on a journey that changes everything you thought you wanted. – Melaina Rayne

Life Journey Quotes: First Steps

Every journey begins with a single step. Taking that first step is often the hardest part of any endeavour, whether that’s booking your first trip alone , quitting your job or moving overseas.

Be inspired to take the plunge with these inspirational life journey quotes.

11. Big things have small beginnings. – Prometheus 

12. The only impossible journey is the one you never begin . – Tony Robbins

13. A little step may be the beginning of a great journey. – Unknown

14. If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all. – Dan Rather

15. Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey. – Vera Nazarian

Beginning are usually scary and ending are usually sad, but it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living. Bob Marley

The Next Steps: Quotes on the Journey of Life

But that first step is just that; the first step on the road of life. Life – and travel – can present a series of obstacles to overcome.

17. Life’s journey is a collection of stories. Make yours a bestseller. – The Flashpacker ( Bridget Coleman )

18. One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time. – John Wanamaker

19 . … a journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it. – John Steinbeck

20. To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping. – Chinese Proverb 

21. Life is a journey. When we stop, things don’t go right. – Pope Francis

22. The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is. – Alan Watts

23. Life is a journey, travel it well. – Unknown

The key to realising a dream is to focus not on success but significance, and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.  Oprah Winfrey 

25. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. – Helen Keller

26. No journey is too great, when one finds what one seeks. – Friedrich Nietzsche

27. Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way. It is all those little steps that make the journey complete.  – Chanda Kochhar

28. A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike . – John Steinbeck

29. No journey is too great, when one finds what one seeks. – Friedrich Nietzsche

30. A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. – John Steinbeck

31. I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination. –  Jimmy Dean

32. Your journey will be much lighter and easier if you don’t carry your past with you! – Tamara Kulish

33. May the stars guide you on your journey, and your heart always lead you home. – Melaina Rayne

Life is a Journey Quotes to Inspire Solo Travellers

Any seasoned solo traveller knows that travelling alone has the power to change your life . But sometimes it can be difficult to find the words to describe your experiences. 

To empower you to travel alone , here is the pick of the best life journey quotes that can be applied to solo travel.

34. It’s your road, and yours alone, others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you. – Rumi

35. No one can decide the road that inspires us to kick-start a journey better than the one embarking on the path. We may find others joining our journey, but we have to take the first step alone to reach our destination.  – Dr Prem Jagyasi

36. Don’t be scared to walk alone. Don’t be scared to like it. – John Mayer

37. Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. – Buddha

There are some places in life where you can only go alone. Embrace the beauty of your solo journey. Mandy Hale

39. No one you have been and no place you have gone ever leaves you. The new parts of you simply jump in the car and go along for the rest of the ride. The success of your journey and your destination all depend on who’s driving. – Bruce Springsteen

40. The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready. – Henry David Thoreau

41. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. – Neale Donald Walsh

42. If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone. – Maxwell Maltz

I have traveled many roads in my life. Some were imbued with pain and I needed to avert my gaze. Others were so beautiful that I would have remained there forever. But always, at some point in these routes, I reached a place where I encountered myself. Pablo Holmberg

44. The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before. – Albert Einstein

45. Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s okay. You’re here to live your life, not to make everyone understand.  – Banksy

Are you looking for more quotes to inspire you to travel alone? If so, check out these inspirational solo travel quotes

Making Friends on the Journey of Life

Of course, none of us needs to be alone. Other people can play a huge part in our life journey.

46 . A journey is best measured in friends, not in miles . – Tim Cahill

47. Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life. – Pythagoras

48. In this journey of life, you will meet people who will make you feel alive! – Avijeet Das

49. On a hard jungle journey, nothing is so important as having a team you can trust. – Tahir Shah

50. Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. – Izaak Walton

The main thing that you have to remember on this journey is, just be nice to everyone and always smile. Ed Sheeran

52. Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind. – Henri Frederic Amiel

53. We never know the journey another person has walked, so be kind to everyone. – Lynette Mather

Having Faith in Yourself: Best Life Journey Quotes

Life throws obstacles at us, and it can be difficult to believe in yourself and in your ability to deal with these challenges. Even with those important first steps, you sometimes have to throw caution to the wind. 

54. Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be…Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you’ll live as you’ve never lived before. – Erich Fromm

I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom.  Les Brown

56. Trust yourself, trust the road, trust the weather, and trust your destination! This quarto-trust can create a miraculously successful journey!  – Mehmet Murat Īldan

57. Have faith in your journey. Everything had to happen exactly as it did to get you where you’re going next! – Mandy Hale

58. Things are only impossible until they’re not. – Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek ( the Star Trek universe can teach us much about travel )

Finding Your Path on Life’s Journey

As profound as it may seem, sometimes getting lost is the first step to finding our way on the journey of life, and there is not necessarily one right path. The correct path is the one that is right for you. 

59. In the middle of the journey of our life I found myself astray in a dark wood where the straight road had been lost sight of.  – Dante Alighieri

60. Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost. – Erol Ozan

You have to get lost before you can be found. Jeff Rasley

62. Life is a journey that has a lot of different paths, but any path you choose use it as your destiny. – Ryan Leonard 

63. This thing we call life is not a destination with an end but a path down which we continue to journey as long as we can breathe. Life is to be lived not squandered or to give away waiting for the end to close upon us.  – Byron Pulsifer

64. The path isn’t a straight line; it’s a spiral. You continually come back to things you thought you understood and see deeper truths . – Barry H. Gillespie

65. Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lessons Learnt Through the Life Journey

Some of the best life journey quotes relate to the lessons you learn along this journey. Many of these lessons may not be obvious at the time, especially in tough times, but ultimately they help shape who we are.

66. A journey taken in vain is not a wasted journey if you have learnt something. – Anthony T. Hincks

67. All journeys have secret destinations of which traveler is unaware. – Martin Buber

68. Always remember life is a learning journey. Keep filling your mind with all that is worthy. – Catherine Pulsifer

69. One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things. – Henry Miller

Learn to trust the journey, even when you do not understand it.  Lolly Daskal 

71. We do not receive wisdom, we must discover it for ourselves, after a journey through the wilderness which no one else can make for us, which no one can spare us, for our wisdom is the point of view from which we come at last to regard the world. – Marcel Proust

72. Travel far enough, you meet yourself. – David Mitchell

73. In order to complete our amazing life journey successfully, it is vital that we turn each and every dark tear into a pearl of wisdom, and find the blessing in every curse. – Anthon St. Maarten 

74. What you learn in tough times can be used in many ways to bless your personal life journey.  – Scott Gordon

75. Sometimes in your life you will go on a journey. It will be the longest journey you have ever taken. It is the journey to find yourself. – Katharine Sharp

Enjoy the Journey Quotes

Ultimately, what is it all for unless you enjoy the journey?

As travellers, we are often guilty of fixating on the destination, instead of learning to enjoy the journey, and celebrating the triumphs instead of stressing about the difficulties.

76. Roads were made for journeys not destinations. – Confucius

77. Life Is What Happens When You’re Busy Making Other Plans . – John Lennon

78. The journey is the reward. – Tao Expression

79. In the tapestry of life, every thread matters. Weave a journey worth treasuring. – The Flashpacker (Bridget Coleman)

80. Life is a journey, and if you fall in love with the journey, you will be in love forever. – Peter Hagerty

81. It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.  – Ernest Hemingway

82. Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. – Greg Anderson

83. Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination . – Drake

84. Accomplishments will prove to be a journey, not a destination. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

85. And at the end of the day, there is nothing but the journey. Because destination is pure illusion. – Rich Roll

86. Life is a journey, not a destination. Learn to enjoy the ride. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

If ever there was a metaphor to illustrate the importance of the journey over the destination, it is life itself. For everyone who departs from birth is destined for death, so the journey IS life. Savor it! Michele Jennae

88. The journey in between what you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life takes place. – Barbara De Angelis

89. Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.  – Arthur Ashe

It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way! Penelope Riley

91. Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think you’ve lost time. There is no short-cutting to life. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time. – Asha Tyson

92. Embrace your life journey with gratitude, so that how you travel your path is more important than reaching your ultimate destination. – Rosalene Glickman

93. Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. Winnie the Pooh

94. Let your joy be in your journey – not in some distant goal. – Tim Cook

95. Live now; make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again. – Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek

96. Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore. – Andre Gide

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride! Hunter S. Thompson

98. Every day is a journey filled with twists and turns. Every day, if you smile, you will feel alive, my son. – Santosh Kalwar

99. Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.  – Fitzhugh Mullan

100. I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be . – Douglas Adams

101. We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. – T.S. Eliot

102. Life is an opportunity, seize the day, live each day to the fullest. Life is not a project, but a journey to be enjoyed. – Catherine Pulsifer

103. I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. – Douglas Adams

104. Time is a companion who goes with us on the journey and reminds us to cherish every moment, because it will never come again. – Captain Jean Luc Picard in Star Trek

Life Journey Quotes: Final Thoughts

Life for me, like travel, is all about the journey. The shape of that journey is up to the individual.

I hope that these life journey quotes help inspire you to live your best life. That’s all that any of us can aim for.  

Enjoy the journey.

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind. Anthony Bourdain

About Bridget

Bridget Coleman has been a passionate traveller for more than 30 years. She has visited 70+ countries, most as a solo traveller.

Articles on this site reflect her first-hand experiences.

To get in touch, email her at [email protected] or follow her on social media.

Interview Questions

Comprehensive Interview Guide: 60+ Professions Explored in Detail

8 Examples of How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself”

By Biron Clark

Published: November 16, 2023

In this article, I’m going to walk you through steps and examples of how to answer the “Tell me about yourself” interview question to impress employers and get more job offers . We’ll also cover the  costly mistakes you NEED to avoid if you want to pass this question. 

Here’s exactly what you’re going to get:

• The most-recommended method of how to answer “tell me about yourself”
• 8 examples of good answers to “tell me about yourself” for various industries
• A shorter, newer method for experienced candidates
• How to practice your answer to make sure you’re 100% ready for the interview

Let’s get started…

Why Do Interviewers Ask “Tell Me About Yourself”

“Can you tell me about yourself ?” is a common interview question that’s generally delivered as an icebreaker or pathfinder question, right at the start of an interview. It can catch you off your guard because it may seem vague, broad, and somewhat tricky. Honestly though, understanding a bit more about why interviewers ask this question (which is often framed as a command) will give you a clear insight into how to answer.

Interviewers ask this question to ease you out of those introductory jitters (that you both feel) and into the nitty-gritty of why you’re there. It’s their way of establishing a direction for the interview because it shows them how you summarize your experience and show its relevance to the job you’re applying for, which in turn tells them what to ask next. Trust me though, your answer needs to be relevant, the interviewer is likely not asking whether you’re a dog or a cat person but rather what background, skills, qualifications and experiences brought you to this interview today. 

Watch: How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself?”

Different ways of asking the same question.

I mentioned how this question can sometimes be framed as a command, i.e: “tell me about yourself,” and so on. There are numerous ways this question might be framed, but all express the same intention on the part of the interviewer, so they should all be answered the same way. Common variants include:

• “Take me through your resume.”
• “Tell me about your background”
• “Describe yourself.”
•   “Can you tell me more about why you’re here?”
• “What brings you here today?”

When it comes to describing yourself, you may wonder where to start, how personal to be, and how far to get into it. “Describe yourself” certainly feels a little more personal than the rest. For insight into how to answer that variant, Read This Article .

How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview:

1. choose the right starting point for your story (important).

Your goal when answering, “tell me about yourself,” is to give a brief, concise walkthrough of your career story that will show off relevant pieces of experience. You want to start at a point in the past (like how you began working in this field), and end up in your current situation. So the first thing to decide is where you’ll begin the story… If you’re a recent graduate: Start with the fact that you just graduated, and explain why you chose this career path or field of area of study.  

For example, you might start your answer like this:

“I graduated with my degree in Economics two months ago. I chose that field of study because I’ve always been interested in finance and money, and a couple of family members told me it leads to great career options, too.”

If you have 1-8 years of experience, start with the moment you graduated and walk them through your employment experience since then.

Here’s an example of how you’d start your interview answer in this situation:

“I graduated with my degree in Industrial Engineering six years ago and immediately went to work for a small design firm in Chicago. Since then, I’ve…”

And if you have 8-20+ years of experience, you can start with a mid-point in your career. This will keep your answer from getting too long.

For example, if you’re a manager, you could start with how you first became a manager. If you’ve been working for 25 years but have only been a sales professional for 12 years, you could begin with how you got started in sales.

Here is an example of how to begin your answer to “tell me about yourself” as a very experienced candidate:

“I first started managing people twelve years ago, when I was promoted from Customer Service Associate to Customer Service Supervisor. Since then, I’ve…”

2. Highlight Impressive Experience and Accomplishments

As you tell your career story, explain key accomplishments you’ve achieved, work you’ve done, skills you’ve learned, and key career moves you’ve made.

• Were you promoted? That’s always a great sign and worth mentioning.
• Did you accomplish something significant like solving a big problem for your last employer?  That’s great to mention, too.
• Did you build new skills or overcome challenges? Get specific! Tell details.

But random impressive facts aren’t enough. You should be thinking about how this ties in with the company you’re talking to.

• You should always research the company before going into the interview . Study their job description in particular so you know what skills THEY care most about.
• What does this particular job involve? Is there a lot of leadership? Talk about your experiences leading (no matter how small!), how it went, and what you learned.
• Does the job involve a high level of technical skill? Talk about how you learned and advanced in that area through each step of your career!
• You need to “tailor” your answer for, “tell me about yourself,” for their job description and their needs. Try to talk about experiences and qualifications that are relevant to this job you’ve applied for.

3. Conclude by Explaining Your Current Situation

Finally, the best way to finish your story is to bring them up to speed on your current situation. Why you wanted to apply for their job , what you’re looking to do next, etc.

For example you might end your answer by saying:

“…and that’s why I wanted to interview with your firm. This position seems like a great opportunity to advance those skills I just talked about, and continue building my career and challenging myself”.

4. Keep Your Answer Work-Related

When employers ask, “tell me about yourself,” in an interview, they usually want to hear about you as a professional. So the safest approach is to keep your answer work-related and share your career story, rather than personal details. You can show more personality as the interview goes on, but it’s risky to share too much personal info when answering, “tell me about yourself.” It could lead to your answer getting too long, or it could cause you to leave out important professional information that the interviewer was looking to know!

5. Be Concise When Answering (2 Minutes or Less!)

When they say “tell me about yourself,” it’s going to be tempting to give a long-winded answer. It’s such an open-ended question. And we covered a lot above, but there’s something just as important as any of that. You need to be concise.  Your communication and ability to stay on track with your answer are two things they are watching closely. The interviewer wants to see that you can tell your story from Point A (the beginning) to Point B (the end) without getting sidetracked, distracted, or scattered. Because it tells them how you’ll communicate as an employee… when there’s a problem, when there’s a disagreement, or when you simply need to share your knowledge or opinion. If you take this answer beyond 2 minutes you are shooting yourself in the foot. In fact, below 90 seconds is ideal. Practice at home with a timer! That’s why I recommend choosing a starting point based on your experience (Step 1 above)… because if you have 25 years of experience and you start at the moment you graduated from college, your answer will be too long.

“Tell Me About Yourself” Example Answers:

Now that we’ve covered the key steps to answering, “tell me about yourself,” let’s look at some full answer examples to this interview question .

Example Answer for Experienced Candidates:

“I graduated with a Business degree in 2010, and was offered an account management position at a telecommunications company I had interned with. I loved working with customers and managing and growing my accounts, but the industry we were in just wasn’t very appealing to me. After that, I stayed a full year and learned a ton about how to build and manage accounts successfully and  I ended up becoming a top performer in my group before leaving. I left at the 1-year-mark to pursue a very similar position within an industry I’m much more excited about- healthcare. I’ve been at this healthcare startup space for 2 years with this company and I feel ready to take my career to the next level so that’s why I’m currently looking for a new opportunity.”

That first example showed you how to answer “tell me about yourself” for experienced job seekers (at least a few years of experience). Now let’s look at an example for entry-level job seekers and job seekers with no experience .

Example Answer With No Experience:

“I graduated with a degree in Engineering two months ago. I chose that field of study because I’ve always been interested in math and physics , and a couple of family members told me it leads to great career options. One of my key accomplishments during my academic career was speaking at a conference on the topic of energy-efficient window design, based on research I had done for one of my senior-level classes. This led to an internship that I just wrapped up, so I’m actively looking for a full-time position now.”

