When an interviewer is looking to learn more about you as a person, they might ask you to tell some fun facts about yourself. Here are a ton of fun facts about me that are safe to share in any setting.
“Tell me a fun fact about yourself.”
Imagine this: you take your seat at a dinner party, attend a class, or join a Zoom breakout room full of strangers. You know what’s coming next and you instantly feel a sense of dread—an icebreaker. They want to know a fun fact about you. “It can be anything!” they exclaim.
Do you share the most embarrassing moment or your biggest accomplishment? Do you regale your audience with funny stories or share your guilty pleasure? Do you have a hidden talent that you want to share?
We created a long list of examples of fun facts on a variety of topics. Bookmark this page and always have a few fun facts on hand to get out of any small talk dead end.
If you’re answering this question in an interview setting, relate it to the job with equal parts sincerity and creativity. These three facts about you are great because they shed light on your formative years, describe a situation in which you learned and grew, and allow you to share stories about your favorite things.
In an interview setting, these sorts of fun facts can also help the interviewer to open up, too.
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When I was young, I wanted to be a [JOB PROFESSION] because [STORY].
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The most embarrassing thing that ever happened to me at work was [EMBARRASSING THING] and I learned [LESSON LEARNED].
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My favorite word is [WORD] and why. (Bonus points for obscure words or words that don’t exist in English.)
When brainstorming facts about yourself, it may be helpful to consider random, fun, and interesting facts.
Here are some ideas and examples of different types of facts to share in an interview, while networking, or over lunch with a friend.
There’s a sweet spot for a fun fact that delivers but doesn’t haunt you for the rest of your days.
For example, if you share that you can do a double backflip, expect to be asked to do it for every person, at every party, and at the end of every meeting, and for the company TikTok.
Random Facts About Me:
What makes you stand out from the rest of the candidates?
How to Answer “Tell Me a Fun Fact About Yourself” in an Interview Setting
When answering this interview question, it’s important to remember what this information conveys about you.
Does it make you stand out? Is your response memorable? Does it help the interviewer learn more about your personality and how you may fit into the company?
Tip 1: Don’t Think Too Hard About It + Have Fun With It
We know this question is tough because of how open-ended it is. Use this to your advantage. Take this opportunity to share something about yourself that usually wouldn’t come up on your resume or cover letter.
Who knows, maybe your interviewer is also a vegan who is passionate about environmental sustainability.
Even if this isn’t the case, a unique fact about yourself is a great way to start an interesting conversation.
Pro Tip: If you know who your interviewer is beforehand, conduct a little research online. Find commonalities between yourself and the interviewer—it could be schools attended, cities you lived in, or connections you have in common.
Tip 2: Be Honest and Genuine
This advice applies to any interview question. Make sure to be yourself and show the company who you really are, not who you think they want you to be. There’s no point in sharing a hobby or interest that isn’t something you enjoy or engage in.
Furthermore, if you define yourself as a “world traveler” and can’t name your favorite travel destination, it could make the interviewer question your credibility.
Here are some fun fact prompts that you can use to dive into your authentic self:
- A perfect day at work looks like…
- My idea of the dream job has changed because…
- If I could use the rest of my life to accomplish one thing…
- My favorite childhood memory is…
Tip 3: Find a Creative Way to Relate Your Response Back to the Job
Relating a fun fact about yourself back to the job may be the hardest part of this process. If you’re really looking to impress the interviewer, consider the types of fun facts that reveal who you are as a leader or coworker.
For example, saying you’re a part-time yoga instructor doesn’t only communicate your interest in health and wellbeing. It also signals your ability to lead a team, practice mindfulness, and invest in self-improvement.
