Interviewers typically ask you for an outline of your work history at the outset of a job interview. This will frequently take the form of a request, such “Can you walk me through your resume?” or “Please tell me about your work experience.”
What’s the best way to discuss your resume during a job interview? Here are options for answering questions about your resume, and what (and what not) to share with prospective employers.
Options for Talking About Your Resume
- Candidates will often recount their work experience in chronological order from the past to present, and focus their response on the jobs they have held and the names of their employers. However, there can be a better approach than simply relaying your work history.
Show Why You’re a Good Fit for the Role
- Simply stating the facts doesn’t tell employers much that they don’t already know—and you miss out on an opportunity to show the hiring manager why you’re a perfect fit for the job.
Highlight How You’re a Match
- Rather than summarizing what’s on your resume, consider your response, this is an opportunity to highlight the aspects of your resume that show that you’re a great match for the role.
- Use the time to tell the interviewer about your related achievements and what you accomplished at each position you’ve held. Here’s how.
Analyze the Job and Your Qualifications
- Prepare by analyzing the most critical requirements for the job for which you’re interviewing. Then select the aspects of your work, academic, and volunteer history which best demonstrate that you have the qualifications and experience to excel in that position. Remember, this is the time to show off what you’ve done, and it’s important to match your qualifications to the job.
Be Selective About What You Share
- Take advantage of this opportunity to create a favorable impression early in the interview by leading the interviewer through your resume in a more selective manner.
Focus on Your Related Experience
- Start by highlighting the most compelling elements of your experience first. You don’t need to share everything you have done at each job, describe every class you took, or go through every bullet point on your resume. Remember, the interviewer is likely holding a copy of your resume during the interview and will have a broad sense of the facts around each job, such as your job title, the company name, and the basics of your role.
Keep it Concise and Don’t Ramble
- Aim to speak for a few minutes when you’re responding to this question, but don’t talk for so long that your answer becomes tedious. Avoid rambling or delving into too many details, and try to tell a coherent story in your response. The best way to accomplish this is to take some time to get ready ahead of time. Have examples and stories ready to share with prospective employers.
Focus on Your Accomplishments and Skills
- Rather than a simple rendition of your position, titles, and responsibilities, cite your key accomplishments and reference the skills that enabled you to achieve those successes. Be sure to mention how you impacted the bottom line in those roles, and how you added value to your employer.
- Did you help the company save money or work on a team that finished a major project? Be ready to explain these achievements in a succinct but interesting manner. Try to present your points in the form of stories that portray problems you solved and challenges you met.
You Don’t Have to Cover Everything on Your Resume
- Feel free to leave out jobs that are not relevant or impressive, and it’s fine to deviate from a chronological presentation.
Be Sure to Get Your Facts Straight
- It’s important to be accurate when you’re recounting your work history. Forgetting about when and where you worked at any given time may not seem like something that might happen. But when you’re stressed about interviewing, it can be easy to forget the exact details of your employment history.
- Review your resume before you go in for your interview. It’s also a good idea to bring a copy of your resume with you to the interview.
Whether you are considering a change, or actively seeking a new position, we can provide expert advice on preparing your resume, extensive interview preparation and ongoing support throughout the recruitment process. Get in contact with our specialist consultants today on +61 2 8320 7956 or at [email protected].