Stand Out by “Tailoring” Your Answer to the Company

The end of your interview answer is a big opportunity to customize your answer for the company and job you’re interviewing for. When you talk about what you’re looking to do next in your career, try to mention whatever you see this company providing for your career (leadership, technical challenges, exposure to new areas, etc.) That shows them why you’re excited about their job, which will help you get hired! (I explain more about why this is true here ). Before we move on to more tips and a HUGE mistake to avoid, here’s one more example interview answer for this question.

Shorter Method for How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” (For Experienced Candidates Only)

The method I gave you above is the standard way most recruiters recommend answering “tell me about yourself.”  It’s how I coached job seekers to answer this question for years. There’s another way you can answer, though… and it has some benefits. I’ll explain…Many experts have pointed out that if the interviewer wanted your career story, they could have looked at your resume or your LinkedIn , or asked a question like, “can you walk me through your background?” So there’s another approach for answering, “tell me about yourself,” that skips the career story and just cuts right to the chase: Why you’re awesome and why they should hire you !

Let’s look at 2 word-for-word templates that accomplish this.

After this, you’ll have two proven methods for answering, “tell me about yourself” in interviews, and in the next section, I’ll reveal how to decide which method is best for YOU.

Example answer if you’re job searching while employed:

“Well, I’m currently working at XYZ Company and I specialize in doing ___. The reason I applied for this job is I saw ___ on the job description and I think I would be able to help you ___ and ___. One of my key accomplishments in my current role was helping my employer do ___, and I’m confident I can help your team get similar results here.”

Example answer template if unemployed:

“In my most recent position at XYZ Company, I specialized in doing ___. The reason I applied for this job is I saw ___ on the job description and I think I would be able to help you ___ and ___. One of my key accomplishments in my last role for XYZ Company was helping them  ___, and I’m confident I can help your team get similar results here.”

Which Method Should You Use for Your Answer?

If you have work experience, both options we’ve covered are very good, and it really depends on what you feel most comfortable with. Choose the one you like best. They’re both excellent ways to answer the question, so don’t stress over it! However, if you are entry-level and have no work experience… or internships at the very least…  then I would go back to the top of this article and use the first, 5-step method for answering, “tell me about yourself.”

This second method we just covered is really best if you want to give a unique, concise answer and you have some relevant work experience to share in the interview!

“Tell Me About Yourself” Example Answers For Different Industries:

Healthcare:.

“After being licensed six years ago, I immediately entered a busy E.R. setting where I progressed to the point of triaging as many as 50 patients a shift. I’m skilled in patient record-keeping, stabilizing incoming patients, diagnosing injuries, administering meds, doing stitches, starting I.V.s, setting bones and offering emotional support to family members behind the scenes. I’ve adapted to the pressure but feel that, in the long term, I’d be better suited to a slower-paced environment with more focus on establishing lasting patient relationships. I’m ready to take on this post in your busy day clinic and believe that my advanced patient triage skills, along with my empathic nature, would be a great benefit to your team.”

This works because:   This answer outlines your qualifications and extensive background in incoming patient care, triage, diagnosing and record-keeping. Your honesty about long term goals is appreciated. The answer shows how your skills have progressed since you were licensed, and it inspires confidence in your ability to handle a hands-on post at a busy clinic.

Service Industry:

“Having spent eight years in the food and beverage industry, I progressed from head waiter to front of house manager four years ago. I’ve held so many posts in the industry, from runner to waiter to head waiter to manager, but my dedication to quality service has never changed. I believe in knowing my product and process inside and out, uplifting my team members and demonstrating focused positivity throughout. It’s easy to fall into the temper trap when things get busy, but I prefer to knuckle down, smile and get it done. I want my customers to come back for more!”

This works because: This answer makes an impact because of how your personality shines through. The service industry is incredibly stressful, but it’s refreshing to know that you have a proactive, positive attitude to stressful situations, backed up with strong product knowledge and professionalism.

“I’m an accredited software engineer and systems integrator with more than ten years of active development experience. I’m proficient in Ruby, Python, Java, C++ and a wide range of associated languages and frameworks. I’m a team player, and I love bouncing ideas off my colleagues and engaging with diverse perspectives. I like to stay abreast of the latest tech and I’m wildly competitive when it comes to troubleshooting. I’ve also got an eye for detail and clean design and I’m dedicated to delivering a seamless, streamlined experience to the end-user.”

This works because: From this answer, it’s clear that you’re accredited and boast a diversified programming portfolio with plenty of experience in the field. It’s noted that you’re a team player, as teamwork is essential when developing and managing systems for a busy tech enterprise. And your attitude to problem solving, as being competitive will help you find fast and effective solutions.

“I’ve been a retail cosmetic artist and sales assistant for six years and I’m passionate about making clients feel utterly gorgeous! I have a strong knowledge of retail processes, including stock-take, merchandising and sales targeting. If I have to describe my stand-out quality it’s that I love to build up the team, make my colleagues smile and get them motivated to break targets for our department. Above all though, the customer comes first and I’m dedicated to building brand and store loyalty in the customer.”

  This works because: From this answer, it’s obvious you know retail like the back of your hand and that you take pride in breaking targets and boosting the team morale. Your positivity shines through, and you highlight your passion for making clients feel special.

Practice Your Answer Before the Interview

As a final tip – make sure you go practice everything you plan on saying when the interviewer asks, “what can you tell me about yourself?” Nothing comes out perfect the first time, and you don’t want to appear nervous and stumble when they ask.  So I’d recommend grabbing a piece of paper and writing down the key points you want to talk about in your answer. I like to write them in bullet format. Then, use your smartphone’s voice recorder app to record a few practice answers and see how you sound. Don’t look at your notes as you give your answer. The idea is to try to remember what you want to talk about without reading off the paper. Then glance at the paper AFTER to make sure you covered everything. Keep practicing until you can give a smooth answer without forgetting anything important.

Note: If you’re having a phone interview , you can use notes/bullet points to help guide you through your answer. Nobody can see you on the phone, so take advantage!

About the Author

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101 Best Inspirational Quotes for Your Life Journey

Everyone has a unique journey in life, one that is filled with both challenges and triumphs. As we make our way through our individual paths, we can often find ourselves needing a bit of inspiration. Whether it’s a quote from a wise figure, a thought-provoking proverb, or a simple reminder of our own inner strength, inspirational quotes can be a powerful tool to help us stay focused and motivated on our life journey. In this blog post, we will explore some of the most powerful inspirational quotes for your life journey.

Table of Contents

Benefits of Incorporating Inspirational Quotes into Your Life

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or uninspired? Are you looking for that extra bit of motivation to make a change in your life? Incorporating inspiring quotes into your life can be just the thing you need to help you get back on track! 

Inspirational quotes are words of wisdom that offer guidance and reassurance when you need it most. They can help you stay focused on your goals and keep you motivated to achieve them. Here are some of the benefits of incorporating uplifting quotes into your life. 

Provide Clarity

When life feels uncertain or overwhelming, inspirational quotes can help you gain clarity and perspective. They can help you to see the bigger picture and provide the guidance you need to make the difficult decisions in life. 

Help You Stay Focused

When you’re feeling lost or stuck, inspirational quotes can help you stay focused and motivated on achieving your goals. They can give you the courage to take the necessary steps to move you forward. 

Provide Hope

In times of despair and discouragement, inspirational quotes can help you remain hopeful and energized. They remind you of the importance of having faith, no matter how dark things may seem. 

Provide Encouragement

Life can be overwhelming and filled with challenges. When you’re feeling down and out, inspirational quotes can provide you with the encouragement and positivity you need to push through. 

Provide Guidance

When you’re uncertain of which path to take, inspirational quotes can help you make the right decision. They can provide you with the guidance and wisdom you need to make the best choices and create a brighter future.

You May Also Like: 70 Empowering Inspirational Quotes to Transform Your Life!

Inspirational Quotes for Your Life Journey

Inspirational quotes can be a great source of motivation and guidance when life gets tough. They remind us to stay positive, to keep going even when times are tough, and to never give up. Whether it’s a quote from a great philosopher, a religious leader, or a celebrity, there’s always something inspiring to draw from.

1. “You have to get lost before you can be found.” – Jeff Rasley

2. “Don’t be scared to walk alone. Don’t be scared to like it .” – John Mayer

3. ”The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu

4. “There are some places in life where you can only go alone. Embrace the beauty of your solo journey.” – Mandy Hale

5. “Sometimes, reaching out and taking someone’s hand is the beginning of a journey”. – Vera Nazarian

6. “Previous journeys in search of treasure have taught me that a zigzag strategy is the best way to get ahead.” – Tahir Shah

7. “Sometimes the longest journey we make is the sixteen inches from our heads to our hearts.” – Elena Avila

8. “Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” – Drake

9. “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” – Babs Hoffman

10. “The end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started.” – T. S. Eliot

11. “The best part of life is to decide to make the journey through life like a best selling book. Tell a fantastic story when you are ready to tell others how you did it. Make sure life the best story ever written through a journey filled with overcoming obstacles, taking risks, and continuing to develop.” – Catherine Pulsifer

You May Also Like: 115 Good Morning Sunday Inspirational Quotes To Jumpstart Your Day!

12. ”The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Tony Robbins

13. “Life is an opportunity, seize the day, live each day to the fullest. Life is not a project, but a journey to be enjoyed.” – Catherine Pulsifer

14. ”Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey.” – Fitzhugh Mullan

15. “In order to complete our amazing life journey successfully, it is vital that we turn each and every dark tear into a pearl of wisdom, and find the blessing in every curse.” – Anthon St. Maarten 

16. “What you learn in tough times can be used in many ways to bless your personal life journey.” – Scott Gordon

17. “Embrace your life journey with gratitude, so that how you travel your path is more important than reaching your ultimate destination .” – Rosalene Glickman

18. “Accomplishments will prove to be a journey, not a destination .” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

19. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

20. ”Your journey has molded you for the greater good.” – Asha Tyson

21. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take but by the moments that take your breath away .” – Maya Angelou

You May Also Like: 75 Motivational Addiction Recovery Quotes to Find Inner Strength

Life is a Journey Quotes

Life is a journey, full of ups and downs and unexpected turns. As you embark on your life journey, take some time to be inspired by wise and uplifting words. Inspirational quotes can give you the strength and courage to tackle any challenge and to keep on going even when things get tough. 

22. “Always the journey, never the destination.” – Simon Rattle

23. “Remember where you have been and know where you are going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.” – Nikita Koloff

24. “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.” – Oliver Goldsmith

25. “In the middle of the journey of our life, I came to myself in the dark wood, where the direct way was lost”. – Dante Alighieri

26. “Life is a journey and it’s about growing and changing and coming to terms with who and what you are, and loving who and what you are.” – Kelly McGillis

27. “We are travellers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.”  – Paulo Coelho

28. “Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but its everything in between that makes it all worth living.” – Bob Marley

29. “Life is a journey filled with unexpected miracles” – Unknown

30. “Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.” – Buddha

31. “Life is a journey that has a lot different paths, but any path you choose use it as your destiny.” – Ryan Leonard

32. “I believe that life is a journey, often difficult and sometimes incredibly cruel, but we are well equipped for it if only we tap into our talents and gifts and allow them to blossom.” – Les Brown

33. “Winning and losing isn’t everything; sometimes, the journey is just as important as the outcome.” – Alex Morgan

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Best Life Journey Quotes

It is important to remember that having quotes to guide you on your journey can make all the difference. Just as a map guides a traveler to a desired destination, so too can inspirational quotes help keep you focused and motivated along your life journey. 

34. “The only journey is the one within.” – Rainer Maria Rilke

35. ”If you’re going through hell, keep going.” – Winston Churchill

36. “You are far from the end of your journey. The way is not in the sky. The way is in the heart. See how you love.” – Buddha

37. ”Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

38. “Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.” – Henri Frederic Amiel

39. “The benefits of the accomplished journey cannot be weighed in terms of perfect moments but in terms of how this journey affects and changes our character.” – Ella Maillart

40. “We never know the journey another person has walked, so be kind to everyone .” – Lynette Mather

41. “The main thing that you have to remember on this journey is, just be nice to everyone and always smile .” – Ed Sheeran

42. “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!” – Hunter S. Thompson

43. “In this journey of life, you will meet people who will make you feel alive!” – Avijeet Das

44. “Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved”. – Winnie the Pooh

45. “One of the journeys in life is overcoming insecurity and learning to truly not give a shit.” – J.A. Konrath

46. “Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be…Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you’ll live as you’ve never lived before.” – Erich Fromm

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Life is About the Journey Quotes

Life is about the journey quotes remind us to cherish the journey we are on and to not be so focused on the end result. Life is full of ups and downs and it is important to enjoy and learn from each step we take. 

47. “Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost”. – Erol Ozan

48. “To get through the hardest journey we need to take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping .” – Chinese Proverb 

49. “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” – Ernest Hemingway

50. “I discovered that a fresh start is a process. A fresh start is a journey – a journey that requires a plan.” – Vivian Jokotade

51. “This thing we call life is not a destination with an end but a path down which we continue to journey as long as we can breathe. Life is to be lived not squandered or to give away waiting for the end to close upon us .” – Byron Pulsifer

52. “The only thing that is ultimately real about your journey is the step that you are taking at this moment. That’s all there ever is.” – Alan Watts

53. “Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way. It is all those little steps that make the journey complete. “– Chanda Kochhar

54. “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson

55. “There’s no destination. The journey is all that there is, and it can be very, very joyful”. – Srikumar Rao

56. “Life to me is a journey – you never know what may be your next destination.” – David Russell

57. “What I like is the journey, the year-round struggle to improve.” – Dorian Yates

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Every Day is a Journey Quotes

Every day is a journey and every moment is a lesson. We have the opportunity to learn something new and to grow with each experience. Every day is an opportunity to make a positive change in our lives. These quotes about every day being a journey remind us to stay in the present moment and to appreciate the journey that we are on.

58. “Find the journey’s end in every step.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

59. “Learn to trust the journey, even when you do not understand it .”  – Lolly Daskal 

60. “Always remember life is a learning journey. Keep filling your mind with all that is worthy.” – Catherine Pulsifer

61. “It’s the ‘everyday’ experiences we encounter along the journey to who we wanna be that will define who we are when we get there.” — Aaron Lauritsen

62. “I have traveled many roads in my life. Some were imbued with pain and I needed to avert my gaze. Others were so beautiful that I would have remained there forever. But always, at some point in these routes, I reached a place where I encountered myself .” – Pablo Holmberg

63. “See, life is a journey and every chapter is very interesting.” – Zeenat Aman

64. ”Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.” – Nelson Mandela

65. “On your journey, don’t forget to smell the flowers. Take time out to notice that you’re alive. You can only live in one day.” – Ray Fearon

66. ”You will never truly know yourself, or the strength of your relationships, until both have been tested by adversity.” – J.K. Rowling

67. “Sometimes we make the process more complicated than we need to. We will never make a journey of a thousand miles by fretting about how long it will take or how hard it will be. We make the journey by taking each day step by step and then repeating it again and again until we reach our destination.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin

68. “Peace is a journey of a thousand miles and it must be taken one step at a time.” – Lyndon B. Johnson

69. “Your journey never ends. Life has a way of changing things in incredible ways.” – Alexander Volkov

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Enjoy the Journey Quotes

Enjoy the journey quotes are words of motivation to appreciate and savor the experiences of life’s journey. Life is a gift, and it’s important to take the time to enjoy and appreciate each moment, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant. 

70. “The journey is the reward .” – Tao Expression

71. “The journey between what you once were and who you are now becoming is now where the dance of life really takes place.” – Barbara de Angelis 

72. “And at the end of the day, there is nothing but the journey. Because destination is pure illusion.” – Rich Roll

73. “Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter.” – Izaak Walton

75. “It is not the destination where you end up but the mishaps and memories you create along the way !” – Penelope Riley

75. “Enjoy the journey and try to get better every day. And don’t lose the passion and the love for what you do.” – Nadia Comaneci

76. “A journey taken in vain is not a wasted journey if you have learnt something .” – Anthony T. Hincks

77. “If ever there was a metaphor to illustrate the importance of the journey over the destination, it is life itself. For everyone who departs from birth is destined for death, so the journey is life. Savor it!” – Michele Jennae

78. ”A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.”- John A. Shedd

79. “Let your joy be in your journey – not in some distant goal.” – Tim Cook

80. “Sometimes it’s more about the journey than the destination.” – Jamal Crawford

81. “Everybody has their own story; everybody has their own journey.” – Thalia

82. “The journey matters as much as the goal.” – Kalpana Chawla

83. “Enjoy the journey of life and not just the endgame.” – Benedict Cumberbatch

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Journey Quotes to Inspire Success

Journey quotes are a great way to inspire success and motivate yourself to keep pushing forward. They remind us to stay focused on our goals, no matter how hard the journey may be. They remind us that success is a long road and that we have to take it one step at a time. They urge us to never give up and to keep striving towards our dreams. 

