Mastering the “Tell Me About Your Work Experience” Interview Question
Why “Tell Me About Your Work Experience” Matters More Than You Think
"So, tell me about your work experience." Sound familiar? If you’ve ever been in a job interview, you’ve probably heard this question more than once. And while it might seem like a casual icebreaker, it’s actually a golden opportunity to set the tone and control the narrative of the conversation. The good news? You don’t need to memorize a script. You just need to know what story you want to tell.
Let’s walk through it together.
What They’re Really Asking When They Say “Tell Me About Your Work Experience”
When an interviewer asks you about your work experience, they’re trying to do a few things:
Understand the arc of your career so far
See how your past aligns with their present needs
Gauge how well you articulate your strengths and achievements
Get a sense of your confidence, communication, and personality
This isn’t just a test of your memory. It’s a test of your self-awareness, clarity, and preparation—all encapsulated in how you respond to “tell me about your work experience.”
Step 1: Know Your Story Before They Ask “Tell Me About Your Work Experience”
Before you walk into the interview, spend time reflecting on your journey. Think about your first job, the lessons you learned, the challenges you overcame, and the wins you’re proud of. Map out your story in a way that’s easy to follow:
Where did you start?
What roles did you grow into?
What’s the common thread tying it all together?
You don’t have to give a chronological breakdown of every job you’ve ever had. Focus on the roles and moments that relate most to the job you're applying for—and frame them for when you’re asked, “tell me about your work experience.”
Step 2: Structure Your “Tell Me About Your Work Experience” Answer Like a Good Conversation
Here’s a helpful way to organize your answer:
Overview: A quick summary of your experience
Highlights: Specific achievements or projects that show your skills
Relevance: Tie your past work to what the company needs
Let’s put this into action for a strong response to “tell me about your work experience.”
Here’s a quick example: From Retail to Marketing
"Sure! I started out in retail, actually—working as a sales associate at a tech store. I didn’t expect it at the time, but it turned out to be a masterclass in customer communication. I got really good at understanding what people needed—even when they didn’t know how to explain it themselves.
After that, I moved into a junior marketing role at a startup. I handled everything from writing product descriptions to scheduling email campaigns. What I loved most was seeing the direct impact of our content—we grew our newsletter subscribers by 150% in under a year.
That experience gave me a strong foundation in performance marketing, and now I’m excited to bring that mix of customer insight and hands-on campaign execution to a team that’s scaling fast like yours."
This is a great example of how to approach “tell me about your work experience” with clarity and impact.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Answering “Tell Me About Your Work Experience”
Let’s quickly cover a few traps to dodge when responding to “tell me about your work experience”:
Don’t read your resume out loud. They’ve already seen it. Your job is to bring it to life.
Don’t ramble. Keep it focused. Every sentence should support your story.
Don’t undersell yourself. If you led a project, say that. If you saved the company time or money, say how much.
Don’t drift off-topic. Stay aligned with the job description.
Make It Personal, But Professional—Even When Discussing “Tell Me About Your Work Experience”
Interviewers remember stories, not stats. So if you worked on a team project that taught you resilience, or if a tough manager shaped your leadership style—mention it. Just be sure to keep the tone professional. No gossip, no grudges. This is especially important in your “tell me about your work experience” response.
Use the STAR Method to Deepen Your “Tell Me About Your Work Experience” Answer
If they ask for more detail, or you want to expand on a highlight, the STAR method is your best friend when you answer “tell me about your work experience”:
Situation – What was the context?
Task – What were you responsible for?
Action – What did you do?
Result – What was the outcome?
Let’s give it a quick try:
"In my last role, we were struggling with low engagement on social media (Situation). I was tasked with improving our brand presence (Task). I ran a full audit, revamped our content calendar, and started A/B testing video formats (Action). Within three months, our engagement rate had doubled, and we hit a 10% follower growth month-over-month (Result)."
Learn more in our Mastering the STAR Interview Technique.
Anticipate Follow-Up Questions After “Tell Me About Your Work Experience”
If you deliver a strong answer to “tell me about your work experience,” expect curiosity. You might get follow-ups like:
"What was your biggest challenge in that role?"
"Why did you leave?"
"What would you do differently now?"
Don’t be thrown off. These are chances to show reflection and growth after you've nailed “tell me about your work experience.”
Practice Makes It Natural
Don’t over-rehearse, but do practice. Try recording yourself or practicing with a friend. You’ll notice what sounds confident and what sounds robotic. Aim for conversational, not canned—especially when it comes to “tell me about your work experience.”
Final Sample Response (Mid-Level Candidate)
"Absolutely. I’ve spent the last six years in HR operations, mostly in tech startups. I started in recruiting, which taught me how to spot potential and manage fast-paced hiring cycles. From there, I transitioned into employee engagement and benefits—things like streamlining onboarding and introducing a new wellness program that boosted participation by 40%.
What’s been consistent across every role is my focus on making things more efficient and more human. I love building systems that work, but I also care about how people experience them. That’s why I’m really excited about this role—it feels like the perfect intersection of people and process."
This is a strong example of how to respond to “tell me about your work experience” with clarity, relevance, and personality.
Bonus Tip: Write Down Your “Tell Me About Your Work Experience” Answer, Then Rewrite It
Want to feel extra confident? Jot your “tell me about your work experience” answer down in bullet points. Then say it out loud. Then rewrite it again. Each time, it’ll sound more like you—and that’s the goal.
For greater success, use the Interview Sidekick AI mock interview preparation tool for free.
Conclusion: Your Spotlight Moment
At the end of the day, “tell me about your work experience” isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about giving the interviewer a reason to believe in your fit. It’s a snapshot of who you are, how you think, and what you bring to the table.
So next time they say, “Tell me about your work experience,” don’t panic. Smile. You’ve got this story down.
