One highly underrated question during an interview is the “Tell me about your work experience” question.
It sounds straightforward because you’re literally just describing what you’ve done. But here’s the catch: the way you answer this question shapes how the interviewer sees your entire career story. Done well, it shows you’re intentional, capable, and ready for the role. Done poorly, it can make you look unprepared, unfocused, or even like you’re not quite sure of your own strengths.
In this blogpost, we’ll walk you through why employers ask this question, how to structure your response, examples you can adapt, and mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to position your experience so that it resonates with employers.
And if you want to go beyond theory and actually rehearse your delivery, we’ll also show you how Lightforth Interview Prep helps you practice until you’re confident and natural.
Why Employers Ask “Tell Me About Your Work Experience”
It is not a trick question but it can tell an experienced recruiter a lot about you without you knowing it. Employers ask it because it tells them several important things at once.
First, they want to see relevance. Your resume may list every job you’ve ever had, but the interviewer wants to hear you highlight the parts that matter for this specific role. Can you connect your past to their needs? That’s what they’re really listening for.
Second, they’re evaluating your communication skills. Can you summarize your background in a way that’s professional, logical, and easy to follow? Or do you wander, backtrack, and overload them with details that don’t matter?
Third, they’re checking for confidence and self-awareness. Someone who can clearly articulate their career path and achievements tends to come across as more competent than someone who struggles to explain what they’ve done.
Finally, they’re looking for transferable skills. Maybe you don’t have direct industry experience, but you’ve led teams, solved problems, or managed projects in ways that still matter. A strong answer shows you know how your past experiences make you valuable in the present.
How to Structure Your Answer
The best answers to “Tell me about your work experience” are planned in advance. They follow a simple but effective structure that keeps you organized and focused. Think of it as building a story that naturally leads to why you’re the right person for the job.
Step 1: Start with the most relevant experience
Don’t go all the way back to your first job unless it directly connects to this role. Instead, start with your most recent or most relevant position. This helps the interviewer immediately see how your background aligns with their needs.
For example:
“In my last role as a marketing coordinator at XYZ Agency, I managed client campaigns across social media, email, and digital ads.”
This is clear, current, and directly ties your story to something they care about.
Step 2: Highlight accomplishments, not just responsibilities
Too many candidates fall into the trap of listing tasks: “I answered phones,” “I managed schedules,” “I supported my boss.” That doesn’t tell the interviewer much. Instead, focus on outcomes and measurable impact.
Use numbers whenever you can:
- Increased sales by 15%
- Managed a team of five
- Reduced costs by $20,000 a year
- Handled 200 customer requests per week
Numbers stick in an interviewer’s mind. They paint a picture of how effective you really are.
Step 3: Connect the dots for the future
The most overlooked part of this answer is the bridge. You need to explain how what you’ve done before makes you a great fit for what you’ll be doing next. Don’t leave the interviewer to make the connection—you should do it for them.
For example:
“Those experiences taught me how to manage competing deadlines, communicate with diverse stakeholders, and stay adaptable in fast-paced environments—all skills I know will be valuable in this role as a project manager at your company.”
When you close with a forward-looking statement, it signals that you understand the role and that your background directly supports it.
Sample Answers to “Tell Me About Your Work Experience”
1. For Remote Job Seekers
“Over the past three years, I’ve worked in customer support and virtual team coordination. At ABC Tech, I handled live chat and email support for over 200 clients a week, while collaborating with developers across three time zones. That experience taught me the importance of clear written communication and proactive updates. I’m excited to bring that skill set to your fully remote support team, where communication is the backbone of success.”
2. For Career Changers
“Most of my background is in education, where I spent six years as a teacher. That role sharpened my communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills. More recently, I’ve transitioned into instructional design, creating digital training modules for online platforms. While my path hasn’t been traditional, I see clear overlap between my teaching background and this role in corporate training design.”
3. For Entry-Level Candidates
“I recently graduated with a degree in marketing, where I completed internships focused on content creation and social media strategy. At my last internship, I increased engagement on Instagram by 35% through a new content calendar I designed. While I’m early in my career, I’m eager to bring my creativity and data-driven mindset to your marketing team.”
Mistakes to Avoid When Answering
Even strong candidates get tripped up on this question because it feels deceptively casual. Here are the mistakes you’ll want to watch out for:
Mistake 1: Rambling without direction
When you talk for too long without a clear point, you lose the interviewer’s attention. Keep your answer focused and under two minutes. Remember: this isn’t your autobiography, it’s your highlight reel.
Mistake 2: Repeating your resume word-for-word
Your resume already lists job titles, dates, and duties. If you just recite that back, you’re wasting an opportunity. The interview is about adding context and personality to what’s on paper. Use this time to show not just what you did, but how you approached it and why it matters.
Mistake 3: Being too vague
Generic statements like “I worked on projects” or “I helped the team succeed” don’t land well. Instead, be specific. Say what kind of projects, what your role was, and what the outcome was. Employers want details that demonstrate real impact.
Mistake 4: Focusing only on the past
This question may be about your “experience,” but the point is to see how your past connects to their present needs. If you don’t bridge your answer to the role at hand, the interviewer has to make that leap themselves and they may not give you the benefit of the doubt. Always close by showing how your background sets you up for success in this role.
Mistake 5: Downplaying your achievements
Sometimes candidates downplay what they’ve done because they think it’s not impressive enough. But even small wins matter. Did you create a new system that saved your team time? Did you train a new hire? Did you manage a small budget? Highlight it. Employers are often more interested in your initiative than the size of your project.
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What Recruiters Really Want to Hear
Recruiters consistently rank this question as one of the most telling. A survey revealed that 70% of recruiters say “knowledge of previous job experience” is one of the most important factors when evaluating candidates.
That means the real skill here isn’t just describing your history—it’s curating your history to match the role. When you answer with intention, you make the interviewer’s job easier, and that alone makes you a stronger candidate.
How Lightforth Can Help You Nail This Question
It’s one thing to understand how to answer. It’s another thing to deliver that answer in the moment without stumbling. That’s where Lightforth Interview Prep comes in.
With Interview Prep, you can:
- Practice answering “Tell me about your work experience” with instant AI-powered feedback.
- See how your tone, clarity, and pacing come across.
- Rehearse multiple versions until your story feels confident, polished, and natural.
Instead of walking into an interview hoping your answer comes out right, you’ll know it’s ready.
Just Before Your Next Interview
“Tell me about your work experience” might seem like a softball question, but it’s one of the most important parts of any interview. The way you answer sets the tone for how the interviewer sees you: are you just listing jobs, or are you presenting a clear story of growth, skills, and readiness?
With the right structure, the right examples, and the right amount of confidence, you can use this question to stand out in a crowded job market.
And remember, if you want to go beyond knowing what to say and actually practice saying it, Lightforth Interview Prep is the tool that makes preparation feel real.
Start practicing with Lightforth Interview Prep today and walk into your next interview ready to impress.