84. “Success is a journey, not a destination.” – Ben Sweetland

85. ”Don’t be discouraged if the people around you don’t see what you see in your dream. Most great people were doubted in the beginning of their journey to greatness.” ― Edmond Mbiaka

86. ”Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”- Arthur Ashe

87. “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending”. – C.S. Lewis

88. “The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.” – Albert Einstein

89. “The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.” – Henry David Thoreau

90. “No one can decide the road that inspires us to kick-start a journey better than the one embarking on the path. We may find others joining our journey, but we have to take the first step alone to reach our destination.” – Dr. Prem Jagyasi

91. “I discovered that a fresh start is a process. A fresh start is a journey – a journey that requires a plan”. – Vivian Jokotad

92. “It has been a long journey, but if you dream and have the ambition and want to work hard, then you can achieve.” – Mo Farah

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93. ”You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.” – Les Brown

94. ”Ambition is the path to success. Persistence is the vehicle you arrive in.” – Bill Bradley

95. ”If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t walk run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but by all means keep moving.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

96. ”The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance, and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” – Oprah Winfrey

97. ”If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.”—Thomas J. Watson

98. “Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s okay. You’re here to live your life, not to make everyone understand.” – Banksy

99. “Never give up on your dreams, no matter how painful and difficult your journey is.”-  Lisa

100. “Humility is the true key to success. Successful people lose their way at times. They often embrace and overindulge from the fruits of success. Humility halts this arrogance and self-indulging trap. Humble people share the credit and wealth, remaining focused and hungry to continue the journey of success.” – Rick Pitino

101. “It’s a long journey to become successful, and you learn to grow with it. You grow with the small steps you take.” – Benson Henderson

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Good Luck on Your Journey

In life, it is important to stay inspired and motivated to keep pushing forward. Inspirational quotes can provide us with the wisdom and encouragement to stay focused on our life journey. Whether it is finding success, experiencing joy, or overcoming adversity, inspirational quotes can be the perfect reminder to keep striving for the best version of ourselves. As we journey through life, let us remember these motivational words and use them to find strength and courage every step of the way.

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Realizing Your Meaning: 5 Ways to Live a Meaningful Life

If you have ever had this thought, then take comfort that you are not alone. There is ample anecdotal evidence that people are looking for ways to live a more meaningful life.

Living a meaningful life and deciding what is meaningful are age-old questions (e.g., Marcus Aurelius wrestled with this question when he was Emperor of Rome from 161 to 180 AD).

If you are reading this article, then living a meaningful life must be of interest to you. You might be wondering what we mean by ‘meaningful,’ and whether there are any benefits to striving toward such a way of living. Are there any practical suggestions for how to achieve a meaningful life?

Here we will summarize the existing psychological research that examines this question and provide you with a starting point on your journey.

Before we get to the practical suggestions about how to live a meaningful life, we first define what ‘meaningful’ means, explore why living a meaningful life is worthwhile, and detail the benefits that are associated with this type of experience.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Meaning and Valued Living Exercises for free . These creative, science-based exercises will help you learn more about your values, motivations, and goals and will give you the tools to inspire a sense of meaning in the lives of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

The big questions: how to find meaning in life, a psychological take, 5 ways to realize your meaning, finding meaning as you age, 9 inspiring quotes about finding meaning, positivepsychology.com resources, a take-home message.

The question of finding meaning in life has its roots in two fields: philosophy and psychology.

The philosophical question is aimed at understanding the meaning of life in general, as well as our role in that meaning. For the purposes of this article, we’re putting the philosophical perspective on this issue to the side. As psychologists, we can’t contribute to this answer.

However, the second variation of this question – how we find meaning in life – is psychological and of more interest to us.

• Why am I doing this?
• Do I want to do this?
• What do I want to do?

These questions are also repackaged in popular psychology and leadership self-help books, such as Find Your Why (Sinek, Mead, & Docker, 2017) and How to Find Your Passion and Purpose (Gaisford, 2017).

Observant readers might comment that these are questions typically asked about our vocations or professional activities. However, people who are unemployed or employed part time also ask questions such as these and seek a meaningful life. These questions are easily repurposed for other spheres of our lives.

Before we can answer the question of how to find meaning, we first need to consider what is meant by ‘meaning.’

Psychological researchers conduct research and measure psychological constructs such as happiness, depression, and intelligence. However, constructs first need to be defined before they can be measured.

Although ‘meaningfulness’ is often confounded with other constructs such as purpose, coherence, and happiness, some researchers argue that these constructs are not interchangeable, but instead form a complex relationship and exist separately.

For example, Steger, Frazier, Oishi, and Kaler (2006) posit that meaning consists of two separate dimensions: coherence and purpose. Coherence refers to how we understand our life, whereas purpose relates to the goals that we have for our life.

Reker and Wong (1988) argue that meaningfulness is better explained and understood using a three-dimensional model consisting of coherence, purpose, and a third construct: significance. Significance refers to the sense that our life is worth living and that life has inherent value. Together, these three constructs contribute to a sense of meaningfulness.

In some research, coherence, purpose, and significance have been reframed as motivational and cognitive processes. Specifically, Heintzelman and King (2014) suggest a model with three components: goal direction, mattering, and one’s life making sense.

Goal direction and mattering  are both motivational components and synonymous with purpose and significance, respectively. The third component – one’s life making sense – is a cognitive component, akin to significance.

Together, these three components – coherence, purpose, and significance – result in feelings of meaningfulness. Knowing that meaningfulness is derived from three distinct fields, let’s look at ways in which we can find our meaning.

Finding something to live and die for – Einzelganger

How can we go about finding our meaning? First, there is no single panacea to the sense of living without meaning. Finding meaning is ultimately a personal journey. What brings me meaning might not bring you meaning. However, this doesn’t mean that the techniques used to find meaning won’t be helpful. Viktor Frankl (1959, p. 99) supported the notion that finding meaning is a unique journey when he wrote in  Man’s Search for Meaning :

Man’s search for meaning is the primary motivation in his life and not a “secondary rationalization” of instinctual drives. This meaning is unique and specific in that it must and can be fulfilled by him alone; only then does it achieve a significance that will satisfy his own will to meaning.

With this mind, consider the following suggestions in your quest to find meaning:

1. Foster a passion (purpose)

Vallerand (2012) argues that either motivation or passion drives our desire and interest in activities.

Motivation is useful for activities that are considered dull (e.g., washing the dishes), whereas passion is the driving force for activities that have significance for us.

Passion can be negative or positive, however. Negative passions, referred to as obsessive passions, are maladaptive and lead to unhealthy behaviors; these types of passions should be avoided. On the other hand, positive, harmonious passions improve our behavior and lead to optimal functioning.

Vallerand (2012) found that people who had more harmonious relationships with their passions also had stronger relationships with the people who shared their passions.

2. Develop and foster social relationships (purpose, significance)

Making connections with other individuals and maintaining these relationships are reliable ways to develop a sense of meaningfulness (Heintzelman & King, 2014).

Download 3 Meaning & Valued Living Exercises (PDF)

These detailed, science-based exercises will equip you or your clients with tools to find meaning in life help and pursue directions that are in alignment with values.

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3. Relationships that increase your sense of belonging (significance)

Although social connections are important, not all social relationships are equal. Make sure to focus on relationships that make you feel like you ‘belong’ (Lambert et al., 2013), where you feel like you fit in with the members of that group, and where there is group identification.

Participants who were asked to think of people with whom they felt that they belonged reported higher ratings of meaningfulness compared to participants who remembered instances when they received help or support, or instances when they received positive compliments or statements of high social value (Lambert et al., 2013).

These findings also tie in with the negative impact of ostracism on the sense of meaning (Williams, 2007). If you feel like you don’t belong, then you have a lower sense of meaningfulness.

4. Monitor your mood (coherence)

Experimental laboratory studies have demonstrated a temporal relationship between positive mood and sense of meaning. Inducing a positive mood results in higher reports of meaning (for a review, see Heintzelman & King, 2014).

Managing your mood can be difficult. However, there are some techniques that you can use; for example, make time for interests and hobbies, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, eat healthily, and consider developing a mindfulness practice (e.g., through meditation).

5. Take control of your environment (coherence)

A cognitively coherent environment can boost ratings of meaningfulness (Heintzelman & King, 2014).

Heintzelman and King (2014) suggest that routines, patterns (which could refer to your behavior and the behavior of your family), time blocking, and clean environments can all contribute to an increased ability to make sense of one’s environment, which in turn can lead to an increased sense of meaningfulness.

Simple ways to induce a cognitively coherent environment would be to implement a fixed routine, schedule time for unexpected tasks (e.g., “emergencies” delivered via email), formally schedule downtime for exercise and passions, and maintain a tidy environment (in other words, your desk is not the place for all those dirty coffee mugs).

However, do not be unreasonable with your expectations of your environment. Unexpected challenges will pop up. Your child might have a meltdown, or you might drop a box of eggs on the floor, but these experiences will have less of a negative impact if you already have a sense of control over your environment.

We are also likely to experience multiple losses as we age. We may lose our parents, our partners, face layoffs, or develop an illness. The stereotypical concept of an older adult is of someone who is frail and requires care; however, older age is not synonymous with a less meaningful or valuable life.

In fact, many older adults live incredibly long, busy lives, and their positive psychological profiles act as a buttress against illness, loneliness, and depression. There is vast evidence that centenarians have very positive attitudes and psychological traits and few negative personality traits.

Centenarians are more relaxed and easygoing (Samuelsson et al., 1997), place a great deal of importance on social relationships and events (Wong et al., 2014), have a more positive life attitude in general (Wong et al., 2014), and report low anxiety (Samuelsson et al., 1997).

These positive aging traits and attitudes, coupled with the few negative traits, act as a protective buffer against depression, illness, and loneliness (Jopp, Park, Lehrfeld, & Paggi, 2016; Keyes, 2000), and contribute to the longevity of centenarians.

It is difficult to change your personality traits suddenly; however, it is possible to change your thinking patterns by working with a therapist trained in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Your therapist can help you identify and change negative patterns of thinking and behavior, and help you to adopt a positive pattern of thinking.

Centenarians greatly value their social experiences and are actively involved in social events (Wong et al., 2014).

It can be difficult for older adults to make new social connections, especially after retirement, because the ‘natural environment’ for meeting new people, such as the workplace, is removed. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways for older adults to meet new people and form new relationships.

With retirement comes more free time and possibly an opportunity to develop a new hobby or passion. And as we previously mentioned, finding a passion is one way to develop meaning. Vallerand (2012) provides an excellent summary of the role that motivation plays in developing passion and how passion leads to a meaningful life.

If you are an older adult, then perhaps this is good time in your life to start. Remember that positive (rather than negative/obsessive/maladaptive) passions are born from the positive association made with particular activities (Vallerand, 2012). These passions are activities that we find time for, that we invest in, and that we embody.

For example, if you have a passion for painting, you will carve out time to paint, experience a great deal of happiness when you complete the activity, and may embody that passion in your understanding of your identity (e.g., you may consider yourself a ‘painter’). Embodying the activity into your understanding of your self-concept is one of the first steps toward laying habits (Clear, 2018).

Harmonious passions (Vallerand, 2012) play a vital role in how we find meaning in our lives.

These positive passions are worth developing. Not only do they help us find meaning in our lives, but older adults who do have a ‘passion’ also score higher on measures of psychological wellbeing. They report higher life satisfaction, better health, more meaning in their lives, and lower anxiety and lower depression than adults without a passion (Rosseau & Vallerand, 2003, as cited in Vallerand, 2012).

To summarize, it appears that centenarians adopt a positive mindset and psychological traits and value their social relationships. These factors may contribute to a longer, more meaningful life and protect against illness and depression. Fostering interests and hobbies is another way to find meaning in your life, buttressing against negative feelings and thoughts.

So, what can you do to find meaning in your life as you age? The following list can give you some guidance:

1. Make time for friends, family, and social events

It’s easy to neglect social relationships in favor of alone time (which is also important) or work deadlines, but promoting these relationships will have a more positive impact in the long term. If you are the type of person who forgets to see friends or family, add a reminder to your calendar.

2. Start now to develop a new hobby or interest

Carve out some time for your own interest and commit to that time. If you have a partner, ask your partner to shoulder other responsibilities during that time so that you can indulge your interests.

3. Express what makes you happy

If you’re in the early stages of developing a new hobby, it might help to express what you enjoy about the hobby. Consider writing a journal entry about what you enjoyed or tell your partner/friends/family members about your new hobby.

Expressing why you enjoy the hobby helps to build and strengthen positive associations with the hobby.

4. Share your hobby

Try to find a group of like-minded individuals who enjoy the same interest that you do. If you like painting, consider joining an art class.

Or perhaps you want to learn a new language. Try to find people who are also learning this language and watch a film in that language together.

5. Aim to engage and invest in your community

Simple acts such as greeting and chatting to your neighbors, talking to the vendors at your local stores and neighborhood markets, and participating in neighborhood events will help you to develop relationships with your community members.

With time, these relationships will deepen and become more meaningful. Furthermore, recognize that as an older adult, you can offer a great deal to your community. You have lived through numerous life experiences, career/professional/vocational decisions, and family decisions. You have a wealth of knowledge that you can share with your community.

Older adults who regularly engage in their favorite pastimes and who have a healthy, positive relationship with their favorite activity have better psychological functioning.

Each of us must become impassioned, finding meaning and self-fulfillment in our own life’s journey.

Alexandra Stoddard

Life is difficult. Not just for me or other ALS patients. Life is difficult for everyone. Finding ways to make life meaningful and purposeful and rewarding, doing the activities that you love and spending time with the people that you love – I think that’s the meaning of this human experience.

Steve Gleason

For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment.

Viktor E. Frankl

I don’t like work – no man does – but I like what is in the work – the chance to find yourself. Your own reality – for yourself not for others – what no other man can ever know. They can only see the mere show, and never can tell what it really means.

Joseph Conrad

There is something infantile in the presumption that somebody else has a responsibility to give your life meaning and point… The truly adult view, by contrast, is that our life is as meaningful, as full and as wonderful as we choose to make it.

Richard Dawkins

Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.

Dalai Lama XIV

I believe that I am not responsible for the meaningfulness or meaninglessness of life, but that I am responsible for what I do with the life I’ve got.

Hermann Hesse

It’s not how much money we make that ultimately makes us happy between nine and five. It’s whether or not our work fulfills us. Being a teacher is meaningful.

Malcolm Gladwell

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.

Maya Angelou

17 Tools To Encourage Meaningful, Value-Aligned Living

This 17 Meaning & Valued Living Exercises [PDF] pack contains our best exercises for helping others discover their purpose and live more fulfilling, value-aligned lives.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

We have different types of resources that you will find useful in helping you live a meaningful life:

1. From Our Worksheet Library

In Japanese culture, to find meaning and purpose in life is to find one’s  ikigai . We have a fantastic and in-depth exercise called Identifying Your Ikigai , which takes you through a series of steps to assess and help you find your fulfilling meaning in life.

Living a life with meaning and value can make you happier, more content, more resilient through hard times, and more likely to influence the lives of others.

If you are filled with questions about what you should do with your life and what really matters, then the Uncover Your Purpose worksheet is for you. It has several tough questions, but if you can answer them honestly and comprehensively, it will shine a light on the path you are meant to follow.

2. 17 Meaning & Valued Living Exercises

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others discover meaning, this collection contains 17 validated meaning tools for practitioners. Use them to help others choose directions for their lives in alignment with what is truly important to them.

Finding meaning in life is a journey that could start with something as simple as a pen and paper, deep reflection, and one of our tools mentioned above. Or your journey could start by stepping out the door and connecting with a neighbor, making a newfound friend, or starting a hobby you have wanted to explore but never got around to.

During your journey, you might that having meaning in life is not about yourself, but serving others.

Selfless service is often discovered to be the ultimate pinnacle of having a meaningful life, and many intriguing conversations with service workers, nurses, aid workers, and volunteers illustrate how they enjoy a meaningful life by serving others.

We hope that after reading this article you will also embark on this journey to find meaning in your life. We shared many different strategies you can implement when looking for that ultimate answer, and we sincerely hope that when you have found your  ikigai , you will make changes to actively live that life of meaning. If some of the strategies do not work for you, try another suggestion from the list.

Most important is to find a meaning that makes sense to you and recognize that this meaning might change as you go through different stages of your life.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Meaning and Valued Living Exercises for free .

• Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits: An easy & proven way to build good habits & break bad ones. Random House.
• Frankl, V. (1959). Man’s search for meaning . Beacon Press.
• Gaisford, C. (2017). How to find your passion and purpose: Four easy steps to discover a job you want and live the life you love (The art of living) . Blue Giraffe Publishing.
• Heintzelman, S. J., & King, L. A. (2014). Life is pretty meaningful. American Psychologist , 69 (6), 561–574.
• Jopp, D. S., Park, M. K. S., Lehrfeld, J., & Paggi, M. E. (2016). Physical, cognitive, social, and mental health in near-centenarians and centenarians living in New York City: Findings from the Fordham Centenarian Study. BMC Geriatrics , 16 .
• Keyes, C. L. M. (2000). Promoting and protecting mental health as flourishing: A complementary strategy for improving national mental health. American Psychology, 62 (2), 92–108.
• Lambert, N. M., Stillman, T. F., Hicks, J. A., Kamble, S., Baumeister, R. F., & Fincham, F. D. (2013). To belong is to matter: Sense of belonging enhances meaning in life. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39 (11), 1418–1427.
• Reker, G. T., & Wong, P. T. P. (1988). Aging as an individual process: Toward a theory of personal meaning. In J. E. Birren & V. L. Bengston (Eds.), Emerging theories of aging (pp. 214–246). Springer.
• Samuelsson, S. M., Alfredson, B. B., Hagberg, B., Samuelsson, G., Nordbeck, B., Brun, A., … Risberg, J. (1997). The Swedish centenarian study: A multidisciplinary study of five consecutive cohorts at the age of 100. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 45 (3), 223–253.
• Sinek, S., Mead, D., & Docker, P. (2017). Find your why: A practical guide for discovering purpose for you and your team. Portfolio.
• Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kahler, M. (2006). The meaning in life questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology , 53 , 80–93.
• Vallerand, R. J. (2012). From motivation to passion: In search of the motivational processes involved in a meaningful life. Canadian Psychology/ Psychologie Canadienne, 51 (1), 42–52.
• Williams, K. D. (2007). Ostracism. Annual Review of Psychology, 58 , 425–452.
• Wong, W. C., Lau, H. P., Kwok, C. F., Leung, Y. M, Chan, M. Y., & Cheung, S. L. (2014). The well-being of community-dwelling near-centenarians and centenarians in Hong Kong: A qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics, 14 (63), 1–8.

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What our readers think.

This post was truly worthwhile to read. I wanted to say thank you for the key points you have pointed out as they are enlightening.

As an elder stateman I congratulate you all on a job well done.

God Bless you all. Yours Sincerely Thomas A Mc Henry (Ret ‘d) ( Yesterday’s Man)

This concept of Ikigai is the best. It set apart this article from others that just say “Find something you like” and gave a visual representation of what finding meaning is. I recently discovered something I am passionate about, am good at in some ways (although I need professional training and knowledge), and would like to work in as a career. In fact, this site led me to the realization that I would like to pursue that occupation. There’s an endless goldmine of useful information on this site.

Really great article thank you. As an Occupational Therapist in mental health ‘meaningful occupation ‘ is at the core of my philosophy. Your article puts the concept very concisely and has some excellent quotes and explanations to illustrate a meaningful life that so many people struggle to comprehend.

Please correct the dates of Marcus Aurelius’ reign. Thank you for the article. Agape

Hi Agape, Good spotting! We’ll pass this onto our editing team. Kind regards, Nicole

Thank you! This is a very informative article. Here are very detailed steps to identify your calling, your life purpose. Unfortunately, life can’t be that simple, and to realize your meaning, you need to gain and comprehend life experience. I can’t rationally think things over when I don’t feel it emotionally. I hope you know what I mean. I can’t find my calling because I don’t feel that’s what I want to do. And I can’t answer the rest of the questions at the beginning of this article unambiguously. Well, it turns out I have a lot of work to do on myself…

Hey mate 🙂 , How are you ? Spinoza states something like that : “to realize your meaning, you need to gain and comprehend life experience.” Check out this guy Spinoza, Ethics ” For the meaning of life differs from man to man, from day to day and from hour to hour. What matters, therefore, is not the meaning of life in general but rather the specific meaning of a person’s life at a given moment. ” I guess the point is to try doing things to find out what makes you happy and your life meaningfull: “I believe that I am not responsible for the meaningfulness or meaninglessness of life, but that I am responsible for what I do with the life I’ve got.” So if u want to know more about it u can search for SPINOZAS theory

I have the same work I need to do myself. This has opened up alot of questions that I don’t have easy answers to. I will take steps, small steps but I must fulfill this in my life in some way. I believe this will help me in great ways.

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7 Steps to Create a Roadmap for Your Life

How to effectively navigate any major life change..

Posted March 30, 2022 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• The archetype for life is the journey. The roadmap helps chart the trip through change and transition.
• A roadmap helps a person visualize their life—where they have been and where they want to go.
• Learning how to navigate change and transition will help one gain control of life's circumstances.

Since the archetype for life is the journey, a roadmap will help you plan your life moving forward much as you would prepare for a trip. Charting your trip tells you where you’ve been so far, where you intend to go, what obstacles you may face, and the places you keep returning to over and over again.

Our journeys are both inner and outer. The events of the outer journey, the cumulative transitions of a lifetime, will be somewhat similar for all of us who share the human experience. Our personal inner journey is a much more private affair. The roadmap is a reliable context within which to place your very own experiences and transitions.

The nature of life is change and all of us will make many changes and go through numerous transitions as we live life. Nothing stays the same and neither do we. So much colors who we are and who we are to become. Knowingly or not, we move into new and different phases that connect us socially and emotionally to others who are going through the same phase.

But beyond the normal changes we will encounter, there will be those changes and transitions we did not expect, did not prepare for, did not want to happen. How do we cope with encounters and transitions that are difficult, challenging, and often overwhelming?

One way is to learn to be prepared for whatever comes your way. How do you do that? Well, experience will be a great teacher. Once something has happened to you, it will no longer be an unknown. You will have learned something from it. But, it’s a lot easier if you have the tools to handle change and transition so you’re not surprised, so you’ll know what to do.

Here are seven essential steps to help you navigate through any change/transition you may encounter during the course of your life.

Have a realistic expectation. Before you embark on your next big change/transition, map your trip as best you can, knowing that things don’t always work out as you plan or hope they will. Know that things can go smoothly, or there may be delays, detours, and roadblocks. Be realistic about the timetable. Again, things may happen quickly or there may be delays, sudden stops, and sometimes re-routing before you reach your destination.

Review what you’ve learned about change . Each of your trips to a new place in your life has hopefully taught you something. It’s these cumulative events and your responses to them that help you navigate whatever happens to you moving forward. What you’ve learned and how to respond will help you make the best possible choices and decisions.

The exception to that, of course, is an event that places you in imminent danger, such as a life-threatening illness, unexpected personal crisis, or natural disaster, where you have no choice but to take immediate action. In that case, once the necessary actions have been taken and the dust finally settles, you can then go back and review, in order to figure out what the change/transition meant and what to do next.

Create a Life Timetable. This timetable should reflect major life transitions. What events did you initiate on your own? In other words, what inner events caused you to make a change? What happenings were foisted upon you by life circumstances? In other words, what events happened to you from the outside; those events you had little control over? What were your “triumphs?" What were your losses? Pay attention to the main emotions for each of these changes/transitions. How did you react to whatever happened to you?

Do you view each major event in your life in a positive light—you got something out of it? Or, do you fear change because you believe the things that have happened to you have impacted you negatively?

Define your Life Themes. This goes well beyond charting the chronological order of events, the basic facts of your life. Themes are generally easily recognizable—they are recurring and repetitive. Positively, life themes help you define who you are and alert you to your purpose and passion. Developing insight into how you process life and what is most important to you can help you gain more personal control so that you can skillfully steer the course in the direction you want to go.

Get in touch with your Life Lessons. We all have them. Each of us has our own unique things to experience and lessons to be learned. Not one size fits all. Our lessons come from every single facet of our lives—our background, family, culture, religion, social group, education . Those influencers help us define who we are from birth. Some of us are fortunate enough to have been given life skills early on so that finding our way through life is made easier, while others struggle to find their way. But there is always the opportunity at any point in life to learn and receive guidance from those around you.

Where you choose to take yourself in life and who you choose to associate with will inevitably influence you greatly. Paying close attention to how you respond to life will help you become acutely aware of the life lessons that await you.

Go beyond limiting beliefs. Do you really know what you believe? We often assume we know what we believe to be true—but that’s often not the case. What we think is true is frequently colored by others’ opinions and influenced by those we admire and trust. As much as they may care about us, they may not always know what’s in our best interest. And too, often the actions we take and the choices and decisions we make are based on ideas and beliefs that no longer serve us, if they ever did. So going beyond limiting beliefs may pave the way for changing how you make transitions moving forward. Push through to beliefs that bolster your confidence and support your endeavors.

Accept the unknown. There’s so much we don’t know as we go through life. With as much planning as we’ll do to ensure our desired outcome, there will always be those times when all the planning in the world will not get us the result we want. Who knows why? But it happens. Consider the unknown your friend in life. When you accept what you can’t control, what you can’t do anything about, it becomes far easier to accept what does come and make it work for you.

As Rilke said so well, “Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

Abigail Brenner, M.D . , is a psychiatrist in private practice. She is the author of Transitions: How Women Embrace Change and Celebrate Life and other books.

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About Yourself Scholarship Essay Examples (2023)

Jennifer Finetti Sep 28, 2022

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A popular scholarship essay prompt is “Tell us about yourself.” This question is relatively open-ended, which may make it difficult to answer at first glance. What should I tell them about myself? My struggles, my goals, my passions…? These may all be fitting topics, depending on the scholarship. We’ll show you some scholarship essay examples about yourself, along with writing tips to guide you along the way.

What they want to know about you

As you prepare to write, think of the topics the scholarship committee would be interested in. These may include:

• Your current degree, as it applies to your overall career goals. You can explain why you chose your current educational path and what you want to do with that.
• Your short-term and long-term professional goals . Frame your answer as if to say “Where will you be in 5 years? Where will you be in 10 years?” Scholarship committees like to reward people with defined aspirations.
• Past experiences that sparked your passions. You could talk about an influential person in your life, but make sure most of the essay focuses on you. After all, you are talking about yourself.
• Something about you that relates to their organization. With any scholarship essay, you should try to connect yourself with the organization providing the funding. Don’t force a connection. Find one that naturally fits. Mention hobbies, experiences and goals that match what the review committee is looking for.
• Something unique that sets you apart from other applicants. This may be volunteer experience, career specialties, situational differences (growing up in an area that didn’t encourage education), etc.

Note that you do not have to throw all this information into one essay. Choose the elements that best fit the scholarship. If you were on the review board, what would you want to learn about each applicant? What would make you choose one applicant over another? Keep this in mind as you develop your thoughts.

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What they don’t want to know about you

There is plenty of information you could include in an about yourself scholarship essay. There is just as much information to avoid though. Some topics to keep out of your essay include:

• False information. Do not make up stories or fabricate goals to fit the prompt. The scholarship committee can instantly tell when someone is lying, and they will disqualify you immediately.
• Past struggles that do not pertain to the essay topic. You can briefly mention struggles from your past, as long as you mention how you’ve learned from them. Do not make your essay a long story about the hard life you’ve led. Focus on your triumphs, not your obstacles.
• Vague goals and aspirations. Scholarships are usually given to students who have a plan. If you say, “I’m not sure what I’m doing yet,” the committee will select a more motivated candidate. If you have a plan and a backup plan, that’s fine. Just make sure you mention both options and show which one you favor.
• Cliché stories that most people tell. There is something that makes you stand out as a person. Use that to your advantage. Don’t rely on generic information they’ll find with other applicants.
• Unrelated elements of your personal life. In most cases, you should not mention your significant other in the essay. You might mention a spouse if you need to reference your children or a turning point in your life, but these personal details do not fit most essays. Any information that seems frivolous or ill-placed should be removed from the essay.

Read through your essay carefully. If you stop at one point to say, “Why did I mention that?” get rid of the corresponding information. Showcase the best elements about yourself in a fluid and cohesive manner.

Short scholarship essay example: Tell us about yourself (100 Words)

With 100 words, you can only focus on one or two elements of your life. Think about your biggest selling points – the things that show you are the ideal candidate. Start by introducing yourself and your educational status. Then jump into the main topic of the essay. You may not have room to mention how the scholarship will help your education. Instead, mention how your education can help your career. The other information will be implied.

My name is Christian Wood. I am a high school senior who will be attending the University of Nevada, Reno in the fall. I want to become an online journalist. My goal is to work for the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Huffington Post, or another news outlet that has a strong online presence. Most people already get their news on the internet, and the industry will be even bigger by the time I graduate. Getting a degree in journalism with a focus on digital media will set me up for a fulfilling, fast-paced career fit for the future.

Word Count: 96

Medium scholarship essay example: Tell us about yourself (250 Words)

With a mid-length scholarship essay, you have more space to explain how your past has influenced your present and future goals. You should have rom for an intro paragraph, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion (maybe incorporated into the last body paragraph). Think of a few main points you want to touch on, and write those down first. If you still have room, you can add more details about yourself.

My name is Sarah, and I spent most of my childhood on the wrong medication. I experienced a problem common in clinical psychology – misdiagnosis. Professionals provide inaccurate diagnoses for many reasons – f rom antiquated testing methods to limited education. I want to open my own psychological testing facility and help change that. Therefore, I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Neuropsychology.  I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child because I had trouble focusing in school. The medication m y doctor prescribed to me only made me numb to the world around me. I couldn’t think or process emotions, or had no emotions at all. After several years my parents finally decided to get a second opinion. I saw a specialist and she concluded that I didn’t have ADHD , but a combination of dyslexia and dysgraphia (difficulties with reading and writing). She sent us to a therapist who helped me learn how to work around my conditions, and my life improved tremendously. I went from being a lifeless student with barely passing grades to an honor roll student full of joy and excitement. Unfortunately, my story is not one of a kind. There are countless children in America who are put on mind-altering medications that do not adequately address their needs. I cannot help all of those children, but I can provide a better alternative for the ones in my area. Through proper education, funded by financial aid, I can learn about psychological evaluations and provide the most accurate diagnoses possible.

Word Count: 249

Long scholarship essay example: Tell us about yourself (500 Words)

Scholarship essays that are 500 words or longer let you tell the whole story. You can discuss your past, present and future in a comprehensive manner. Avoid rambling and make sure each topic contributes to the overall essay. If one piece feels out of place, remove it and elaborate more on the existing elements. By the end of the essay, the reader should have a full understanding of who you are and what you want to accomplish.

My name is Sierra Breault, and I am a junior at Murray State University. I am double-majoring in Criminal Justice and Forensics Science, and I will graduate in 2024 with two bachelor degrees. My career goal is in social justice, so I can contribute to criminal justice reform. I want to ensure that those who commit crimes are treated fairly.  I come from a small town where excessive force and even death by cop incidents are often committed, especially against minorities. A few years ago, one of my relatives was charged for a crime although the crime scene evidence wasn’t properly obtained, catalogued and analyzed.  This experience played a big part in my wish to study criminal justice. I started exploring the career more when I decided that a desk job just wasn’t for me. Throughout high school I struggled because of the routine nature of it all. I saw the same people and attended the same classes every single day. I knew I didn’t want a job that would be that stagnant. That’s when I got the idea to work in law enforcement, because there would always be a new challenge for me to tackle. After researching the field even more, I set my sights on crime scene investigation. I have performed much better academically in college than I ever did in high school. That’s because there is no routine to the experience. Every week, I have new projects to complete, tests to study for, and activities to try. I have been involved with the campus Crime Stoppers organization all three years of college, and I was elected president for the upcoming term. This lets me work closely with law enforcement to supplement my college education and further my career.   After graduating, I will apply for work as a dispatcher in a state organization, such as the Department of Criminal Investigation. While my ultimate goal is to work as a forensic analyst or crime scene investigator, those positions usually only go to people within the organization. Dispatch is the most direct option for career entry, giving me the best chance to pursue my dream career. I am applying for this scholarship to help me finish the last two years of my degrees. As a college junior and soon-to-be senior, my scholarship opportunities are limited. Most awards are reserved for freshmen. I took advantage of those early on, and I have one recurring scholarship that covers half of my tuition. However, I need additional financial aid to cover the remainder of my academic costs. I appreciate your consideration, and I hope that you can help me pursue a profession in criminal justice. This is my passion, and I have a clear plan to turn that passion into a lifelong career.

