Mastering Job Interview # 13

Can you walk me through your resume?

"You are telling a story about your career. 'Can you walk me through your resume?' is the opening chapter. A narrative where experiences, skills, and achievements are explained together to create a story of professional growth and readiness for the journey ahead."

• Rationale Behind the Question

• What the Interviewer Expects
• Holistic Approach to Answering
• Aspects to Consider
• Tips for Responding
• Sample Response

The careers question 'Can you walk me through your resume?' is the initial note—trying to harmonize experiences, achievements, and aspirations. This sets the tone for the performance of your professional narrative through the interview process.

The technical/job-specific question, "Can you walk me through your resume?" is a common opening question in many interviews. 

This inquiry provides the interviewer with an opportunity to understand your professional journey, experiences, and skills in a structured manner. 

Here's a detailed breakdown to help you effectively respond to this question: 

Rationale Behind the Question

1. Overview of Your Background: The question aims to give the interviewer a high-level overview of your professional background, including your education, work experiences, and key achievements. 

2. Communication and Presentation Skills: It assesses your ability to communicate your career narrative clearly and concisely, showcasing your presentation skills. 

3. Relevance to the Position: Interviewers want to see how well your experiences align with the requirements of the job. It helps them evaluate your suitability for the position. 

What the Interviewer Expects

1. Chronological Overview: Interviewers expect you to provide a chronological overview of your career, starting from your educational background to your current or most recent position. 

2. Highlighting Key Achievements: They want to hear about key achievements, projects, or experiences that demonstrate your skills and qualifications for the role. 

3. Relevance to the Job: Emphasize experiences and skills that are directly relevant to the job you're interviewing for. This helps the interviewer assess your suitability for the position. 

Holistic Approach to Answering

1. Start Chronologically: Begin by providing a brief overview of your educational background, starting with your most recent degree. 

2. Professional Experience: Walk through your professional experiences, starting with your most recent job. Highlight key roles, responsibilities, and achievements in each position. 

3. Skills and Accomplishments: Emphasize specific skills you've developed and any notable accomplishments. Relate these to the requirements of the job. 

Aspects to Consider

1. Tailor to the Job: Customize your response to emphasize experiences and skills that align with the specific job you're interviewing for. 

2. Be Concise: While providing detail is important, ensure that your response is concise. Focus on key points that demonstrate your qualifications. 

Tips for Responding

1. Practice Beforehand: Practice your response beforehand to ensure a smooth and confident delivery. This question is often used as an icebreaker, so being well-prepared sets a positive tone for the interview. 

2. Focus on Achievements: Highlight achievements and contributions in each role rather than just listing responsibilities. This provides a more compelling picture of your capabilities. 

Sample Response

"Certainly. I completed my (Your Degree) in (Your Major) at (Your University). 

Following that, I joined (Your Previous Company) as a (Your Previous Position), where I (brief overview of your responsibilities and achievements). 

One of my key accomplishments was (mention a specific achievement or project). After that role, I transitioned to (Your Current Company) as a (Your Current Position). In this role, I've been responsible for [outline your main responsibilities], and I've had the opportunity to [mention a specific project or initiative]. 

One achievement I'm particularly proud of is [highlight a notable accomplishment]. In addition to my professional experience, I've developed strong skills in (mention key skills relevant to the job, e.g., project management, data analysis).

I'm excited about the opportunity to bring my expertise in [specific skill] to (Company Name] and contribute to [specific goal or project mentioned in the job description)."

End Note

As we conclude this walk through your professional journey, each step has been a testament to growth, resilience, and a commitment to contributing valuable insights and skills to the next chapter. You must be able to show your excitement about the prospect of aligning your experiences with the vision of the prospective company.

Feel free to tailor this response to your own experiences and the specifics of the job you are interviewing for. The key is to provide a clear, concise, and compelling overview of your professional journey, focusing on aspects that align with the requirements of the position.