How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in a UK Sponsorship Sales Interview

A simple, value-led approach for sponsorship and partnership roles

If you’re preparing for a sponsorship sales interview, the question “Tell me about yourself” can feel bigger than it needs to be. Rebecca Okamoto’s TED talk, “How to introduce yourself – and get hired,” offers a really reassuring way to think about it: your answer doesn’t need to cover everything you’ve ever done. It just needs to help the interviewer understand the value you bring and invite them to learn more.

One of her main ideas is that strong introductions are clear, concise, and audience-focused. Instead of walking through your resume, you’re simply offering a short snapshot of how you can help them. When you frame it this way, the question becomes less intimidating and more like starting a conversation.

A helpful way to shape your answer

You might think of your response as having three parts:

1. Who you help

2. How you help them

3. Why that’s relevant to this role

That’s it, no pressure to be clever or overly polished.

For a sponsorship sales role, that could sound like:

• “I help brands and organisations build sponsorship partnerships that create real value on both sides.”

• “I work in sponsorship sales, where I focus on building long-term partner relationships and delivering measurable ROI.”

These kinds of openings are simple, clear, and give the interviewer an easy path to ask a follow-up question.

Different ways to say it (choose what feels natural)

Okamoto suggests there’s no single “right” format; it’s more about finding wording that feels true to you. Here are a few gentle starting points you can adapt:

• Value-focused:
  “I help brands grow through strategic sponsorship partnerships.”

• Strength-based:
  “I’m known for building strong sponsor relationships and creating packages that align brand goals with audience impact.”

• Passion-led:
  “I really enjoy connecting brands with opportunities that create meaningful, mutually beneficial partnerships.”

If one of these feels more like you, that’s a good sign.

Bringing in your experience

Once you’ve opened with a clear snapshot, you can briefly anchor it in your experience:

“In my last role, I worked closely with partners to customize sponsorship packages, which helped increase renewal rates and long-term engagement.”

You don’t need every detail, just enough to make your introduction feel grounded and real.

A gentle mindset shift

The most comforting takeaway from the TED talk is this: You’re not trying to impress with everything you know. You’re simply giving the interviewer a starting point to understand you.

If they want more detail, they’ll ask – and that’s a good thing.

If you’d like feedback on your interview pitch, send us a short version and we’ll help you refine it.

Ready to take the next step in your sponsorship sales career? Share your CV with us and we’ll help you prepare.

*Here is the link to Rebecca’s Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_okamoto_how_to_introduce_yourself_and_get_hired

Visit www.jbrecruitment.co.uk to learn more about how we connect top commercial talent with world-class media and events organisations.

About Jackson Barnes Recruitment

Jackson Barnes Recruitment delivers international recruitment solutions within the events, media, and publishing sectors. Jackson Barnes recruits Graduate to MD level in the following positions:

•  Researcher
• Conference producer
• Event Marketing
• Sales – delegate, sponsorship & Business Development
• Event Manager
• Editor

We recruit for organisations in the UK and overseas, with success in London, Dubai, New York, Singapore and Australia.