Word Count: 463

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• Scholarship Essay

Jennifer Finetti

As a parent who recently helped her own kids embark on their college journeys, Jennifer approaches the transition from high school to college from a unique perspective. She truly enjoys engaging with students – helping them to build the confidence, knowledge, and insight needed to pursue their educational and career goals, while also empowering them with the strategies and skills needed to access scholarships and financial aid that can help limit college costs. She understands the importance of ensuring access to the edtech tools and resources that can make this process easier and more equitable - this drive to support underserved populations is what drew her to ScholarshipOwl. Jennifer has coached students from around the world, as well as in-person with local students in her own community. Her areas of focus include career exploration, major selection, college search and selection, college application assistance, financial aid and scholarship consultation, essay review and feedback, and more. She works with students who are at the top of their class, as well as those who are struggling. She firmly believes that all students, regardless of their circumstances, can succeed if they stay focused and work hard in school. Jennifer earned her MA in Counseling Psychology from National University, and her BA in Psychology from University of California, Santa Cruz.

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How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in an Interview (40+ Examples)

It can be daunting to face an interview underprepared, especially when you’re asked the dreaded question, “Tell me about yourself.”

According to experts, there are different ways to answer this question in an interview. 

Here are some excellent examples of how to respond appropriately:

Brian Vander Waal

Employment, Learning and Skills and Careers Information Expert

Approach it as if you’re sharing your personal brand statement or elevator pitch

To answer the question “Tell me About Yourself,” well, it is important to first understand why this question is being asked. A lot of people misunderstand the point of this question .

In part, the interviewer is asking this question to help the interviewee ease into the interview, and so they can ease into the interview themselves. However, it is so much more than that.

The interviewer is asking this question to see if:

• You are qualified for the role ,
• You have the right skills for the role , and
• Whether you will be an asset to the company .

They are also comparing you with other candidates, so you have the opportunity from the beginning of the interview to demonstrate that you are a good match for the role.

The purpose of this question is not :

• To talk about your personal life and interests. If the interviewer does want to know more about this, they will ask a follow-up question.
• To regurgitate your CV, but rather to give a concise summary of your key selling points , which are related to the job role you are applying for. Your response should be between 30 seconds and two minutes long.

When you answer this question, approach it as if you are sharing your personal brand statement, elevator pitch, or infomercial with the interviewer.

However, it should be tailored to the role and should be delivered naturally in a conversational style.

Your answer should concisely highlight:

• Your journey and experience related to the role , talking about your current and previous jobs, and outlining quantifiable achievements in these roles.
• Your USP (two or three unique selling points) related directly to the job role. Your selling points could include skills, strengths, qualifications, and experience.
• Why you are applying for this role and why you want to work for this company. This may include a discussion of your career ambitions.

You should prepare for this question prior to the interview by making a list of the work experiences, soft skills, hard skills, certificates, qualifications, and degrees required for the role.

Then prepare a tailored response to the question highlighting your unique selling points, experience, and interests that relate most closely to the position.

Be aware that, in addition to recruiters asking this question to see if you are a good fit for the role and company, they also ask this question to assess:

• your communication skills ,
• your confidence,
• how well you can think on your feet,
• your self-awareness, and
• authenticity.

“I am a Senior Project Manager with 12 years of experience managing all aspects of Project Management for Fortune 500 companies, including creating project plans, developing resource plans, setting a budget, forming a team, defining goals and performance measures, and anticipating risks.

I started my journey 12 years ago as an Assistant Project Manager and worked my way up the ranks to Project Manager and now Senior Project Manager.

In my current role, I successfully set up seven projects on time, and on budget whilst ensuring I met all project objectives. I was working for a company selling healthcare software in the USA and wanted to break into the international market, starting with the UK.

I was tasked with creating a business and a market for our software in the UK in one of my projects.

During the project, I monitored progress, communication between the teams, risks, and bottlenecks and put in contingency plans as needed.

The result is that 12.2 million in sales were made to the National Healthcare Service (NHS), and 4.2 million in sales were made to private healthcare providers. I graduated from Northwestern University with a Master of Science in Project Management.

Over the past 12 years, I have developed a strong expertise in Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, Risk Management, and Negotiation, which has played a large role in my success on multiple projects. While I love my current position, I am looking for an opportunity to take the next step in my career.

I believe the experience I gained and the success I have achieved on high-level, complex projects make me uniquely qualified to progress into your role as a Director of Program Management.”

Commentary on the example :

This is a strong example of how to respond to this question successfully. The interviewee concisely outlined their journey and experience related to the role, quantifiable achievements in these roles, their USP related to the job role, and why they are applying for this role.

The interviewee did not talk about personal life and interests, recite back their full CV, or discuss problems or issues with their previous employer.

Whitney D. Walter, MBA

Professional Development Expert

Discuss why you’re a good fit for the intended position

First, remember that they likely have your resume in front of them, so you don’t need to regurgitate what is written there or go into any extreme level of detail.

Start by discussing your current role and any skills or responsibilities that make you a good fit for the intended position. Don’t forget to mention relevant achievements or awards.

Summarize while providing a high-level overview of prior experience

Next, provide a high-level overview of prior experience. Again, avoid going into excessive detail. Summarize and be succinct while also providing color around the development of skillsets that will be applicable to the prospective role.

Avoid speaking negatively about prior companies or roles. Doing so will reflect more poorly on you than them.

Showcase your passion for professional development

Finally, transition to your current career aspirations and why you’re excited about the opportunity to discuss the open role. Use this as an opportunity to showcase your passion for professional development and your focus on finding a role that allows you to add value.

Gauge whether incorporating interests outside of work will allow you to be better aligned with the company culture and values. This is a frequently debated topic.

Many say to exclude personal interests completely, but with the rise of the company focus on employee satisfaction, it may be worth briefly mentioning things that align with their current employee benefits or programs.

For example, if you enjoy fitness and the prospective company offers to pay for employees’ gym memberships, mentioning this may help you to appear more aligned with the company’s initiative to increase and maintain employee satisfaction.

Practice your response.

This question (and its many variations) is the most frequently asked question in interviews. Practice your answer until you can say it naturally and without hesitation.

Daniel Cook

Director HR, Mullen and Mullen

Pick a couple of personal experiences that relate to the job role you are applying for

When you are interviewing for a company, the one question you will most likely be asked is, “Tell me about yourself.”

As a recruiter, I have seen some candidates answer this question brilliantly, and they make their case strong from the first answer. I believe you should be structuring your answer instead of telling an entire story about yourself.

When telling the interviewer about yourself, you should begin with giving a personal introduction by summarizing your personal interests and characteristics.

After talking about that briefly, you should give a brief summary of your professional life .

While talking about your professional life is important, you should focus on not going into too many details. Therefore, I would recommend you pick a couple of experiences that relate to the job role you are applying for because that would add to your profile.

Moreover, you should always end the answer with an interesting fact about you that would make the interviewer remember you and differentiate you from other candidates.

Related: How to Come up With Interesting Facts About Yourself

Valerie Fontaine

Legal Search Consultant | Founding Member, SeltzerFontaine LLC

Focus on the clear benefit you provide to a prospective employer

When prospective employers start their interview with “Tell me about yourself,” they really are asking, “Why should we hire you?”

Rather than responding with your life history, this is your opportunity to give your “sales pitch.” You want to communicate who you are, what you do, what differentiates you from the competition, and how you are a better fit than other candidates for the position.

Be prepared with a short statement (not more than two minutes or so), highlighting a few of your strongest skills related to the position you’re seeking, and give specific examples.

The trick is to focus on the clear benefit you provide to a prospective employer.

Get a general idea of the skills and attributes required for the type of position you seek

Think of yourself as a product and the employers as the buyers of your skill set. You’re selling your unique blend of qualifications, talents, expertise, and accomplishments.

Start by reading job listings and descriptions on company websites to get a general idea of the skills and attributes required for the type of position you seek.

Notice the language they use and repeat that terminology when describing what you have to offer a potential employer.

Related: Why Are Job Descriptions Important in the Recruiting Process?

Check if you have any skills or interests that could prove useful

Consider whether you have any tangential skills or interests that could prove useful to the employer in addition to the minimum education and experience required.

If you’re pursuing a second career or taking time out to pursue another occupational direction, such as writing, teaching, or running a business, discuss how honing the skills required to succeed in that endeavor adds value to the job you now seek.

Tell a consistent and easily understood story of your career trajectory

Practice responding with vivid examples of how you used your strengths to achieve business objectives similar to those of the prospective employer.

• Tell a consistent and easily understood story of your career trajectory,
• State only the relevant information, prioritizing your transferrable skills.
• Minimize any non-related information.
• Focus and tailor each presentation for the position you seek.

When responding to “Tell me about yourself,” if you put the puzzle pieces together for your interviewers, you’ll make it easier for them to envision you in the position—and offer you the job.

Managing Director, WebSpero Solutions

Give them reasons why they should prefer you instead of other candidates

I have taken many interviews to hire people for my company . “Tell me about yourself” is the first question asked to every interviewee.

It is a bit tricky question to answer, but some of the suggestions on how to tackle this question will be:

• Don’t start with the things which are already mentioned in your resume . An interviewer can read it himself.
• They want to know something different from the information mentioned in your resume, for instance, why this job is most important for you .
• Give them reasons why they should prefer you instead of other candidates .
• Tell them how you fit the role completely by aligning your qualification , experience , and skills with the job you have applied for.
• When you start talking about yourself, be humble about your achievements and don’t boast about your accomplishments .
• Be honest about yourself, and don’t lie about your hobbies and skills .
• Don’t use superlatives like best , perfect , etc.
• Anxiety before and during an interview is normal . So practice daily for it and be confident when interview day arrives.

Related: How to Not Be Nervous Before and During a Job Interview

“Hi, I am Rahul. I have two years of experience handling sales and marketing projects in [name of the company]. The purpose of switching from the earlier company is that I have learned everything that I could to the best of my ability. So now I want to learn more things and explore the new turfs.”

“Hi, I am Jacob. I have recently completed my Post Graduation in Computer Sciences. Due to my keen interest in this field, I have been able to win many laurels and awards. Thus able to represent my college in many competitions. Now I want to put my knowledge to practice, boost my self-confidence, and make the organization proud I work with.”

Chris Lewandowski

President, Princess Dental Staffing

Give hiring managers an idea of how you can become an asset to them if they hire you

Your “Tell me about yourself” answer can begin with you highlighting how long you’ve been in the industry to quantify your experience. Then, explain your current role and contributions to the company relevant to the new post you’re pursuing.

For example:

• Discuss how you managed to reduce your project’s lead time due to productivity and efficiency or how you secured more clients for the brand.
• Accordingly, it is worth mentioning if you have exceeded KPIs and client expectations in your current workplace.
• Then, highlight the skills you possess that allow you to thrive in your career.

By doing so, you give hiring managers an idea of how your experience and qualifications can become an asset to them if they hire you.

Make the idea personal and unique

Also, to stand out among other candidates, offer a unique detail about yourself . For instance, if you’re a marketer, you may want to discuss successful projects with famous brands or partnerships with well-known public figures.

In addition, it helps if you could share some personal interests , such as advocating for specific causes or learning pottery, but always maintain a professional tone.

Lastly, don’t forget to mention your career goals for the future . Make sure you did your prior research about the prospect company’s mission , vision , and core values to align your goals to that of the business.

Lanny Tuchmayer

Director of Operations, Bergel Law

Choose where you want to begin telling your story about yourself

Allow some time before answering this question to consider where you might begin telling about yourself. You should think that your answer to this question will determine the following question you will be asked.

Emphasize your accomplishments and experience

When responding to this question, strive to emphasize your accomplishments and experience. However, all of this should be done in the context of a dialogue. It will make a favorable impression on the interviewer.

Discuss your current condition and long-term objectives

When you’re about to finish your response, think about your current circumstances and where you envision yourself in the future or what your aim is. It will assist the interviewer in understanding how you intend to achieve your objectives and plan for the future.

“When I’m not working, I enjoy learning new skills and spending the majority of my time reading books. Reading books about human psychology is one of my favorite pastimes. Learning about human psychology aided me in influencing others.

I enjoy meeting new people and consider communication to be one of the most crucial components of working life. When I first started working for my former employer, my duty was to communicate with the company’s clients and assist them in finding answers to their difficulties.

I liked assisting them and resolving their problems. Now I’m seeking more possibilities to broaden my knowledge and skills in interpersonal communication.”

Biron Clark

Former Executive Recruiter | Founder, CareerSidekick

Keep your answer work-related

First, keep your answer work-related. When the interviewer asks this question, they’re looking to learn about you as a professional.

To answer, explain :

• How you got started in your current line of work ,
• What you’ve been focused on throughout your career , and
• Any key accomplishments or significant projects you’ve worked on .

Then, end by explaining what you’re looking to do next in your career . Why are you job searching now, and why did this particular position interest you?

“I began working in software engineering seven years ago after completing my degree in computer science.

I’ve spent most of my time creating back-end systems for processing data and transactions, both for banks and online stores.

I’m now looking for a Senior Developer position to advance my career. I’m happy in my current company but also feel ready for a new challenge, so when I saw this position posted online, I knew I should apply.”

Carol Gee, MA

Owner,  Venus Chronicles  | Author, “ Telling Stories, Sharing Confidences “

Show that you are a well-rounded candidate

All of the jobs I interviewed for were after I had served in the Air Force. I usually led with that when different variations were based on the position.

For example, when I interviewed to become an adjunct faculty at a two-year college , my answer was this:

“I served almost eight years on active duty in the Air Force, and I am married to a career airman. Most recently, I completed my master’s degree in Human Relations and Management.

With an undergrad degree in Sociology and a minor in psychology, I believe I am the right person to teach your Intro to Sociology, and because I am imaginative and crafty and possess good personal communication skills, I think I could do justice to the introduction to Business Comm class.”

One component of the class consisted of teaching public speaking to students.

To ease them into this, I put simple topics on slips of paper, like your favorite food, favorite movie, etc., in a paper bag where they drew a topic and spoke for one minute, two minutes, up to five minutes. Students said this was a great way to introduce them to this.

When I was interviewed for my last university position as an editor at a local business school before retiring, I answered thusly:

“Before applying to this position, I was employed at XYX Nursing School (same campus), where I worked in Development (fundraising), assisting the director with hosting fundraising lunches and dinners. I planned menus and worked with caterers to plan meals for donors, including foundation and corporation heads.

I also scheduled fundraising appointments for the directors to visit donors and processed money received. This job was followed by nearly 13 years at the School of Public Health, where I ran the day-to-day of a department that included supervision of staff and student workers.”

As the job required copyediting research, I mentioned I was a published author and freelance writer and that I also had a master’s degree as this was a business school.

Lastly, I mentioned I had excellent research skills as I did technical research during my 21 years in the military. (I brought samples of published articles to the interview, one of which was a business article in a local magazine.

My goal was to show that I was a well-rounded candidate .

Adina David

Recruiter and Career Coach , Paperjobz

This question asking to describe yourself may seem like an easy enough question, but many people are put off by it because they don’t know where to start or what to say.

In fact, many candidates forget their manners and simply ramble on about themselves, never really giving any answer at all!

When recruiters ask “Tell Me About Yourself,” they are trying to get a sense of what it is that the candidate does and how he will fit into the company. They want to know about your experience and achievement.

It can be difficult to answer this question without sounding like you’re bragging, but there are a few tips to approach it.

Adjust your answers as per the situation

Pay attention to the nature of the job and organization you’re interviewing for and adjust your answers as per the situation.

For example, if you’re interviewing with a software company and they are definitely interested in your strong programming skills.

Focus on strengths and abilities; don’t ever talk about your weaknesses

When you’re talking to the interviewer, concentrate on your strengths and what you can do best.

Don’t ever talk about your weaknesses (unless they ask). You can play it safe by mentioning that you are a self-starter and motivated when it comes to completing tasks.

Related: Best Job Interview List of Strengths and Weaknesses

Highlight your personality and how you’ve done well in previous roles

Be honest, but try not to sound like you’re trying to sell yourself!

This is a good opportunity to talk about your background, how you’ve done well in previous roles, and the skills that you would bring to this role.

Act professionally: This is a great way to have them see you in a different light

Act like you are the best candidate for this job. This is a great way to have someone see you in a different light. So, be confident and approachable.

This is not a magic formula, but it is a great way to give yourself the best chance of getting the job. As long as you just keep practicing, success will come to you.

So there are a lot of ways to answer this question, but here are some of my favorite answers for both freshers as well as experienced professionals.

Example answer for freshers :

“I completed my bachelor’s from XYZ college. I then searched for a job for about six months. This is something that I am very proud of.

During my spare time, I work on my skills and get more experience. After that, I found your company, and I applied for the [Position Name] position. This job is perfect for me, and it will allow me to use the skills gained from my education.

