In most interviews, you’re likely to start with a question that lets you introduce yourself, like “Tell me about yourself” or “Why are you interested in this job?” Another question that often pops up early is, “Walk me through your resume.” It sounds pretty straightforward, right? But there’s more behind this question than just recapping your job history.
When interviewers ask you to go through your resume, they’re looking for more than a play-by-play of your experience. They want to hear about your journey in your own words. It helps them see which parts of your background you believe are most important and what achievements you’re most proud of. In short, it shows them what motivates you and helps them figure out if you’re the right match for the role and the company culture.
It’s especially helpful if your background doesn’t totally match the position. Individuals making a career change or trying something new can use this opportunity to show how past experiences still align with the job requirements.
What Interviewers Want to Hear About Your Resume
Interviewers usually want a quick summary of your career so far. Think of it like telling a story—help them understand how one job led to the next and why you’re making this move now. It’s your chance to show them that your path makes sense and that this position is the ideal next chapter in your professional life.
They’re also hoping you’ll address any unusual points on your resume, like gaps in your work history or short stints in certain roles. There’s no need to worry about these! Being ready to talk about them in a thoughtful way shows you’re prepared and self-aware. Maybe you took time off to travel, learn new skills, or care for a family member. Maybe a short-term role taught you a ton in a short time. Whatever the reason, explaining these periods shows you’ve reflected on your career path.
How to Answer “Walk Me Through Your Resume”
Start with a brief, focused summary of your career story
Think of this as your “career elevator pitch.” The goal is brevity—around one to two minutes. Begin with a quick overview of where you started, then walk through the main steps in your career journey up to now. If you have limited work experience or you’re changing careers, highlight internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, certifications, or other relevant training that helped shape your skills.
If you have years of experience, you don’t need to deep-dive into every role. Hit the key points: where you began, a few significant roles along the way, and what you’ve been doing most recently. This approach gives interviewers a clear view of your career track without overwhelming them.
Highlight key achievements that match this role
Go beyond job titles and responsibilities. For each role—or at least the ones most related to your target job—call out one or two standout accomplishments. Maybe you increased sales by a certain percentage, led a new initiative, or introduced a time-saving workflow. Choose examples that relate directly to the position you’re interviewing for so the interviewer sees how your experience applies to their needs.
If you need inspiration, the sample answers below provide examples of how to incorporate achievements into your story.
Proactively address any gaps or unusual career moves
If there’s anything on your resume that might raise questions—like a period of unemployment or a role you left quickly—bring it up yourself. That shows you’ve considered your journey and have the insight to share.
Someone who took time off might say, “I used that period to build my skills in ___ through online classes and freelance projects.” If you had several brief roles in a row, you could mention how each role offered unique lessons and contributed to your growth. Owning these details signals honesty and preparedness.
How Not to Answer
Avoid repeating your resume word for word
The hiring manager can read your resume on their own, so there’s no need to read each line aloud. Try to share more of your personality and expand on the bullet points. Talking about your resume in your own words helps the interviewer get to know who you are beyond your listed achievements.
Diving into the “why” behind each job change, what you enjoyed about each position, or the skills you’re most excited about will make your career path more memorable.
Don’t give a jumbled recap
It’s easy to get off-track while recalling your experience, but avoid jumping around in random order. The interviewer will find it easier to follow a clear, logical progression—starting from your earliest relevant role and moving forward or beginning with your current position and going backward.
Staying organized in your explanation shows a thoughtful approach and keeps the interviewer focused on your qualifications instead of piecing together your timeline.
Sample Answers to “Walk Me Through Your Resume”
Example #1
“My passion for helping animals started a few years back when I volunteered at a local animal shelter. While pursuing my education in veterinary science, I worked part-time as a vet tech assistant at a nearby animal hospital. That’s where I became the go-to person for handling larger breeds, and I was proud of how it built my confidence and rapport with owners. After completing my studies, I took on a full-time role as a vet tech at Sunrise Veterinary Hospital. I’ve now assisted with more than 200 surgeries, and surgery support has become my favorite part of the job. Each procedure offers a new learning experience, and I’m excited to bring that hands-on knowledge to a new team.”
Why this example works:
The candidate clearly tells a story, starting with volunteer work and leading to part-time and then full-time veterinary roles. Sharing personal touches—like managing large dogs—shows personality. Pinpointing surgery support highlights a specialized skill they bring to the table.
Example #2
“I got my start in digital marketing as an intern at a small agency, where I helped create content strategies for local businesses. After that, I accepted a role as a marketing associate with a larger company and dove into social media, launching our brand presence on new platforms. That experience taught me a lot about audience engagement and campaign analysis. I then moved into a social media specialist position and focused on building content that drives brand awareness. You’ll notice a gap on my resume, which happened when I needed to take care of a family member. During that time, I stayed on top of industry trends by completing online courses and experimenting with new social tools.”
Why this example works:
The progression from internship to associate to specialist is clearly outlined. The candidate highlights specific accomplishments and proactively addresses a gap by noting online learning and skill-building efforts.
Example #3
“My interest in technology took off after I enrolled in a coding course, which led me to an internship as an IT support assistant. That hands-on experience inspired me to strengthen my skills further, so I studied programming in depth and eventually landed a junior developer position at a small startup. Being part of a lean team has given me exposure to every aspect of the development process, from debugging to rolling out new features. Now, I’m looking to join a bigger company where I can focus on larger-scale projects and continue learning from a broader pool of senior developers.”
Why this example works:
This answer shows an early interest that evolved into practical experience, demonstrating enthusiasm for the field. Explaining how a smaller startup role provided diverse responsibilities proves adaptability and readiness to take on larger challenges.
Giving a concise, engaging overview of your resume—sprinkled with personal details and relevant achievements—helps the interviewer see both your professional path and who you are as an individual. Show how your experiences have prepared you for the new position, and you’ll make a strong impression on any hiring manager, no matter what stage you’re at in your career.