Almost every recruiter or interviewer will ask you the following question at some point:
“So tell me about yourself”
This isn’t an invitation to stumble over your words or ramble for five minutes. What this question really means is something along the lines of:
- “I didn’t have time to thoroughly review your resume, so give me a quick summary to help guide my questions.”
- “Let’s break the ice. Give me some highlights to kick off the conversation.”
Either way, this is an important question to answer correctly. While it seems simple and open-ended, it’s not. There are right and wrong ways to answer this question, and your response is just as important as your resume.
Why you shouldn’t ramble
Why shouldn’t you just go on for five minutes and talk about whatever comes to mind?
Because, just like your resume, your response will guide the conversation. You want to sound sharp and steer the discussion toward your strengths and the topics you’re most comfortable with. This is your chance to highlight parts of your resume that you prefer to talk about and not let the interviewer dig into random sections you’re less excited about.
The first rule of an elevator pitch: respect their time
Respecting the interviewer’s time is key. A screening call usually lasts 15 to 30 minutes, and a full interview round is often about an hour long. You should aim to deliver your elevator pitch in about one minute.
Why so short?
Because interviews are packed. You’ll need to cover other important topics like your technical skills, problem-solving ability, and fit for the role. Wasting time on a long-winded introduction creates a poor first impression.
In one minute, you can typically fit about 150 words. Every word counts. This is why I always recommend other engineers to prepare ahead of time.
How to prepare your elevator pitch
Start by reviewing your resume. Go through each section and decide which points you want to emphasize. Here are some tips:
- Tailor to the role: If your most recent job isn’t the most relevant for the position you’re applying for, focus on the experience that aligns best with the job description.
- Focus on relevance: If you have multiple items in your education section, highlight only your most significant credential.
Once you’ve chosen the key points to highlight, craft a short narrative that connects them. Add simple transitions between the bullet points to make your speech flow naturally (use AI to assist with this part to save time)
Keep it concise
Cut out fluff and obvious statements. For example, if you’re applying for a software engineering role and all your experience is in software engineering, there’s no need to say, “I’m a software engineer.” That’s already understood.
Instead, focus on accomplishments, unique strengths, and specific contributions that make you a standout candidate. With preparation and practice, your elevator pitch can set the tone for a successful interview.
Can you spot the difference?
Let’s look at two examples of elevator pitches for a Senior Python/Django Developer role. Here is the description of the actual role that I’ve grabbed from LinkedIn (I removed some irrelevant parts for brevity):
We’re looking for a highly skilled and experienced Senior Python/Django Developer, who is a natural “problem-solver”, and someone who’s passionate about writing clean, maintainable, scalable code. But we also need someone who’s personable and who can mentor other Junior Developers.
Qualifications:
- Proven experience as a developer with expertise in Python and Django.
- Strong understanding of software engineering principles and best practices.
- Extensive experience in writing and maintaining unit tests.
- Demonstrated ability to architect complex systems and lead development projects.
- Excellent code review skills with a focus on quality and maintainability.
- Experience mentoring and training other developers.
- Familiarity with front-end technologies (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
- Knowledge of version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative development workflows.
First elevator pitch (strong example):
I’ve been a software engineer for over four years, specializing in Python, test automation, and mentoring teams. At John Deere, I led a team to implement SIL and HIL infrastructure, boosting test coverage by 40%. I also Dockerized .NET tools and optimized cross-platform CI/CD pipeline leveraging GitHub Actions, reducing pipeline costs by 75%.
During my time at Tesla, I worked on automating manual tests using the PyTest framework, significantly improving the reliability and speed of firmware validation. I’ve consistently delivered solutions that enhance efficiency, such as a Python/JavaScript tool I designed to streamline pull request merge conflicts, saving 45 minutes per merge.
Beyond coding, I’ve taken on leadership roles like running daily standups and retrospectives for a team of 13 engineers and mentoring junior team members through pair programming and code reviews. I also organized an OO Design Patterns book club to encourage continuous improvement, fostering collaboration and growth within the team.
Second elevator pitch (weak example):
Uh, hi, so I’m Roman. I’ve worked on a variety of software projects, mostly focusing on, uh, general development tasks. I’ve used different programming languages like C and, um, C++ in the past, but I can work with Python too. I’ve also done some testing work, you know, like writing tests and fixing bugs when needed.
I’d say I’m good at working with others on projects, and I’ve contributed to some tools that help improve processes, though I can’t recall the exact details right now. I’m definitely interested in learning more about Django. It’s a great framework from what I’ve heard. I also would like to be working on larger systems. Yeah.. I’d love to be part of a team where I can grow, contribute, and mentor others.
Why the first pitch works
The first elevator pitch is tailored to a specific role. It highlights skills relevant to the position and strategically downplays areas that may not align perfectly, such as lack of Django experience in a professional setting.
The second pitch, on the other hand, is too general and lacks specifics. It doesn’t guide the conversation, leaving the interviewer to pry for more details. That’s not ideal.
How can you make it even better?
If you’re missing a key qualification, like professional experience in Django for a Django-focused role, you can bridge that gap by starting a relevant project and incorporating it into your pitch. For example, I could rewrite my software engineering blogs directory in Django and then mention it as hands-on experience.
With a proactive approach, you can turn potential weaknesses into opportunities to showcase your initiative and adaptability.
Final thoughts
Your elevator pitch is your first impression (following your resume). A strong, tailored response can set the tone for a successful interview, while a weak one might derail it from the start. Take the time to prepare, practice, and refine your pitch.
