How to answer “tell me about yourself” in Australian job interviews is something I got completely wrong for months. My first interview in Melbourne was for a casual retail job at a shopping centre in the CBD. The manager asked me to tell her about myself, and I launched into a five-minute monologue about my engineering degree back home, my academic achievements, my family background, and my long-term career aspirations.
She looked at me like I’d just recited a Wikipedia article about myself. Which, honestly, I kind of had.
I didn’t get the job. And I didn’t understand why until a friend who’d been in Australia longer sat me down and explained what Australian employers actually want when they ask this question. It’s not what I thought. And if you’re coming from a similar background to mine, it’s probably not what you think either.
I’ve since been through interviews for retail jobs, hospitality work, a warehouse position, an internship at a startup, and graduate roles in tech. The question comes up almost every single time, and I’ve learned to adjust my answer based on the context. So here’s everything I know about how to answer “tell me about yourself” in Australian job interviews, with actual sample answers you can adapt.
Why This Question Matters More Than You Think
“Tell me about yourself” is usually the first real question in any interview. It sets the tone for everything that follows. Get it right, and you establish credibility and build rapport from the start. Get it wrong, and you’re spending the rest of the interview trying to recover.
The problem is that this question feels deceptively simple. There’s no obvious right answer. You could technically say anything. Which is exactly why so many people mess it up. They either ramble without direction, recite their resume chronologically, or share personal details that have nothing to do with the job.
Here’s the thing I didn’t understand initially: this question isn’t asking who you are as a person. It’s asking why you’re sitting in this interview, what makes you relevant for this role, and whether you can communicate clearly. That’s it. Everything in your answer should serve one of those purposes.
What Australian Interviewers Actually Want to Hear
Australian workplace culture has some specific characteristics that affect how you should answer. Understanding these helped me completely reshape my approach.
Australians value directness. Long, winding answers that take forever to get to the point don’t land well here. They’d rather you say something in 60 seconds than take three minutes to say the same thing with extra words. This doesn’t mean being rude or abrupt, just efficient.
Australians are suspicious of arrogance. Bragging about achievements or talking yourself up too much can backfire. There’s a cultural tendency called “tall poppy syndrome” where people who seem too full of themselves get cut down. You need to state your strengths confidently but without sounding like you think you’re better than everyone else.
Australians appreciate authenticity. Rehearsed, corporate-sounding answers feel off here. They want to get a sense of who you actually are, not a polished performance. A bit of personality goes a long way.
Australians care about cultural fit. They’re assessing whether you’ll mesh well with the team. Someone who seems stiff or difficult to talk to raises concerns, regardless of qualifications.
Keep these in mind as we work through specific answers.
The Basic Structure That Works
After plenty of trial and error, I landed on a simple structure that works across different types of roles. Think of it as three parts: present, past, future. Each part should be two to four sentences maximum.
Present: What’s your current situation? Are you a student? Working somewhere else? Just arrived in Australia? This grounds the interviewer in who you are right now.
Past: What relevant experience or background do you bring? This isn’t your life story. It’s the specific things that make you qualified or suitable for this particular role.
Future: Why are you here? What are you looking for? How does this role fit into what you want? This connects your background to this specific opportunity.
The whole answer should take 60 to 90 seconds. If you’re going past two minutes, you’re saying too much.
Sample Answers for Different Job Types
The right answer depends heavily on what kind of job you’re interviewing for. A casual retail position and a graduate program require different approaches. Here are specific examples for common situations.
Casual Retail Jobs
For retail, they care about availability, customer service attitude, and whether you seem reliable. They don’t care about your academic achievements or your five-year plan.
Sample answer:
“I’m a second-year international student at RMIT, studying business. I moved to Melbourne about eight months ago and I’ve been getting settled, but now I’m looking for consistent part-time work. Back home, I worked at a clothing store for about two years during my undergrad, so I’m comfortable with customer service, handling transactions, and keeping the floor organised. I’m available most weekdays before 2pm and all day on weekends. I chose to apply here because I actually shop at this store and I like the brand.”
