Why the Resume Question
“Walk me through your resume” is one of the most common questions asked by interviewers. They love this question because it helps them get to know you better and helps them gauge what types of questions they should ask you. They want to learn more about your work experience and want to see the way YOU would present yourself.
Remember: interviewers are trying to find ways to give you points, not take away points. They don’t want to make the wrong connections and misinterpret what you wrote on your resume. This question provides you the opportunity to explain easy misconceptions and to make yourself memorable. You can build your story to connect your experiences to how you would be a perfect fit for this position at this specific company. They want to see your passion. They want to see proof that you will stay a long time at this job and will actually enjoy it.
Nobody is Perfect
And if you have gaps in your resume, don’t think that they will affect your chances in being accepted for the position. It doesn’t matter if you’ve taken a gap year, whether it be during college, right out of college, or in between jobs. Recruiters know that sometimes, life happens. Maybe a family member was sick and you had to take care of them. Maybe you wanted to travel the world. No matter the reason, the important thing is to connect those experiences to your current interview.
Make sure the interviewer knows that you learned from those experiences, whether it be the ability to work in a team to take care of your sick family member, being able to communicate with people of diverse backgrounds, or any other lessons. They want to know how you can use everyday experiences to grow everyday.
So, How Do You Answer the Question?
To answer the “Walk me through your resume” question, a highly recommended answer format is to speak in the structure of: Present, Past, Future. Begin by introducing yourself. Describe a little about your current role and how it’s relevant. Then speak about your past experiences and how they will contribute to your future at the position you’re applying for. Don’t forget to include any achievements or awards you received and include passion in every aspect of your answer!
Things to Remember About the Resume Question
Always:
- Look straight at the computer screen. You can also look at the camera if you would like, but it is not necessary.
- Record in appropriate light conditions
- Speak only on the most important and relevant experiences
- Talk naturally. Be yourself!
- SMILE
Never:
- Use jargon and slang words
- Sound like you’re reading off a script
- Complain about your past job or company
- Talk about every minute detail. It’ll only bore the interviewer.
- Be overly stressed. YOU GOT THIS!
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Hannah Ng is a Junior at Boston College studying Finance and Business Analytics. She is currently an intern at Singapore for Interviewer.AI during the summer of 2022.
Besides work, she is also very interested in hair styling and is responsible for her family’s hairstyles as a hobby.
