How to Answer “Walk Me Through Your Resume” (Examples)

By Kimberli Lowe-MacAuley
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Have you ever struggled to fit a career’s worth of information into a concise bullet point on your resume? It can be challenging to fully convey how your previous experience makes you the absolute best candidate for the position.

If you’re nodding your head in agreement, then one of the most common interview questions you may love is, “Walk me through your resume.” When an interviewer asks this question, it’s your opportunity to bring your resume to life and explain how your experiences have prepared you for this role.

Effectively Answering “Walk Me Through Your Resume”

On the surface, this question may not seem so difficult. After all, you know your resume better than anyone else, right? But it can be easy to get tongue-tied and start rambling in the heat of an interview.

Here’s the good news: with a bit of preparation, you can ace this question and make a great impression on your interviewer. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Do Interviewers Ask You to Review Your Resume?

When interviewers ask you to “walk them through your resume,” they’re not just looking for a regurgitation of the information they’ve already read. Instead, they’re encouraging you to elaborate on your skills and accomplishments and highlight why you’re the best candidate for the job.

This question also allows interviewers to gauge how well you know your personal brand. Are you able to speak confidently about your experiences? How well do you understand the role? Do you know which skills are most relevant to the position? Your answer will give the interviewer valuable insight into your candidacy.

Preparing for Success

1. Know Your Audience

Before you walk into an interview, it’s essential to take some time to research the company. Review their website, read press releases, and check their social media channels. You’ll have a better sense of the company’s culture, values, and goals.

When you understand the company’s mission, you’ll be able to better align your experiences with what they’re looking for in a candidate.

2. Highlight Your Accomplishments

When reviewing your resume, consider which experiences and accomplishments you want to highlight. Which ones are most relevant to the role?

It also helps if you’re prepared to elaborate on your accomplishments in detail. Be ready to share stories and examples that illustrate your successes.

3. Be Prepared for Follow-Up Questions

The interviewer may ask you to elaborate on specific points from your answer. For example, they might ask you to share details about a particular accomplishment or project you mentioned.

They might also ask how your experiences have prepared you for the position. Be ready to dive deeper into how your skills and qualifications match the job requirements and why you’re excited about the opportunity.

4. Practice Out Loud

Before your interview, take time to practice your answer out loud. By saying the words aloud, instead of just in your head, you’ll be more quick to notice if any words or thoughts don’t flow well.

Consider asking a friend or family member to listen to your practice answer and give feedback. They might be able to point out areas where you could improve or add more details.

Or, to take your interview to the next level, work with a professional career coach to practice and fine-tune your answer for even better results.

Sample Answers for “Tell Me About Your Resume”

To help you see how this question can be answered, here are a few example answers.

Example 1: A Marketing Coordinator Role

I’ve had a few different roles in my career, but I recently worked as a marketing coordinator at a small agency. In that role, I was responsible for various tasks, including social media, email marketing, and event planning. My experience makes me an excellent fit for this role because I understand the different marketing channels and how they can be used to achieve specific goals. For example, I increased website traffic by 20% in my previous role through our social media campaign.

I’m also confident in my ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines. I successfully coordinated three significant events within a two-month period in my previous role. Overall, I believe my skills and experiences make me the perfect candidate for this position, and the company aligns closely with my long-term career goals.

This answer works well because the candidate does a great job of highlighting their most relevant experiences and accomplishments. They also share specific examples to illustrate key points and add a note about their future goals.

Example 2: An Executive Assistant Role

Most recently, I worked as an executive assistant for the CEO of a large corporation. I managed their schedule, handled customer inquiries, and coordinated travel arrangements in that role. My experience makes me an excellent fit for this job because I understand what it takes to succeed in a fast-paced corporate environment. I’m confident in my ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and stay calm under pressure.

I’m also highly organized and detail-oriented. For example, in my previous role, I was responsible for planning a month-long trip to Asia for our team of 10 executives. I successfully coordinated all logistics while staying within our budget, including flights, accommodation, and transportation. I believe my skills and experiences make me the ideal candidate for this position, and I’m very excited to work for a company that shares my passion for supporting underserved youths.

This answer highlights the candidate’s experience working in a corporate environment and managing complex projects. They also emphasize their organizational skills, provide a specific example of a successful project they’ve coordinated, and share why they’re excited about the company.

Example 3: An Account Manager Role

I’ve worked in sales for the past five years and have held several different positions. Most recently, I worked as an account manager for a large company. In that role, I was responsible for maintaining relationships with our existing clients and bringing in new business. My experience makes me an excellent fit for this job because I understand the sales process and how to close deals successfully. For example, in my previous role, I increased our revenue from existing clients by 20% through upselling and cross-selling techniques.

I’m also confident in building relationships with clients and providing excellent customer service. In my previous role, I successfully maintained a portfolio of 100 clients and was consistently praised by my managers for my ability to resolve customer issues. Overall, I believe my skills and experiences make me the perfect candidate for this position. I’m excited to use my skills to help the company grow and achieve its sales goals.

This answer emphasizes the candidate’s experience in sales, including successfully executing upselling and cross-selling techniques and maintaining solid customer relationships. They also express excitement about the opportunity to use their skills to help grow the company.