How to Answer: Walk Me Through Your Resume

It’s often the very first question in an interview—and it sets the tone for everything that follows. Walk me through your resume.

At face value, it sounds like an invitation to read your résumé aloud. Instead, this is a golden opportunity to tell a strategic, curated career story that shows you’re the right person for the job.

Why Interviewers Ask This Question

This question is less about the what and more about the how. Interviewers want to know:

• Can you present information clearly and succinctly?
• Do you understand your own career trajectory?
• Can you connect the dots between your past and the role you’re applying for?
• Do you know what’s relevant to this company, this job, right now?

Step-by-Step Strategy for a Strong Answer

1. Start with a 1-Sentence Career Summary

Begin with a high-level overview:

“I’m a marketing leader with 15+ years of experience building and scaling brand and digital strategies for consumer-facing companies.”

This tells the interviewer where you are in your career before diving into how you got there.

2. Frame Your Resume as a Narrative

Rather than listing jobs, tell a story. Use phrases like:

• “I started my career in…”
• “What drew me to that role was…”
• “That experience taught me…”
• “Which set me up perfectly for my next position at…”

Focus on progression, decision-making, and transitions. You want to show intentionality, not randomness.

3. Tailor the Highlights to the Role You’re Interviewing For

You don’t need to touch every bullet point. Instead, emphasize:

• Projects that mirror what this new role entails
• Promotions or key pivots that show growth and adaptability
• Industry or functional expertise relevant to this company

4. Address Any Gaps or Pivots Confidently

Resumes may include changes—industry shifts, layoffs, sabbaticals. Don’t gloss over them.
A confident, brief explanation shows self-awareness and control over your narrative:

“After a company-wide restructuring, I took six months to consult independently, which also gave me the space to be selective about my next move.”

5. End With the Present and Tie to the Future

Conclude with where you are now and why you’re excited about this role:

“I’m currently leading digital marketing at [company], but I’m excited to move into a larger, more globally focused role—which is exactly why this opportunity stood out to me.”

This closing connects your past to their future.

Bonus Tips

• Keep it under 3 minutes. Rehearse your story with a timer. Aim for concise and compelling.
• Practice but don’t memorize. You want this to sound natural, not scripted.
• Match your tone to the company. For large corporations, polish and structure matter. For innovative or fast-moving companies, a more conversational tone can work well.

Final Thought

This isn’t just a question—it’s your opening pitch.
A strong answer to “walk me through your resume” communicates more than your qualifications. It shows emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and clarity of purpose—traits every mid- to senior-level employer values.

Craft it. Practice it. Own it.

Want help additional help crafting an answer to the “walk me through your resume” question? Check out the AI Prompt Script we created for ChatGPT here.