Notice what that doesn’t include: detailed academic achievements, long-term career goals, or anything that makes them think you’ll leave in two months for something “better.”
For more on landing retail jobs specifically, check out my guide on finding casual retail jobs in Australia as an international student.
Hospitality Roles (Cafes, Restaurants, Bars)
Hospitality managers want to know you can handle fast-paced environments, work well with a team, and show up when rostered. Energy and enthusiasm matter here.
Sample answer:
“I’m currently studying at Melbourne Uni and looking for regular part-time work that fits around my classes. I’ve worked in hospitality before. Back home, I spent a year and a half at a busy cafe in Dhaka, so I’m used to morning rushes, handling multiple orders, and staying calm when things get hectic. I’ve got my RSA, and I’m happy to work early mornings, evenings, or weekends. To be honest, I miss being in that kind of fast-paced environment. Sitting in lectures all day isn’t really my thing.”
That last line adds a bit of personality. It’s human. It makes you memorable compared to someone who gives a robotic answer.
Warehouse and Factory Jobs
For physical roles, they want to know you can handle the work, you’re available for the shifts they need, and you won’t quit after a week because it’s harder than you expected.
Sample answer:
“I’m an international student at Deakin, and I’m looking for physical work that fits around my class schedule. I’ve done manual labour before. I worked at a distribution centre back home during summer breaks, mostly loading trucks and doing inventory. I’m fit, I don’t mind early starts, and I prefer being active over sitting at a desk. I’m free Monday to Wednesday mornings and all day Saturday and Sunday. I live about 20 minutes from here, so getting to early shifts wouldn’t be a problem.”
For more on this type of role, read my guide on warehouse jobs for students in Australia.
Internships and Entry-Level Professional Roles
Here’s where you can talk more about your studies and career direction, but still keep it focused and concise.
Sample answer:
“I’m in my final year of a Master’s in IT at the University of Melbourne, specialising in software development. Before coming to Australia, I did my undergrad in electrical engineering in Bangladesh, which is where I first got into programming through some embedded systems projects. Since then I’ve shifted focus to web development. I’ve built a few full-stack projects using React and Node, and last semester I did a short placement with a local startup where I worked on their backend API. I’m looking for an internship where I can get more hands-on experience with a proper engineering team and start building toward a career in software development here in Australia.”
This version includes more technical detail because that’s relevant for this type of role. But notice it’s still structured: present situation, relevant background, what you’re looking for.
Graduate Programs
Graduate programs are competitive, and the “tell me about yourself” answer needs to show you’ve thought seriously about your career direction and why you’re applying to this specific program.
Sample answer:
“I’m finishing my Master’s in Information Technology at Melbourne Uni in November. My focus has been on data engineering and machine learning, which I got interested in during an undergraduate project that involved analysing sensor data. Since coming to Australia, I’ve built on that through coursework and a personal project where I created a pipeline to process and visualise public transport data. I’ve also been working part-time at a retail job to support myself, which has actually taught me a lot about juggling priorities and communicating with different types of people. I’m specifically interested in your graduate program because of your work in data analytics and the rotation structure, which would let me explore different areas before specialising.”
Graduate program interviews often have multiple rounds, and this question might come up more than once. Have a core answer but be prepared to emphasise different aspects depending on who’s asking. For more on graduate job hunting, check out my guide on finding graduate roles in Australia as an international student.
When You’re Changing Industries or Roles
If your background doesn’t directly match the job, your answer needs to bridge that gap. Focus on transferable skills and explain the pivot.
Sample answer:
“I’m a graduate student at Monash, studying project management. My background is actually in electrical engineering. I worked as a site engineer in Bangladesh for two years after my undergrad, managing installation teams and coordinating with contractors. It’s quite different from what I’m studying now, but that experience showed me I’m more interested in the coordination and planning side than the technical work itself. That’s what drew me to project management. I’m looking for an entry-level role where I can apply what I’ve learned while building experience in a new industry.”
