Most likely, that will mean being able to talk about your prior experience and how it’s prepared you for the role. These types of questions are designed to ensure that you're the candidate most suited to the job.

Tell me about your work experience.

Describe your related experience.

How does your prior experience prepare you for this job?

Do you think your experience matches the needs of the role?

Do you think you're qualified for this position?

Hiring managers, recruiters, and employers ask these questions to get a better understanding of how your background and work experience relate to the position they are looking to fill.

Avoid answering too broadly. Try using specific examples of how past work might prepare you for the new role. The closer a match you are to the job requirements, the better your chances of being selected for an interview.

How to Answer Interview Questions About Your Experience

The most effective response is to describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in detail and connect them to the job for which you are interviewing.

Link your responsibilities to those listed in the job description for the new position so the employer will be able to see that you have the qualifications necessary to do the job. Focus mostly on previous responsibilities directly related to the new job's requirements.

Examples of the Best Answers

My years of experience have prepared me well for this position. You mentioned that customer service is a big part of this job; I spent three years working in a high-volume call center, answering customer calls, and identifying solutions.

Why It Works: This answer references specific experience and skills that are valuable to the job (and probably appear in the job description).

I developed extensive skills in working with customers even when they were distressed. I'm excellent at deescalating situations and finding a way to make the customer happy. Our customer satisfaction rating rose 10% during my tenure at my previous employer. Since the role of your marketing department is to improve customers' impressions of the company, my experience would be a great asset to your team.

Why It Works: In this response, the candidate quantifies their success in a prior role. By being specific, they give the interviewer proof of their ability to do the job. The candidate also explains how they could help the company if they were to be hired.

I worked as a kennel assistant at a local animal hospital during the summer before my freshman year of college. It was there I discovered what I wanted to do as a career. I decided I would go to college and focus on becoming a small-animal veterinarian, so that's what I did. I have been working at the same animal hospital ever since.

Why It Works: This reply demonstrates experience in the field, career growth, and loyalty. It shows that the candidate is thoughtful and intentional about their career.

Quantify your response. The interviewer is looking to hire the candidate who can best solve a problem for the company, whether that’s boosting sales or acquiring customers or hitting some other metric.

Statistics are particularly persuasive. Showing that you increased sales by X percent or saved the company Y amount of money provides a hiring manager with a compelling argument for offering you the job. Use numbers and percentages to show what you have accomplished.

Demonstrate proficiency in the skills highlighted in the job description. Your ability to describe your former work experience effectively will help you stand out from the rest of the applicant pool. Providing specific, quantifiable proof of your accomplishments, work ethic, and knowledge will show employers that you have transferable experience which will benefit their workplace.

Have alternative answers ready. It's always a good idea to come prepared with several responses in case your interviewer changes tack and asks about another aspect of your experience. Know your resume well, and be prepared to discuss anything that's on it.

Don’t memorize your responses. It’s important to practice answering questions, but you also want to sound relaxed and natural, so don't try to learn your answers by rote. Instead of practicing your responses line by line, just focus on the key points to emphasize to get your point across to the interviewer.

Don’t lie. It's also important, to be honest, and accurate. Don't embellish your job, because you don't know who the hiring manager will be speaking with when they check your references. Even if they don’t follow up in-depth, you don’t want to spend the rest of your career waiting to be found out—or to talk your way into a role for which you’re currently unprepared.