I am looking forward to working with you. I can work hard, learn new things and contribute to the team.”

Example answer for experienced professionals :

“I have experience in [Field Name], and I love using my talent and skills for solving problems and making improvements. I can do so by listening carefully, gathering information, understanding needs, and finding solutions.

I always go the extra mile in my job, even to the point of going above and beyond my responsibilities. I hope to become a part of your team because I am really ready to take my career to the next level.”

Maciek Kubiak

Head of People, PhotoAiD

Give the interviewer a snapshot of who you are professionally and personally

That question is definitely difficult to answer. “Tell me about yourself” is often the first question asked in an interview. It’s a broad question, and your answer should aim to give the interviewer a snapshot of who you are as a person, both professionally and personally.

Your response should tell a story that gives an overview of your professional and educational background, as well as your skills and accomplishments.

The key is to stay focused on giving the interviewer the information they need to decide whether or not you’re the right candidate for the job.

Here are some tips on how to answer “Tell me about yourself” in an interview:

• Start by giving a brief overview of your professional experience, emphasizing any relevant skills or experience that you have.
• Describe how you would qualify yourself in terms of broad professional and personal traits. This includes being flexible , goal-driven , ambitious , and so on.
• Finish by summarizing your goals and objectives and explaining why you are interested in the position you are being interviewed for.

Here is an example :

“I am a strategic planner with five years of experience in market research and brand strategy. I thrive in fast-paced environments and am always looking for new challenges.

I see myself as a problem solver who can think outside the box to come up with creative solutions. And I’m excited about this opportunity because it matches my skill set and the experience I’ve accumulated up to now.”

Catherine van Vonno

President and CEO, 20four7VA

It’s important to have a clear goal in mind when talking about yourself

Telling people about yourself can sometimes be the hardest topic to talk about. Things such as what you are going to tell them or how you will say it can play a big role in how the conversation will flow.

Not to mention, you would need to make your dialogue interesting and insightful for the interviewer.

When talking about yourself, ensure that you can clearly relay the points you want to discuss and elaborate on.

• Eliminate the fluff in your storytelling and emphasize how you can contribute to the company’s well-being.
• When talking about yourself in an interview, you have to be transparent and as confident as you can be.
• Being clear and confident with your life story can help you stay in control of the conversation and show that you can make wise decisions.
• You can start by creating a rough outline of your journey.

Think about the critical milestones in your life and how these events have shaped who you are today. Once you have an idea of what to say, practice it aloud with close friends or family members to make sure that everything is clear and well-articulated.

When speaking about yourself, always be honest and authentic. The interviewer will likely be able to see through any facade you put up, so it is best just to be yourself.

Next, it is important to have a clear goal in mind when talking about yourself . Often, interviewers will ask you about your motivations and long-term goals for the company, so make sure that you have a solid answer lined up.

You can also do some research on the company beforehand to see if you share any common interests.

For example, if you are both passionate about environmental sustainability , you can mention how you would love to help the company achieve its green goals.

Lastly, always remember to end on a positive note . Thank the interviewer for their time and express your excitement for the opportunity. This will leave a good impression and show that you are genuinely interested in the position.

Lee Cristina Beaser, CPRW

Master’s in Career Counseling | Career Coach, The Career Counter

Discuss your most recent experience and how it led you to apply for the position

Candidates tend to ramble and get off-topic. I always stress that the interviewer does not want to know your life story. They want to know what led you to apply for the job.

I’ve got a framework I encourage my clients to use for answering this question.

First, try to keep your answer under two minutes. Start by giving a brief snapshot of the early stages of your career, connecting the skills and experiences you gained that led you toward the job you’re applying for.

Lastly, discuss your most recent experience, what you learned, and how it led you to apply for the position.

Here’s a sample answer:

“I got my BA degree in Communications, and during my studies, I completed fieldwork that allowed me to build my project management and event coordination skills. After graduation, I worked for four years as an event coordinator for a large corporation.

During that time, I helped plan and execute small to large-scale events with upwards of 50,000 attendees. Most recently, I was promoted to the same company as an event manager.

For the past several years, I’ve overseen events with $1M budgets, as well as an event staff of 20. My passion for managing projects and leading cross-functional teams in executing large-scale events is what led me to apply for the event director role.”

Brett Larkin

Founder & CEO, Uplifted Yoga

Sell yourself beyond specific industry skills or relevant past experiences

Many people who spend their time job-hunting tend to put their entire focus on the actual position they’re vying for, and not how their skills and personality fit that position.

Remember, recruiters are looking for people who can:

• Succeed based on the job requirements, and
• Bring a positive and open energy into the workplace.

Especially since the pandemic, businesses are prioritizing the overall employee experience in an attempt to boost retention. Bringing a new person into the workplace can seriously shift the dynamic and culture, so personality is just as important as skill or talent.

This is why the question, “Tell me about yourself,” is so important. This is your opportunity to sell yourself beyond specific industry skills or relevant past experiences.

Here are some ways to answer that question if you’re feeling stuck:

• Discuss your hobbies

Focus on one specific hobby. We all have hobbies, and if you don’t, you should get one! Hobbies are fantastic representations of our personalities and preferences beyond the business world.

Instead of trying to get as much information out as possible, focus on one specific activity or hobby that makes up a large part of your personal life.

Focusing on a hobby provides perfect segues to talk about your family, educational experience, or even what you were like growing up.

• Honesty is key

Just be honest. Answer the question for face value, and don’t try to twist your answer back to being about the company or the position you’re interviewing for.

Remember, the people who are hiring you actually want to know you .

An honest, real answer will go over way better than something that is overly planned and not related to the actual question.

• Use your cover letter

Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself in your initial cover letter and application. People often write cover letters that are too formal, and they just come across as walls of text and rambling to recruiters, including myself.

When I’m reading a cover letter, I want to get an idea of who this person is beyond them wanting this job. Be more creative with your cover letters. In today’s hyper-competitive business world , a little creativity can go a long way in setting you apart from your competitors.

Related: What Is the Purpose of a Cover Letter When Applying for a Job

David Chen, DDS

Practicing Dentist, Jackson Ave Dental

Every office that I’ve worked at had a monthly production goal plastered to the wall of the break room and that number was the metric for success. Whenever situations arise where we would have to choose between the number or the well-being of an employee, the former would always prevail.

I’ve always believed that it was the people who were the business’s greatest asset but business decisions always made it appear otherwise.

I’ve always wondered why that was the case and why it was done that way.

• Could it be possible to do things differently?
• Can we build a place where we put our staff first and still flourish as a business?

I’ve spent the last 5 years of my life in an attempt to answer that singular question.

How you should answer it should be more akin to writing a personal statement

The vast majority of people are trying to answer this question, when in fact it is not even a question. It is technically a directive statement. How you should answer it should be more akin to writing a personal statement.

If you’ve applied for higher education, they expect you to write a one and a half-page response to two words with no further instructions. Personal statement.

My tip for how to answer it:

Do not rehash what is in your resume because if your interviewer wanted to know that, they would simply read it. What they actually want to know is more about you and at a deeper level.

More precisely, you can rephrase the statement into a question and that would be:

“Who are you? What drives you and what makes you you?”

Alan Ahdoot

Legal Specialist, Adamson Ahdoot LLP

Be a candidate who will readily and eagerly join in their efforts and is in line with their principles

I like to hear responses that speak to a person’s desire to help the less fortunate because that is a big part of our mission. I want the comfort of knowing that their pursuits square up with ours .

We operate in a space in which people can easily prejudge us as ambulance chasers or attorneys who are out to get quick bucks out of insurance companies and other plaintiffs with deep pockets.

We are a reputable firm that seeks to help the underprivileged. We consider it an honor to represent honest-working people who are, in many cases, immigrants seeking a better life.

We look for people who fit in well with our culture, and we expect to hear responses to “Tell Me About Yourself” to be framed in a way that makes us believe we’re talking to a candidate who understands the importance of pursuing justice for the disadvantaged and disenfranchised.

So many of our attorneys and employees are active in the Latino, African-American, Jewish and Middle-Eastern communities. We want candidates who will readily and eagerly join us in those efforts.

It comforts us when we hear responses that are in line with our principles.

AJ Silberman-Moffitt

Senior Editor, Tandem

As an office professional with 25+ years of experience, I have been a part of many interviews—both when I have been the interviewer and when I have been the interviewee.

As with many work-related questions, there isn’t only one right or wrong answer—especially when trying to find the best way to answer “Tell me about yourself” in an interview.

Be honest; don’t say something that isn’t true

You’ve probably repeatedly heard that honesty is the best policy, and there is a reason for that. When answering about yourself, or any question during an interview, it’s best to be honest.

This doesn’t mean that you must go into minute details about everything, but more importantly, don’t say something that isn’t true.

Related: What Not to Say in a Job Interview

Be concise; try to keep your answer to the point

Try to keep your answer short and to the point. If the interviewer needs you to elaborate, they will ask you. There is no need to give extensive details unless you are specifically asked to.

Direct your answer towards your professional accomplishments and abilities

Typically, during most of the interview, the interviewer wants to garner how much knowledge you have about the role they are trying to fill.

This means that your answer should probably be directed more towards your professional accomplishments and abilities rather than your personal life.

If, however, it’s the end of the interview, this would be an appropriate time to elaborate about the softball team that you are on or the crafting that you do on the weekends.

Be courteous; do not interrupt the interviewer while you’re being questioned

Do your best not to interrupt the interviewer while you are being questioned. If the interviewer happens to accidentally talk over you while you are answering, let them interject and answer appropriately.

Remember, first impressions are lasting impressions, and, in addition to your skills, your attitude will also go a long way in landing you the perfect job.

Entrepreneur | CEO, Champion Leadership Group LLC

Managers would like to hear an overview of your professional background

First of all, don’t go into great detail about your profession or personal life with them.

It could seem logical to commence from the beginning and guide the recruiter through your professional experience, but this is not something I encourage.

Managers aren’t interested in hearing about your personal history, and they aren’t fascinated by every job you’ve ever had.

They really would like to hear an overview of your professional background.

Stressing any particular career transitions which need explanation, concentrating on some of the most significant or recent responsibilities, essential abilities that you have gained, as well as every notable accomplishment that is a tribute to the excellent work that you have accomplished.

 Mark Valderrama

CEO and Founder, Aquarium Store Depot

Correctly structure your response

I would say that you should begin by summarising your current or most recent experience.

Explain the many chapters or major positions in your career, focusing on the recent five to ten years, for the ‘past’ component of the formula.

Concentrate on what you’ve learned that applies to the position you’re applying for.

• What was the purpose of this position?
• What were the primary responsibilities? What were your greatest accomplishments?
• Why then did you move on to the next critical phase or role?

Additionally, you might quickly explain any unexpected career choices or employment changes that may not be immediately apparent.

This is critical for prospective employers, especially if the employment was brief. Then proceed to the future.

Justify your next move by describing what you’re seeking and why the role they’re offering is such a wonderful fit for your talents and experience. Additionally, highlight how the company’s ideals connect with your own.

Sales Director,  VEM Tooling

Work experience should account for around 80% of your response

Work should account for around 80% of your response. It would be best to concentrate on your previous experience and accomplishments here, while the next 10-15% of your answer should be about your academic background. Finally, the last 5-10% should focus on you while remaining relevant to the company.

A possible response from a seasoned professional may be:

“Sure, I’d be delighted to. For the past eight years, I’ve worked as a tech-focused project manager. I earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in computer science from University B. Following that, I began working in the sector as an executive assistant at Company D.

I offered business support services by assisting with interdepartmental communication, scheduling, and maintaining the digital filing system.

After that, I spent roughly five years as a project manager for Company A, a cloud computing solutions provider. There, I was in charge of four software project teams and ensured that everything ran smoothly regarding business objectives, timelines, budget, and other factors.

I like to read about robotics, AI, and technology. I figured I’d apply because you guys do all three.”

Kavin Patel

Founder and CEO , Convrrt

Make sure you explain why you want this particular job

I believe the ideal technique to answer, “Tell me about yourself” is to make sure you explain why you want this particular job and how you’re qualified for it in a brief and clear manner.

Spend some time reading through the job description in the recruitment ad for the position and researching the organization before you start constructing your selling points.

Then you’ll know exactly what qualifications the hiring manager is seeking in terms of education and work experience.

A short script outlining your relevant abilities , strengths , and areas of knowledge should next be written. If you’re interested in advancing your career or taking on new responsibilities, talk about why you seek the position in your cover letter.

Finish with a sentence or two describing why you want to work for this particular organization.

Owner and CEO, First Day

Don’t dread the interview

When you’re asked “Tell me about yourself” in an interview, it’s natural to dread answering it correctly, but only if you don’t know what’s the right way to respond.

Truth is there’s no single best answer to this open-ended question that the interviewer asks to get to know what kind of a person you are and to break the ice as well before delving into detail-oriented questions.

Tailor your answer and practice it

Depending upon where you are in your professional journey, you have to tailor your answer in a way that actually meets the employer’s needs .

You could be a student about to graduate, a mother who took a break from a career, or a mid-level professional who has a decade of experience or more. So in each scenario, your answer will have to be different.

Following is a comprehensive example on how to answer this question the right way:

If you are a student about to graduate , you can say:

“I graduated with a degree in XYZ recently and the reason I chose this field is because I was interested in __ _ and since childhood.

Some people told me that this field could lead to great career opportunities and one of my accomplishments is that I am really proud of this project dealing with ___ during my internship at ___.

I also got to speak about it at a conference last week which was an amazing experience as well. I just got done with this internship so I am now looking for full-time opportunities.”

As you can see from this answer, it’s clear and concise . There are no ramblings. The answer addresses every aspect an interviewer might be interested in and it follows the past present future format that’s easy to follow.

Designer | Founder, Everwallpaper

Job interview questions such as “Tell me about yourself” are very sure to come up in most job screenings, regardless of your profession, your levels of expertise, or the nature of the job.

Because it is often the first question asked during an interview, it is your best opportunity to create an excellent first impression .

Now that you know what to expect, here’s how to nail your first significant interview question.

Related: How to Nail a Job Interview

Make a positive first impression when you engage

Your first paragraph should act as a foundation for who you are as a professional, a summary declaration highlighting your accomplishments while also providing a glimpse into your personality.

Sell your knowledge and experience

You’re mistaken if you think the interviewer has thoroughly studied your résumé and understands your credentials. Use your impromptu speech to quickly emphasize at least two to four things that distinguish and separate you from the competition.

Provide a clear statement of your goals with the company

Finally, explain why you are the perfect candidate for the role and how they can benefit from your expertise.

Content Marketing Specialist,  Drive Research

Practice out loud what you’ll say

It’s totally normal to feel a little uneasy answering this question. However, if you prep for this question—even just a little bit—before your interview, you’ll be far less stressed.

Here are a couple of tips to follow to prepare for this question:

• Even though you obviously know who you are, it’s easy to blank out on basic info.
• Jot down where you’re from, a brief educational and professional background, and maybe even a hobby you enjoy.
• You want to make sure you don’t answer for too long or short of time.

Consider this checklist when utilizing the above tips:

• Where did you go to school?
• What key skills did you gain from your courses?
• What did you learn in your job and/or internship experiences?
• What are certain hobbies you like to do outside of school/work?

Samantha Odo

Licensed Real Estate Expert, Precondo

Talk about your interests and hobbies; these can explain a lot about your characteristics

The statement “Tell me about yourself” can ask for many different things depending on who is asking them. A new acquaintance might want to know your general likes and dislikes, but an employer would want to gauge why you would be the perfect fit for the job they have to offer.

You do not need to talk about your academic and career achievements to prove something. Instead, you would be talking about your interests and hobbies.

Whether you like reading in your free time or if solving puzzles is your favorite past-time. Do you take an interest in volunteer work?

Things like these explain a lot about your characteristics .

• Having a habit of reading books can lead to the inference that you are open to looking at things from a different viewpoint.
• Having an interest in volunteering can show that you are interested in contributing to the welfare of others, something that will be required in a lot of jobs.
• Being a puzzle enthusiast means you are good at brainstorming and can develop out-of-the-box solutions.

Related: Why Are Books Important?

Usually, recruiters would try to test if you are speaking the truth.

Maybe, they would ask you about your favorite book or which social cause you are most drawn to. Or, maybe, they would give you a real-life problem to provide a solution for in minutes.

It is, therefore, important to be truthful with your answer. And your selection depends on the positive habits you instill in yourself, which takes years.

An example can be:

“I like to go out on a walk with my dog, Jerry, when I am done with my work. Often, there are lots of dog-lovers who enthusiastically come to talk to me and coo at Jerry.