Adjustments for Different Interview Formats
The basic structure stays the same, but you might need to adjust length and emphasis depending on the format.
Phone Screens
Keep it shorter than usual, maybe 45 to 60 seconds. Without visual cues, long answers are harder to follow. Get to the point quickly. The recruiter is usually ticking boxes at this stage, not having a deep conversation.
Video Interviews
Same as in-person, but be conscious that technical issues can disrupt your flow. Have your answer well-rehearsed so you can deliver it smoothly even if there’s a slight lag. For more on this, read my guide to online interview tips.
Panel Interviews
Direct your answer to whoever asked, but make eye contact with everyone on the panel. Keep the same structure, but you might expand slightly if the panel includes people from different areas who might value different aspects of your background. I’ve covered this in more detail in my panel interview preparation guide.
Assessment Centres
At assessment centres, you might introduce yourself multiple times to different people. Have a consistent core message, but be prepared to adjust emphasis based on who you’re talking to. An HR person cares about different things than a technical manager.
What Not to Say
Some things that might seem fine to include can actually hurt you. Here’s what to avoid.
Don’t start with your childhood. “I was born in [city] and grew up in a family of four…” Nobody cares. Start with your current situation and work backward only as far as is relevant.
Don’t recite your resume. They have your resume. They’ve read it. Or they will. Your verbal answer should add context and personality, not repeat information they already have in written form.
Don’t mention personal struggles or hardships unprompted. I know it can feel natural to explain difficulties you’ve overcome, but an initial interview isn’t the place. It can make things awkward and shift focus away from your qualifications.
Don’t badmouth previous employers or experiences. Even if your last job was terrible, don’t bring negativity into the conversation. It raises questions about whether you’ll speak badly about this employer someday.
Don’t be too personal. Your hobbies, relationship status, religion, or family situation aren’t relevant and can create unconscious bias. Keep it professional.
Don’t say “I’m not sure what to say” or “What do you want to know?” This signals lack of preparation. Have an answer ready.
Don’t go past two minutes. If you’re still talking after two minutes, you’ve lost them. Practice timing yourself.
Handling Follow-Up Questions
Sometimes the interviewer will dig deeper after your initial answer. Don’t panic. This usually means they’re interested and want to know more.
“Can you tell me more about [specific thing you mentioned]?”
This is a good sign. Expand on that particular point with more detail or a specific example. Keep it focused on what they asked.
“That’s interesting. Why did you decide to [make that choice]?”
They’re probing your decision-making process. Be honest about your reasoning. If you changed careers, explain what motivated it. If you chose a particular course, explain why.
“What specifically draws you to this role?”
This is essentially asking you to elaborate on the “future” part of your answer. Be specific about what appeals to you about this particular job or company.
Practice Makes It Sound Natural
The goal is to sound conversational, not rehearsed. But getting there actually requires rehearsal. Here’s how I practiced.
Write out your answer first. Get it on paper or a screen. This helps you structure your thoughts and cut unnecessary words.
Say it out loud repeatedly. It needs to feel natural coming out of your mouth, not like you’re reading from a script. Record yourself and listen back. You’ll notice filler words, awkward phrasing, and places where you ramble.
Time yourself. Aim for 60 to 90 seconds. Adjust until you hit that window consistently.
Practice with someone else. Have a friend ask you the question and give feedback. Do they understand who you are and why you’re suitable for the type of role you’re targeting?
Prepare variations. You might need slightly different versions for different types of roles. A retail answer shouldn’t be identical to a graduate program answer.
How Your Answer Changes Over Time
Your “tell me about yourself” answer isn’t static. It should evolve as your situation changes.
When I first arrived in Melbourne, my answer focused heavily on my background from home because that’s all I had. Now, I can talk about local experience, Australian qualifications, and specific things I’ve done here. As you gain more relevant experience in Australia, shift your emphasis toward recent and local accomplishments.
If you’re just starting out, it’s fine for your answer to lean more on education and overseas experience. But actively work toward getting things you can talk about that are from here. Even a few months at a casual job gives you something Australian employers can relate to more easily.
