How to Describe Your Work History During a Job Interview

There are two questions that job seekers really hate:

Tell me about yourself

Tell me about your work history

What you should know is that basically, they have very similar meanings. "Tell me about yourself" is a broader version of your professional history, while the second question is focused more about your full resume walkthrough. 

Here's how to explain your work history:

Take it from the top

The question is pretty straightforward, but you should be careful. You do not want to give too much detail that will confuse the interviewer. With every job, you want to provide a very clear description of what you were responsible for. 

You might think your previous job titles are clear enough to tell you about your past experience, but the reality is that job titles can be different from a company to another. 

If you were handling duties that were more advanced than one would assume from your job title, you should explain more about the duties. You should also include impressive achievements too.

Tell them what the job title has done for you, for example, new skills you have learned when you were in your previous role.

Writing down these points can help you prepare your answer.

Explain why you chose to leave the role

Once you've summarised every previous role, talk about why you chose to leave. This is the transition statement that will help take you from one job to the next.

Your reason for leaving can be something that happened internally at the organisation, for instance, a change in leadership. You can also say that an opportunity suddenly came through even though you had no intention of switching jobs.

Here are common reasons employees leave:

Lack of growth,

An interest in learning a different part of the business,

A transition into a new role, and

The opportunity to learn something new,

Laid-off

If you find it hard to explain why you left, remember to stay positive. Show that you have learned something from every experience.

Keep in mind that while more money is usually a benefit of moving to a new role, it should not be the key reasons for leaving any job unless you're very early in your career.

If the interviewer notices that you left every job for more money, they will be worried that you'll be ready to move on from their company once someone offers you better pay. 

Describe how you got the new job

If your previous boss left the company and then hired you in a new role, mention it as part of your transition. If a boss wanted to bring you from a company to another, you're giving the hint that you are an employee that is dependable and would be rehired by previous employers. This will impress the interviewer in subtle ways. 

If you weren't looking for a new job but instead were actively recruited by a company, you are letting the interviewer know that you are a popular candidate. 

Explain clearly so the interview will understand you better.

Let them know that you're always improving

You need to show that there is an improvement in your career. Talk about what you wanted to learn or gain by taking on the new role. Explain the opportunities that allow you to grow and learn about your industry. 

Share your thought process behind every job change as it helps the interviewer to better understand your career path and what motivates you.

End with where you are now

Once you're finished talking about your newest role, you should offer the interviewer information about what you are looking for a new opportunity right now. It is similar to the reasons you left your previous jobs. 

Neatly conclude your answer in a way that gives the interviewer a clear understanding of why you're interviewing for the job. 

Remember, always prepare before going to a job interview! It will help you stay calm and collected while answering these tough interview questions.