Talk Me Through Your CV sample answers
As a UK based career coaching professional with over twenty five years of experience, I have helped thousands of candidates navigate high pressure interviews with confidence, clarity and purpose. One of the most common and important questions you will ever face in an interview is talk me through your CV. Although it may sound simple, this question is a golden opportunity to tell your story in a compelling and structured way that aligns with the job you want.
This guide gives you ten detailed sample answers, powerful do and dont advice, and proven strategies to help you deliver a polished and confident response every time. Everything you read here is uniquely written, Google and AI search friendly, and designed to help you land more interviews and secure more job offers.
Let us begin by understanding why employers ask this question and how your answer can set the tone for the entire conversation.
Why employers ask talk me through your CV
Recruiters and hiring managers ask this question to understand your career journey in your own words. They want to hear how you describe your experience, what you prioritise, how you articulate value and how well you align with their needs. It also helps them gauge your communication style, professionalism, self awareness, commercial awareness, and the clarity of your ambitions.
This question is not simply about listing jobs. It is about presenting a coherent story that showcases progression, skill development, achievements and a strong connection to the role you are applying for.
How to structure an effective answer
As I tell every client I coach, your answer should follow a clear and memorable structure. I recommend the following approach for maximum impact.
Start with a concise introduction of who you are
Walk through your career history in order
Highlight relevant achievements
Explain career decisions with purpose
Connect your experience to the new role
Finish with confidence and clarity
If you follow this structure, you will sound polished and prepared. Now let us explore the essential do and dont advice.
Do and dont guidance for talk me through your CV
Do this
Speak confidently and clearly
Focus on achievements
Show progression in your career
Connect every part of your story to the role
Use positive and proactive language
Show enthusiasm for your industry
Keep it structured and forward looking
Know the job description inside out
Prepare three to five standout highlights
Finish with a forward facing statement
Do not do this
Do not recite your CV word for word
Do not share irrelevant details
Do not sound unsure or apologetic
Do not ramble without structure
Do not speak negatively about employers
Do not over explain employment gaps
Do not focus on tasks instead of achievements
Do not speak in a monotone voice
Do not leave out the link to the new role
Do not end without a sense of direction
When you apply this guidance skillfully, you transform a simple question into a compelling career story that positions you as the ideal candidate.
Now let us move into the heart of this guide. Ten detailed sample answers written with clarity, confidence and professional impact.
Ten sample answers to talk me through your CV
Sample Answer 1 Professional career progression
Thank you for the question. I began my career shortly after completing my degree where I joined a respected regional organisation as a junior assistant. Over my four years there I developed a strong foundation in administration, stakeholder communication and project coordination. I received early recognition for my organisation and reliability which led to a promotion into a coordinator position.
From there I moved into a larger national business where I expanded my experience managing multi team scheduling, process improvements and internal reporting. One of my proudest achievements was leading a scheduling optimisation project that reduced administrative time across the team.
Most recently I have taken on a senior coordination role where I support leadership teams, manage internal communication processes and deliver improvements that support efficiency and engagement. I am now ready to bring my experience, maturity and proactive style into a role like this one which offers greater responsibility and exciting room for growth.
Sample Answer 2 Graduate or early career
I am a recent graduate with a strong interest in development, innovation and teamwork. During my studies I focused on building both theoretical knowledge and applied skills through voluntary placements and part time work. For example, I worked as an assistant in a busy team where I supported customer service tasks, organised digital files and helped with operational duties.
Beyond academics I completed internships that offered fantastic exposure to business environments. One internship allowed me to take part in a research project that strengthened my analytical and communication skills. Another internship gave me hands on experience supporting campaign activities.
These experiences have shown me how much I enjoy structured teamwork, problem solving and continuous learning. I am excited about this role because it aligns strongly with my early career ambitions and would allow me to build long term skills in a supportive and dynamic environment.
Sample Answer 3 Career changer
I started my career in hospitality where I developed strong customer service, time management and team leadership skills. Over ten years I worked my way up from a team assistant to a departmental supervisor responsible for training staff, managing shifts and ensuring high levels of service. During this time I became known for my calm leadership style and my ability to build positive and productive teams.
Although I enjoyed this work I realised I was increasingly drawn to process improvement, communication and operational planning. This led me to complete professional courses while gaining part time experience in an administrative setting.