It is always fascinating to see how many directions conversations arise from my dog can take. I believe these experiences have been helpful to my profession, which has always required me to have impeccable communication skills.”

Nathan Hughes

Marketing Director, Diggity Marketing

It’s advisable to speak about how you view your career goals

Recruiters wish to know details about your life that are not a part of your resume.

These details border your personal life, but the twist is that they must be helpful to understand your capabilities. However, it is often daunting to choose which aspect to speak on.

Under such circumstances, it is advisable to speak about how you view your career goals .

It is a more direct approach to the question, and it also provides the recruiters with what they need about you.

• You can talk about where you are in your career now and which of your personal interests have led you to choose the career you have.
• You can brief the recruiter on which of your past experiences have hugely impacted your career.
• It is a good idea to end such a description with where you see yourself in the future.
• It is important to make sure that anything you answer aligns with the job you are applying for.

Recruiters often follow up your replies with much deeper questions.

For example, if you talk about how your interest in coding led to you wanting to become a data scientist, the recruiter might naturally ask you why data science was a choice and not any other coding-related profession.

It is necessary for applicants to consider such follow-up questions and keep answers ready beforehand. Being genuine about the answers would make the process a lot easier.

“In my younger days, how consumers chose one brand over other similar ones was an interesting concept to me. There was never a size-one-fit-all approach by brands, but it needed them to experiment with different strategies.

Only a few of those strategies would work the best for them, and it was fascinating to understand the reason behind them.

Working as a marketing team leader for (name of a brand working for which was impactful) was a huge milestone, teaching me more than just marketing strategies and consumer behavior, but team management.

Such an experience built a goal that I wish to fulfill soon- becoming an efficient marketing manager in a reputed organization such as (the name of the company you are interviewing at).”

Craig Miller

Co-Founder, Academia Labs LLC

Highlight your academic and career achievements

When answering a “Tell Me About Yourself” question during an interview, do not start telling the interview panel details from your elementary days.

Instead, highlight your academic and career achievements. This will give more emphasis on why you are perfect for the job.

Here’s an example:

“I am (Name). I finished my tertiary education in (University or College Name) and completed my internship at (Company name).

I also have worked in (Previous company) for (number) years. During my stay there, I have demonstrated a great deal of leadership and resourcefulness in completing my tasks.

I have spearheaded several projects, such as (Project name), which produced great results (You can describe the project in detail here). During my free time, I enjoy (hobbies).”

Adelle Archer

Co-Founder and CEO, Eterneva

Develop an elevator pitch telling how others perceive you and your track record as an employee

Although it seems like a straightforward question, the “Tell me about yourself” interview query is really a test to see how organized and clear thinking you are, which is why your first consideration should be succinctness.

No one expects you to cover the full scope of your life or even your career in a single interview, but they do want to see how personable and informative you can be in a short period of time.

You must develop an elevator pitch that tells what you have been doing, how others perceive you, your career goals and interests, strengths, and your track record as an employee .

By creating a concise elevator pitch in which you can cover all the bases, quickly, clearly, and in a positive manner, you will be demonstrating your abilities to cover the task and do so economically and professionally .

Yauhen Zaremba

Director of Demand Generation, Pandadoc

Be conversational: It’s a good way to keep things light

Don’t answer it as if it’s scripted and don’t focus solely on things related to business and the work you do. Instead, create a conversation and chat with the interviewer .

Talk about relevant things that they know about or can relate to; give them a chance to respond to what you’re saying, and don’t script anything .

Being able to converse with the interviewer and keeping things relaxed are good ways to keep things light. Answering “Tell me about yourself” with some nice conversation is a great way to open the interview and get in the interviewer’s good graces!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i use the star method to respond to the “tell me about yourself” question.

The STAR method is a great way to structure your response to the “Tell me about yourself” question. Learn how to use it here:

Situation:  Start by giving a brief overview of your current position and the company you work for. This sets the stage for your work experience and helps the interviewer understand your current situation.

Task:  Next, explain what your tasks are and what you’re responsible for. This will give the interviewer a clear picture of your skills and experience.

Action:  Give concrete examples of how you have used your skills to achieve specific goals or complete tasks. Be sure to use “I” statements to show your direct involvement.

Result:  Conclude by explaining what the result of your actions was. Remember to highlight successes and accomplishments and explain how they benefited the company.

Here is an example of how you might use the STAR method to answer the “Tell me about yourself” question:

Situation: “I’m currently a software engineer at XYZ Company, where I’ve worked for the past three years.”

Task: “My main responsibilities include developing and testing software applications, collaborating with other team members on coding projects, and ensuring that our software is high quality and meets customer needs.”

Action: “Recently, I led a team in the development of a new software application that streamlined our client onboarding process. I was responsible for coordinating with other team members to ensure the application was delivered on time and met all of our quality standards. I also worked closely with the product manager to ensure the application met our customers’ needs.”

Result: “Thanks to our work, we were able to reduce the time it takes to onboard new clients by 50%, which positively impacted our revenue and customer satisfaction. I look forward to continuing to develop new software solutions and drive innovation in my next role.”

Using the STAR method, you can provide a clear and structured response to the “Tell me about yourself” question highlighting your skills and successes.

What Are Some Common Variations of “Tell Me About Yourself” That I May Hear in an Interview?

“Tell me about yourself” is a common interview question, but you might hear many variations of this question. Here are a few examples:

“Walk me through your resume”: This is a more specific version of the “Tell me about yourself” question, which asks you to go through your work experience chronologically.

“What led you to apply for this job?”: This question asks you to explain why you’re interested in the job you’re applying for and what attracts you to the company.

“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”: This is a variation of the “Tell me about yourself” question, where you should focus specifically on your strengths and weaknesses.

“How would your colleagues describe you?”: This question asks you to think about how others perceive you professionally.

“What are your long-term career goals?”: This question asks you to explain how you envision your professional future and your goals.

Although the wording of these questions varies, they all allow you to showcase your professional self and why you’re a good fit for the job. Preparing and practicing your answers to these variations of the “Tell me about yourself” question can help you feel more confident and prepared for your interview.

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The Editors

A business journal from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

Knowledge at Wharton Podcast

Want to live a meaningful life be the hero of your story, february 19, 2024 • 14 min listen.

Wharton’s Jonah Berger explains how people can find meaning and resilience by making themselves the hero of their own story.

Listen to the podcast.

Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger’s latest co-authored research focuses on storytelling. His paper is titled, “Seeing Your Life’s Story as a Hero’s Journey Can Increase Meaning in Life.” It explains how people can find well-being and resilience by reflecting on the important elements in their lives and connecting them to a coherent and compelling narrative.

What Is a Hero’s Journey?

Angie Basiouny: In your paper, you have this great quote, “People’s minds are made for narratives.” I love that. I think that’s why we all love a good story, a good biopic. Explain what this research is about.

Jonah Berger: First, it might be worth talking about what a hero’s journey is. If you’ve ever watched a famous movie like Star Wars or Harry Potter , you’re probably familiar with this old idea of a hero’s journey, which is there’s some sort of protagonist — maybe it’s Luke Skywalker, maybe it’s Harry Potter, maybe it’s someone else. They go through a journey to reach some outcome at the end, right? There’s a shift in their lives. Things start ordinary, and then suddenly they become extraordinary. They go on a quest. They meet allies or friends along the way. Think about Yoda or Hermione and others. They deal with some challenge. There’s some foe or enemy they must overcome. They undergo some transformation, where they change, and eventually they have a positive outcome at the end.

Things like a hero’s journey makes stories really engaging, right? They make movies fun to watch. They make books fun to read. But we wondered whether  beyond making other stories more engaging, the idea of a hero’s journey might also be useful in people’s personal lives as well.

How to Live a More Meaningful Life by Shifting Your Perspective

Basiouny: How did you go about studying this?

Berger: First, we quantified what a hero’s journey is. We looked at a variety of types of stories and content to figure out what the key dimensions are. They’re some of the things I talked about before: There needs to be a protagonist, that proverbial hero in that hero’s journey. There needs to be some sort of shift of going from daily life and ordinary things to something more unusual happening. There needs to be some sort of quest or goal. Along the way, the hero needs to overcome something. There needs to be barriers or challenges, whether a villain, or connecting with someone else, or creative problem-solving. Often, they meet allies along the way. Often, there’s some sort of transformation and positive outcome.

Then we said, “OK, now that we understand what hero’s journeys are, can we use this template to help people?” We started by looking at a natural study of existing stories and meaning in life. We looked at hundreds of different people and measured how they saw their lives. We asked them to write the story of their lives, and measured whether they tended to see their lives as a hero’s journey? Then we looked at how meaningful they saw their lives. Looking back on what they had done so far, and what they had overcome, how meaningful their life had been. It turned out that people who saw their lives as more of a hero’s journey tended to find their lives more meaningful.

This was intriguing, but one could wonder whether something else is driving the results. So, we wondered, “Could we encourage people to see their lives as a hero’s journey? And in so doing, help them make their own lives seem more meaningful?”

We prompted people to reflect on important elements of their lives and connect them into a compelling and coherent narrative. We gave them this idea of a hero’s journey and encouraged them to see their lives along those lines. What we found is, sure enough, doing that for one set of people made them see their lives as more meaningful. Taking the same life but organizing it in that way. Rather than seeing it as a random set of things that occurred over time, really seeing it as a hero’s journey made one’s life more meaningful. And that can be both in our personal or professional lives. Seeing your work life, seeing your resume, for example, not just as a bunch of different jobs over time. But thinking about, what’s the journey you’ve been on? What are some of the challenges you’ve had to overcome? What is that quest or goal you’re hoping to achieve? Who are some of the allies that you’ve met along the way? How have you been transformed by that process?”

All of those characteristics that make hero’s journeys so engaging to listen to as stories also make our own journeys seem more meaningful. They also help us be more resilient. Folks who were encouraged to see one’s life as a hero’s journey, or one’s work life as a hero’s journey, ended up more resilient. I think this has some important implications both for our personal and our professional lives.

Basiouny: What’s the biggest takeaway from this research? I almost feel like there’s a component of self-confidence that comes along when you rewrite or shift your own narrative.

Berger: I think the biggest takeaway is this: Our lives are what our lives are. Our work journeys, our work experiences, have been what they are. We can’t change what they’ve been. But we can change how we see them. We can change how we organize them. We can change how we think about them.

Seeing our lives as that journey, organizing it in that way, recognizing those challenges that we’ve overcome and those barriers that we’ve dealt with, the ways that we’ve been transformed — seeing our lives in that way can impact how we feel and how resilient we are. Stories aren’t just fun and interesting and engaging. They also have important implications for how we see ourselves, and how we may perform in the future.

How Marketers Can Leverage the Hero’s Journey

Basiouny: This research fits squarely into social psychology. Can you translate how people can use this information in a business context?

Berger: First, just from a personal well-being standpoint, seeing our lives as these journeys can have a beneficial impact. They can help us see our own lives as more meaningful.

Second, we should think about how we pitch ourselves, how we tell our own stories. There’s been a lot of interest in the past few years in the idea of narratives and telling our story with the advent and growth of social media. More people are online, dripping details of their life out on a moment-to-moment, or daily or weekly or monthly basis. But in dripping out those moments, in talking about what’s happening to us, we have the ability to shape that narrative, both when we post on social media, but also when we go in for an interview, for example. What should we talk about? How should we frame our experience? And how might the way we tell our story shape how we are perceived?

When we’re in an interview and someone asks us about our work experience, not just saying, “Well, I worked here and there and this other place,” but really talking about it as a journey. Helping the listener see what quest were we on. What did we overcome? What challenges did we deal with? How have we been transformed by that process? Organizing in that coherent and engaging narrative will not only be fun to listen to but will increase our likelihood of getting that job.

Marketers are also telling narratives, but there are different ways companies can talk about the role of products and services in those narratives.

A couple of years ago, I was working with a multinational consumer packaged goods company, and they had a campaign in the developing world where people could buy their product and be entered in a chance to win a college scholarship.

This program was doing a lot of social good, but it wasn’t getting a lot of word of mouth, so the company reached out for help. The couple of people that win the scholarship, they’re excited and tell others. But most people didn’t win the prize, so how could we get them more engaged? We analyzed this program in terms of a hero’s journey, and realized a problem.  The hero was the company not the consumer. The consumer had a challenge they wanted to overcome and buying something from the company could help them solve it. But if the company is the hero, that doesn’t really make people want to talk about it.

So we changed the narrative.  Rather than making the company the hero – the sword that slays the dragon in this hero’s journey – we made the customer the hero. By nominating or voting on who should get the scholarship, more people have a role in the narrative, and are more likely to talk about it as a result. The company’s still there. The company is helping. But the consumer is the hero. By seeing the program as a hero’s journey, we made it more effective.

Basiouny: You’re pulling the audience or the consumer into the story and making them a part of it, which would ultimately make it more effective for the marketing.

Berger: Certainly. We often have to think of who is a hero in the hero’s journey, and who is the villain? The more we can make consumers the hero, the more engaging it will be.

Can the Hero’s Journey Boost Your Interviewing Skills?

Basiouny: When you were speaking earlier about management and interviewing, it made me think about these very common interview questions when people apply for a job. “Tell me about a problem that you solved at work?” Or, “Tell me about your conflict-resolution skills?” If you think about your hero’s journey, you can come up with better answers during an interview.

Berger: Yes, certainly. Rather than the answer seeming like individual examples of things that don’t fit together, you can make it more of a common thread. What is the story you want to tell about yourself? What is the hero’s journey you’re on? What is the transformation you’ve already had, and what’s the quest you’d like to be on in the future? And how does this new role help you in that journey?

Rather than, “Oh, here’s a thing that happened to me,” the more it’s part of a cohesive narrative that showcases how you’ve overcome things in the past and been transformed, and how you’re likely to do that in the future, the more engaging it will be for the audience and the more impactful it will be.

Basiouny:  If you’re interested in learning more, check out the full co-authored paper, “ Seeing Your Life’s Story as a Hero’s Journey Can Increase Meaning in Life ,” in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology .

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5 Tips on How to Write About Your Journey

Everyone wants to have a written piece about their life. It’s a priceless compilation of all your memories, personal relationships, challenges, victories, and lessons.   

Perhaps you envision yourself becoming a best-selling author with a classic autobiography. Maybe you just want to finally start recording the everyday events along your journey. Whichever the case, it’s best to know how to execute the results you want, especially when you’re feeling stumped, unmotivated, confused, or discouraged during the process.

Want to know how to turn your past into a gripping story that you and everyone else would love to read? Take a look at these 5 tips on how to write about your journeys abroad.

1. Think About Your Emotions and Senses

When you’re first brainstorming ideas for the stories you want to write, acknowledge the core emotions you associate with your life as a whole. Be honest with how you feel, and don’t be afraid to bare your soul to find the authentic emotions, even if some are unfavorable. Then, regard the senses you experienced—vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch—to remember the moments that are so clear in your mind.

Do you have a keen ability to smell more than others and associate moments in time with scents? Are you a strong visual person who can recall the past from a photographic memory? Your lack of senses, such as a hearing impaired disability, could also attribute to how you portray your memories. Don’t forget that your emotions and senses strongly develop your own unique perspective, and depicting both with rawness and honesty generates a better connection with your readers.

I found this great podcast by The Expat Money Show – 033: Tim Leffel – Expat Entrepreneur Shares What He Has Learned In His 3 Decades As A Professional Travel Writer

2 .  Identify Major Life Moments

Once you’ve recognized the emotions related to your life and the senses you use to remember those events, it’s time to highlight the main turning points in your journey. What were your most difficult challenges, and how did you overcome them? What were your happiest memories? What moments in your life best define you? Aside from recording your journey, the goal should also be to inspire your audience with your development and transformation process.

At this stage, forget issues with grammar, punctuation, or not-so-fond memories that are painful or otherwise shed a disgraceful light on your character. You only want to clarify the exact details of your memories. Don’t try to please people who want to be seen a certain way—even if that’s yourself—because accuracy will be the greatest component in expressing your message.

3. Write it All Down

You have to begin writing at some point, even if it starts out completely disorganized. Don’t worry about making it all appear perfect at first. In the beginning, it doesn’t necessarily matter how you arrange your writing, so long as it’s recorded on an effective method for safely storing your passion-filled words.

Use scratch paper, your favorite journal, an old notebook, your mobile device, or your most trusted computer to record your memories. Just make sure to include every detail of what you intend on having in your final copy. As you’re writing, think about the process you used for brainstorming. To make an impactful message, be sure to incorporate descriptive language, a consistent voice, and as much accuracy with settings and relationships as possible. Ideally, your writing should evoke the same powerful emotions and sensual feelings as your memory does for you.

