How to skillfully walk an interviewer through your resume.
At the start of any job interview, your interviewer is going to need a clear sense of who you are.
To get clarity, interviewers commonly ask “Walk me through your resume.”
As such, this is a critical question and you ought to consider several things when answering.
One of these is understanding the purpose behind the question.
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Why employers ask this?
Context is needed when telling your story and this is a fundamental reason why interviewers ask you to walk them through your resume.
Details to elaborate on
For the interviewer, your resume is a snapshot of your professional life. However, it is not the full picture. Therefore, asking a candidate the question, “Walk me through your resume”, may bring up some noteworthy details which the interview may choose to pivot and explore deeper.
To determine authenticity
Asking “Walk me through your resume” identifies discrepancies between information stated in your resume and your description of it. If what you tell the interviewer does not align with your application, it could signal to the interviewer that credibility is lacking.
How to answer the most common interview questions
How to answer, “Walk me through your resume”?
You should focus on the areas most relevant to the interviewer.
Focus on your most relevant experiences
Divulge concise, yet important details about problems solved, and the duties you would have managed that are similar to the ones in this new role. For example, if this new role requires experience with selling and business development, emphasise your past sales experiences to show relevancy to the interviewer.
Show what value you can add
The value you provide to an organisation speaks to your worth. The more problems you can solve, the more revenue you generate, saved costs or tasks that you can effectively manage makes all the difference when being perceived as a top performer.
Mention specific accomplishments
Impressing an interviewer involves being specific with your achievements. Key achievements to mention are high-end sales contracts, major projects, initiatives or campaigns on a national or regional scale, company or industry awards, lucrative client deals or any other contributions that would have been extensively praised.
Highlight your skills section
When discussing skills during a resume walkthrough, mention the skills you’ve developed, how were these skills developed, how did you use them to create a solution or change and benefits were reaped.
Prove that you will be a good fit
Always make it a point to mention to the interviewer that your characteristics, qualities and personality align with the company’s values and overall mission that demonstrates you will fit into the organisation well.
How to answer, “Walk me through your resume”? sample answers
I graduated from the University of the West Indies with a Master’s degree in Risk and Insurance Management. This was something I wanted to achieve as I’ve been part of the insurance and financial industry for over ten years.
During this ten-year period, I have worked for two of the leading insurance companies in the Caribbean and have been recognised and awarded by both the Trinidad & Tobago Association of Insurance Advisors and the Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Institute as financial advisor of the year for three consecutive years.
I have also earned many accolades at my present company which I’ve been a part of for the last four years. Currently, I operate as our Northern Division’s unit head, where I have a team of junior advisors whom I train and mentor. Over the years, I have developed exceptional selling skills, customer service and relationship-building competencies and a refined sense of identifying a financial problem and recommending suitable solutions in my clients’ best interest.
How to answer walk me through your resume in investment banking?
When an interviewer says, “Walk me through your resume” when applying for a position in investment banking, the key things to consider are:
Keep your answers relevant to the subject matter
This industry requires distinctive hard skills such as computation, cash flow management, data analysis and financial consulting. When walking through your resume with the interviewer, keep your responses highly focused on your experiences and financial skill set in action.
Include important milestones
Include your certifications, industry awards, educational achievements and other career milestones to showcase the value you bring to the company and clients.
Link it back to the job position
A key strategy for an investment banker resume walkthrough is to link your experience and skill to the job position at all times.
For example, demonstrate how your experiences in investment portfolio management, financial model development, cash flow operations and customer relationship building will be used to manage the responsibilities in this new role. What are key lessons or insights you’ve learnt during your career that you will apply to this company? Let the interviewer clearly see the link between your work experience and what this new position demands.
How to answer walk me through your resume in an MBA interview?
When an interviewer says, “Walk me through your resume” when applying for a position in investment banking, the key things to consider are:
Know your resume inside out
Given that you would not have your resume in front of you, it is essential to know your resume contents by heart and practice how you will walk the interviewer through them concisely.
Mention the selling points
Do not regurgitate your resume but instead, build on it. Use stories, examples and references to build your case, explain your work ethic and why acceptance into the MBA program is a top priority.
Reasons for application
Earning an MBA just for prestige is insufficient. Make it clear as to why you’ve chosen to apply for an MBA, at this school, at this stage in your career.
The MBA vs career aspirations
What are your intentions upon gaining this qualification? Are you seeking a promotion, venturing into a new career or entrepreneurship? Once you’re going through your resume with the interviewer, it must be perfectly clear them as to why this qualification makes sense and accepting you into the program is a perfectly fitting choice.