For the last two years I have been working as an office administrator where I support document management, scheduling and system updates. I am now ready for the next step where I can bring together my customer focused background and my administrative expertise in a full time role like this one.
Sample Answer 4 Senior manager
I began my career as a graduate trainee in a respected corporate organisation which provided structured development across operations, finance and customer strategy. Over the following years I progressed into management roles where I led teams, drove operational improvement projects and contributed to strategic planning.
My leadership career really accelerated when I joined a national organisation as a department manager where I oversaw a team of twenty, managed budgets and delivered change projects that improved efficiency and performance.
In my most recent role as a senior operations manager I have led multi site teams and driven transformation programmes that delivered measurable improvements. I am now looking for a role where I can bring my leadership experience, strategic thinking and results driven approach into a new environment with strong values and exciting opportunities for growth.
Sample Answer 5 Technical professional
My background is rooted in technical problem solving and continuous improvement. I started as a junior technician where I learned the fundamentals of diagnostics, process analysis and hands on implementation. Over time I became the go to specialist for system troubleshooting and workflow optimisation.
At my next organisation I worked on a range of projects that involved both technical expertise and stakeholder collaboration. One major project involved upgrading a legacy system which resulted in improved stability and better user experience.
In my current role I lead technical support for key systems, ensuring high availability, clear documentation and proactive improvement. I am applying for this role because it would allow me to expand my technical leadership while contributing to a forward thinking and innovative team.
Sample Answer 6 Project specialist
My career has centred on delivering structured, high quality projects. My first role was as a project assistant where I learned planning, scheduling, reporting and stakeholder engagement.
With strong performance I progressed to project coordinator and later project specialist where I now manage end to end delivery of multiple projects. My achievements include improving project communication systems, reducing delays and ensuring consistent on time delivery.
This role excites me because it focuses on continuous improvement, stakeholder management and structured project delivery. These are exactly the areas where I have demonstrated value throughout my career.
Sample Answer 7 Sales professional
I began my sales career in entry level roles where I focused on learning customer needs, developing rapport and building product knowledge. As my confidence and skills developed I progressed to account executive and then senior consultant.
In each role I improved my performance year on year through relationship building, consistent follow up and tailored solutions. I am proud of achieving top performer recognition and for supporting new team members through mentoring.
I am now seeking a role with greater responsibility, a strong team culture and the opportunity to manage larger accounts. This role aligns perfectly with the direction I want to continue in.
Sample Answer 8 Customer service professional
I started my career in customer focused environments where I learned the importance of empathy, patience and effective communication. Over several years I worked within retail, contact centres and corporate service teams.
In my most recent role I supported complex customer enquiries, managed escalations and improved internal processes. I became known for my professionalism, calm manner and commitment to high quality service.
I am now looking for a role where I can continue to develop while contributing to an organisation that values excellence in service and continuous improvement.
Sample Answer 9 Creative professional
I began my career working freelance on digital and visual projects where I honed my design, writing and content development skills. Over time I built a strong portfolio which led to opportunities within established agencies.
In my current position I work as a creative specialist where I deliver content, branding and visual assets across multiple channels. I enjoy combining creativity with strategy to deliver powerful and effective messages.
This role interests me because it offers the chance to take on more responsibility, collaborate across teams and contribute to bold and meaningful creative solutions.
Sample Answer 10 Administrative professional
My background is firmly rooted in administration. I started as a receptionist where I learned organisation, communication and multitasking skills. I moved into an administrative assistant role where I supported senior managers, organised travel, prepared documents and improved filing systems.
My current role involves more advanced responsibilities including diary management, internal communications and reporting. I have developed strong digital skills and gained a reputation for reliability, accuracy and proactive support.
I am now looking for a role that offers more responsibility, opportunities for development and the chance to contribute to a fast paced and forward thinking organisation.
Final thoughts from Jerry Frempong
Mastering the talk me through your CV question is one of the most important steps toward interview success. When you prepare with structure, confidence and clarity your career story becomes a powerful asset. With the right guidance you can absolutely deliver an answer that stands out, engages the interviewer and positions you perfectly for the next stage.
If you would like personalised coaching to refine your answers, strengthen your delivery and boost your confidence I would be delighted to support you. You can book an interview coaching appointment with me at the link below.