4. Find a Theme

Memoirs are excellent mediums for new writers because they encapsulate an entire life period in a condensed way to convey a particular message. At this point, you should have at least a first draft of the stories you want finalized. Now, the editing process begins. In addition to reviewing basic spelling, grammar, and relative content, you also have to consider how you imagine everything tying together cohesively.

Upon review of all your individual stories, there should at least be one standout theme that aligns with your message. The theme to your memories could be as simple as a destination, such as the magical adventures you encountered on one of the Azores Islands . Alternatively, your theme could showcase the special moments you’ve had while retiring abroad . There is no single right or wrong theme to have for your memoir; instead, it should be specific to the individual memories and messages you wish to share from your journey.

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5. read other memoirs for inspiration.

If you want your writing to have any level of mainstream success, look to those who have already accomplished what you aspire to achieve. Examine their writing style, thematic elements, voice, and overall appearance of the physical or digital copy. As you notice what makes their writing so unique and poignant, try to inspire your own writing with similar elements.

Also consider their final product so that you have an idea of what it looks like once everything is complete. Out of your favorite authors who have comparable writing styles to you, what type of experts did they choose for publishing and editing? This way, you can decide whether or not you want assistance from an essay writing service list or a more established publishing firm. Keep in mind that whatever makes other popular authors successful will be useful for your writing as well.

Remember, your journey will always be a one-of-a-kind experience. Since no two stories are alike, you can be sure that using these methods will help you create an exceptional written body of work. Brainstorming with an honest lens is essential before you begin the writing process, using your editing eye can help you craft written memories that are perfect for your message, and it doesn’t hurt to look at others’ work for support and assistance. No matter what your memoir goal is, now you have the five best tips that allow you to expertly write about your journeys abroad.

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6 Stages of the Journey of Faith and Why You Need to Know Yours

I love following trails. The less traversed the better. The woods of North Idaho, the lake trails of Minnesota, the four-wheeler paths of Alaska, and the jungle routes of Northern Thailand are my happy places. If you tell me there’s a path to follow my feet are almost compulsively drawn there.

This hasn’t always been the same source of joy for those who love me as it has been for me. Take that one time in Israel, for example. I was seventeen (and perfectly capable of taking care of myself, thank-you-very-much) when our tour bus stopped in a quiet parking lot. We were at The Gates of Hell. I’m not kidding. This was the physical location where Jesus stood with His disciples when Peter proclaimed that He was the Son of God and Jesus replied, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” ( Matthew 16:18 )

It was a wild declaration in a wild place: a place where a pagan temple once stood and children were sacrificed at the gates of hell. Jesus stomped all over that playground of idolatry with the feet of the Living God. The gates of hell will not prevail… 

Just sit with that thought for a moment.

After being introduced to the significance of the place, I heard our tour guide say, “We’ll gather back on the bus in thirty minutes. There’s a trail over there that leads to a stream and the bathrooms are by the shop in the parking lot.” Now, this is apparently not what everyone else, including my parents, heard. I heard “go explore” while they heard “head for the bus.”

However, there was that trail, and without a second thought, I was off.

A blonde teenager.

At the GATES OF HELL.

Well, we all have those moments when we’re not so smart, right?

I remember it so clearly: the meandering dirt path, the sunlight through the trees, the dancing brooke, the sweet conversation I had with Jesus. I was in my happy place.

I didn’t stay long, trying to be mindful of the time, and as I emerged from the woods onto the open trail, a man approached me. He was walking briskly and looked amused when he saw me. He said something into his radio, turned around, and motioned for me to follow him quickly. 

We jogged back up the path and when the bus came into view he simply pointed.

Everyone was on it. Waiting for me. Praying I hadn’t been kidnapped for ransom. My parents were thrilled that I was fine, and I was mortified.

Who knew a trail could cause so much trouble? I try to be a bit wiser now, but I still maintain that a trail is an invitation that should not be passed up. It’s leading somewhere. Maybe to a waterfall, a mountain top, a camping spot, or a placid lake, but if there’s a trail there it’s usually because people have trod that path before in search of the something that lies beyond the asphalt and concrete.

GROWTH AS A CHRISTIAN

So it is with the Christian life. We are all on a journey to the heart of God. We know it all starts with the exchange of Christ’s life for our own and it ends in the glorious eternity of dwelling with God in heaven, but what of the in-between? This messy, mucky, mixed-up middle ground? Is there sense or order to our development as Christ-followers?

The Bible speaks often of growth and development. As believers we move from milk to meat ( Hebrews 5:13-14 ), maturing from receivers of simple truths to teachers of the Word, and Paul regularly prays for the church to grow in wisdom and understanding so they (we) can bear fruit ( Colossians 1:3-11 ). Even the meta-story across Scripture of God’s plan and process through Creation, Fall, and Redemption paints the idea of movement through stages.

Our great Creator loves order. I think He even loves a good story with a beginning, middle, and end, and all the plot twists in between.

And it just makes so much sense to me as I see countless parallels between our lives lived in the body and our lives lived in the spirit. Parenting would be chaotic at best if we couldn’t foresee the predictable stages our children would progress through: infants to toddlers to children to adolescents to young adults. Can you imagine working on potty training if you had no hope that it was only for a season?

The Christian life would be uncertain at best if we had no hope of future glory and the sanctification process along the way. We need markers of development to assure us that we are making progress and that we are indeed on the same path of faith our spiritual role-models walked. Especially when we hit that really gnarly bump in the middle (more on that in a bit).

THE 6 STAGES OF THE JOURNEY OF FAITH

While what I’m about to present to you isn’t specific biblical truth, I do believe it is spiritual wisdom. Saints throughout the ages have looked for ways to understand the journey of faith, including John of the Cross and Bernard of Clairvaux. More recently The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith by Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich has provided helpful commentary on the predictable path we find ourselves on as we walk toward Christ-likeness.

Here is Janet’s comprehensive description and recent podcast if you want to dig deeper.

For our purposes, I’ve simplified their model a bit. And I really felt that it needed a map, of sorts. So here it is, in the best stick-figure glory I could muster:

As with any model, it’s not perfect, and we don’t always fit neatly into the categories, but much like how personality profiles can help us understand ourselves and operate with greater understanding toward others, this spiritual-life profile can help us navigate the work of God in our lives and move forward with greater trust and hope.

STAGE ONE: THE SEARCH FOR GOD

We recognize our need for a savior and accept His invitation to new life. This is the point of belief, of being born-again.

STAGE TWO: THE LIFE OF DISCIPLESHIP

We are hungry to learn everything we can about God and what His truth means for our lives. We want to belong and will search for a community of faith where we are fed from the Word.

STAGE THREE: THE PRODUCTIVE LIFE

We want to give back to the God who gave everything for us. We start looking for ways to share our faith and do good deeds. We ask if we have a personal calling from the Lord and take a step of faith to pursue it (i.e. taking a role in the church, starting a home Bible study, helping a neighbor in need, focusing your craft more on spiritual matters, becoming a pastor or missionary, viewing parenting as discipleship).

STAGE FOUR: THE WALL AND THE WILDERNESS

Often triggered by some form of suffering, we are suddenly made aware that what we are doing for God isn’t working anymore. We might feel burnt out from all our activity in the previous stage or we might be frustrated that we’re not seeing transformation in our own lives or the lives of those we are trying to reach. We often revert to more learning to become better equipped or redouble our efforts of service to hopefully see results. But eventually, we still end up at the wall with the choice to keep on looping backwards in the journey or to surrender to a major work of the Spirit in our lives.

STAGE FIVE: THE JOURNEY INWARD

We accept that deep change is necessary and we struggle through a season of deconstruction as God works with us to expose idols and egos and His heart in pursuit of our own. We begin to reconstruct our relationship with God based on intimacy, and a new sense of self-realization leads to more profound God-realization.

STAGE SIX: THE JOURNEY UPWARD AND OUTWARD

We learn to live out the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and from that life of God-love the second commandment flows: Love your neighbor as yourself. ( Matthew 22:37-39 ) We may still revisit times of testing and refining in the wilderness, but hope is secure and our hearts are fully surrendered.

WHERE ARE YOU ON THE JOURNEY?

Can you see your spiritual life at one of the points on this map? The first time it was introduced to me at a Spiritual Director’s training, I felt incredibly relieved, perhaps like a puberty-stricken girl who was finally told that armpit hair was normal. I talked about it for days to anyone that would listen. Did you know that we have stages of spiritual development just like physical development? Have you ever heard that hitting the wall is a normal and even necessary part of Christian growth? My own story suddenly makes so much sense now! Oh yeah, I totally geek out over stuff like that. 

But even if you don’t get as excited about it as I was, I hope that you find it encouraging to know that we are all on this journey together . It’s a beautiful path, and not as dark or mysterious as you once thought. No, it’s not going to be easy, but the best things rarely are. 

So keep pressing on, dear one. Further up. Further in.

Try writing down the bullet points of your own faith journey. Where do they fall on this faith map? What is God saying to you about the stage you are in right now?

My own journey through the wilderness and how I made it over the wall is recorded in my book, Colliding with the Call: When Following God Takes You to the Wilderness .

Related posts

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Is Your Soul in a Spiritual Winter?

Is Deconstruction a Normal Part of the Journey of Faith?

The “map” of the journey of faith is simply profound and I so appreciate the sharing of your own experience to illustrate the concepts. As usual, your creativity and masterful articulation impress the reader, yet you are careful to direct our attention to Jesus as the Center and Focus of our lives and journeys.

Thank you, Debi. I’m humbled by such gracious words. As long as I keep pointing people to Jesus I’m doing okay!

This comment probably won’t add anything of spiritual virtue to your well written article, but it might help your readers to understand the depth of worry for those of us that were on the bus worried sick about that beautiful, young blond girl that had gone missing when we were visiting “The Gates of Hell”. Our visit to Israel was in the fall of 2000 and the Oslo Accord had just been broken. The President of the U.S. put out a travel advisory not to travel to Israel. My parents (Corella’s grandparents) pleaded with us to cancel our plans to go to Israel. Obviously we did not heed their advise and went anyway. So when Corella, who had always been very punctual and methodical about following instructions did not return to the bus on time, it was not much of a leap to jump to the worst conclusion. Praise God that the “lost” was found and “The Gates of Hell” did not prevail!!!

I love you, Mom. Thanks for taking me to Israel and for praying over me then as you still do now!

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How to Share Your Professional Journey in an Interview

• Job Interview Insights

During a job interview, it’s common for interviewers to ask questions about a candidate’s professional journey.

This includes questions about their previous work experiences, career goals, and the skills they’ve developed along the way. Sharing your professional journey can be a powerful way to demonstrate your qualifications, highlight your achievements, and build rapport with the interviewer.

However, talking about your professional journey in an interview can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not sure how to structure your response or what information to include.

In this article, we’ll provide you with some tips and strategies for sharing your professional journey in an interview, including how to prepare in advance, what to focus on during the interview, and how to effectively communicate your experiences and achievements.

Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, these tips will help you showcase your unique story and stand out as a top candidate for the job.

So, let’s get into it shall we?

Reflect on Your Professional Experiences

Before you can share your professional journey, it is essential to reflect on your past experiences. Take some time to review your resume, focusing on the major milestones and achievements throughout your career.

Consider what you have learned from each role, the challenges you faced, and the skills you developed. This reflection will help you identify the key moments that shaped your career and allow you to discuss them confidently during an interview.

This reflection is also important from another perspective, it shows your hiring manager to see that you are an honest person who is quite forth coming, these are both great traits to have!

Another thing to keep in mind is that as you reflect on your professional experiences, it’s important to think about your long-term career goals and how your previous experiences have helped you get closer to achieving them.

This can include opportunities for growth and development, as well as challenges and setbacks that have taught you valuable lessons. By reflecting on both the highs and lows of your professional journey, you’ll be able to communicate a well-rounded and authentic story that highlights your unique strengths and qualifications.

Choose Relevant Stories

The second thing on our list here is choosing relevant stories, but what does that mean?

When talking about your professional career in a job interview, choosing relevant stories is crucial, because you don’t want to say just whatever.

Sharing stories that demonstrate your skills and experiences can help the interviewer understand your capabilities and assess whether you’re a good fit for the job.

However, it’s important to choose stories that are relevant to the position you’re applying for and the company culture.

To choose relevant stories, start by reviewing the job description and researching the company. This will help you understand the key skills and qualities that are required for the job, as well as the company’s mission and values.

Once you have a clear understanding of what the interviewer is looking for, you can select stories that demonstrate your relevant experience and align with the company’s culture and values.

When selecting stories to share in the interview, be sure to focus on the positive aspects of your experiences. This includes highlighting achievements and successes, as well as lessons learned from challenges or setbacks.

Choose stories that demonstrate your problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and teamwork, as these are qualities that are highly valued in many industries.

By choosing relevant and positive stories, you’ll be able to make a strong impression on the interviewer and demonstrate your potential as a valuable addition to the team.

Craft a compelling narrative

This goes hand in hand with the relevant stories you would have chosen because without tying those with a solid compelling narrative, it is almost as though you will allow for gaps in your story about your professional carrier.

This is because crafting your own compelling narrative is another excellent way to reel whoever is interviewing you in your story and give them something for their brain to latch on to. Doing this will allow you to talk about your professional career in a job interview.

A well-crafted narrative can help you present yourself in a way that is very clear, concise, and memorable. This makes it very easy for your interviewer to recognize your experiences and qualifications. To achieve this, you need to sell a version of this narrative that is not only relevant but engaging too.

So, you must be wondering how you can do that. Well, to start crafting your narrative, consider what you want the interviewer to know about you and your professional journey.

This can include your career goals, key achievements, and the unique skills and qualities that set you apart from other candidates.

Think about the challenges you’ve faced and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, as well as the people who have influenced and supported you throughout your career.

When crafting your narrative, it’s important to keep it concise and focused. Choose a few key themes or experiences that you want to highlight and structure your story around those themes.

Use clear and descriptive language to help the interviewer visualize your experiences and include specific examples that demonstrate your skills and accomplishments.

If you correctly craft a compelling and well-structured narrative, you’ll be able to showcase your strengths and qualifications in a way that resonates with the interviewer and helps you stand out as a top candidate for the job.

Be Concise and Engaging

When you are crafting a compelling narrative or creating an engaging storyline, this does not mean you should keep every detail in there, because not every detail is relevant to what you are trying to achieve!

You want to make sure you convey the most important information about your skills, experience, and achievements without overwhelming the interviewer with unnecessary details. By being concise and engaging, you can ensure that the interviewer remains interested and focused on your responses.

One effective way to be concise and engaging is to use the STAR method when answering behavioral questions. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This approach involves briefly describing the situation you were in, the task you needed to accomplish, the action you took to accomplish it, and the result of your actions. This approach allows you to give a clear and concise answer while still providing enough detail to demonstrate your skills and experience.

Another way to be concise and engaging is to use storytelling techniques. Stories are a powerful way to connect with the interviewer and make your experiences more memorable. Start by choosing a relevant experience or achievement, and then craft a story around it. Use vivid language and imagery to help the interviewer visualize the situation and the impact you had. Keep the story concise and focused, and make sure it highlights the skills and qualities that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Tell it like a Story

Telling your career journey like a story is a great way to make a lasting impression during a job interview.

This approach allows you to take the interviewer on a journey, showing them how you arrived at your current place in your career. By framing your journey as a story, you can engage the interviewer, highlight your key achievements, and showcase the skills and qualities that make you a great fit for the job.

To tell your career journey like a story, start by identifying the key moments in your career. Think about the experiences and achievements that have had the most significant impact on your professional development.

Once you have a clear idea of these moments, you can start to structure your story around them, using them as anchor points to guide your narrative.

As you tell your story, make sure to highlight your growth and development over time. Discuss the skills you’ve acquired, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the accomplishments you’re most proud of.

Be sure to emphasize how each experience has prepared you for the role you’re applying for and how it aligns with the company’s goals and values.

Final Words

Sharing your professional journey in a job interview can be a daunting task, but with the right approach, it can be a powerful way to showcase your skills, experience, and unique qualities.

By reflecting on your experiences, choosing relevant stories, crafting a compelling narrative, and being concise and engaging, you can make a strong impression on the interviewer and increase your chances of landing the job.

Remember that the key to sharing your professional journey effectively is to be authentic and genuine. Don’t be afraid to share your successes and failures and highlight the lessons you’ve learned along the way. This will help you build a connection with the interviewer and demonstrate that you’re the right fit for the company culture.

With these tips in mind, you’ll be well-prepared to talk about your professional journey in your next job interview.

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