For strategies on building local experience, check out my guide on building local experience in Australia without a full-time job.
Addressing the International Student Elephant in the Room
As an international student, you might wonder whether to bring up your visa status in your “tell me about yourself” answer. My approach has evolved on this.
For casual jobs, I weave it in naturally by mentioning I’m a student, which implies the visa situation without making it a big deal. Something like “I’m an international student at [university]” gets the information across without turning it into a formal disclosure.
For professional roles, I still mention being a student (if I am) but focus more on qualifications and experience. If work rights come up later, I address it then with confidence. I don’t lead with visa details because I don’t want that to define the conversation before they’ve heard about my actual capabilities.
I’ve written extensively about this in my guide on explaining your visa status in Australian job interviews.
The Mindset Shift That Made the Difference
The breakthrough for me came when I stopped thinking of “tell me about yourself” as a question about me and started thinking of it as a question about why I’m relevant to them.
Every sentence in your answer should help the interviewer understand why you’re a good fit for this specific role. If a piece of information doesn’t serve that purpose, cut it. Your fascinating hobby, your family history, your GPA from undergrad. Unless it directly supports your case for this job, leave it out.
This isn’t being fake or hiding who you are. It’s being strategic about what you share in a professional context. You’d do the same at a networking event or when meeting your partner’s parents for the first time. Context determines what’s relevant to share.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should my “tell me about yourself” answer be?
Aim for 60 to 90 seconds. Under a minute can feel too brief and like you haven’t thought about it. Over two minutes and you’re rambling. Practice timing yourself until you can consistently hit this window. If the interviewer wants more detail, they’ll ask follow-up questions.
Should I mention personal interests or hobbies?
Generally no, unless they’re directly relevant to the role or add something meaningful to your professional profile. Mentioning you play team sports could subtly support claims about teamwork abilities. But talking about your Netflix habits or your love of cooking doesn’t belong here. Save the personal stuff for small talk if it comes up naturally later.
Is it okay to use the same answer for every interview?
Use the same structure and core content, but tailor the details to each role. For a retail job, emphasise availability and customer service experience. For a tech role, emphasise technical skills and projects. The interviewer should feel like you’ve thought about why you’re specifically suitable for their position, not like you’re giving a generic speech.
What if I don’t have any relevant experience?
Focus on transferable skills and relevant education. Everyone starts somewhere. If you’re a student with no work history, talk about projects, coursework, or volunteer experience that demonstrates relevant abilities. If you’ve worked in completely different fields, highlight transferable skills like customer service, teamwork, problem-solving, or handling pressure.
Should I memorise my answer word for word?
Memorise the structure and key points, but not the exact wording. A perfectly memorised answer sounds robotic and can fall apart if you forget a word. You want to sound conversational and natural, which means knowing your content well enough to express it flexibly. Practice enough that the answer feels second nature without being scripted.
What if I get nervous and forget what I planned to say?
Take a breath before you start speaking. If you lose your place, it’s okay to pause briefly. You can even say “Let me think about the best way to put this.” Having a clear structure (present, past, future) helps because if you forget a detail, you still know what section comes next. Nerves get better with practice and experience.
Final Thoughts
How to answer “tell me about yourself” in Australian job interviews comes down to being prepared, relevant, and authentic. Have a clear structure. Know what type of role you’re interviewing for and what that employer cares about. Practice enough that you sound natural, not rehearsed.
I bombed this question for months before I figured out what I was doing wrong. I was treating it like an invitation to share my autobiography when it was actually asking me to make a quick case for why I deserved to be in that room. Once I understood that, everything clicked.
If you’re still working on your overall interview skills, have a look at my guides on common interview questions for casual and retail jobs and behavioural interview questions using the STAR method. And if you’re applying for IT roles specifically, check out my detailed breakdown of typical IT job interview questions for junior and graduate roles.
How to answer “tell me about yourself” in Australian job interviews is a skill that gets better with practice. The first few times feel awkward. Then it becomes second nature. You’ll get there.