my current job essay

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• Job Application Documents

How to Write a Job Application Essay

Last Updated: April 9, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Shannon O'Brien is the Founder and Principal Advisor of Whole U. (a career and life strategy consultancy based in Boston, MA). Through advising, workshops and e-learning Whole U. empowers people to pursue their life's work and live a balanced, purposeful life. Shannon has been ranked as the #1 Career Coach and #1 Life Coach in Boston, MA by Yelp reviewers. She has been featured on Boston.com, Boldfacers, and the UR Business Network. She received a Master's of Technology, Innovation, & Education from Harvard University. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 196,339 times.

Many employers now require a writing sample, or job application essay , to accompany all applications or résumés — even if writing is not a significant part of the position. The goal of the job application essay is to ensure that applicants have the right communication skills for the position offered. Sometimes, potential employers will provide a specific topic or series of questions for your essay to respond to. However, you may also be asked to provide an essay with no guidance whatsoever. Either way, approach the essay seriously so that it highlights the skills and assets you could bring to the company. [1] X Research source

Outlining Your Essay

• If you don't know much about the company, do a little research on it before you start writing. You might look at their website or do a general internet search with the name of the company to see if any news articles or other reports come up. Go beyond the four corners of the job listing so that you understand who will likely be reading your essay.
• If there's anything in the job listing or essay requirements that you don't understand, contact the employer and ask about them. Employers are often impressed by applicants who clarify the employer's intent rather than making assumptions.

• For example, if you're applying for a position in sales, you might want to write an essay about your ability to tailor your pitch to specific clients and close the deal. If you have the ability to be more creative, you might tailor your essay to "sell" yourself directly to the employer.

• For each of your points, think of a specific example you can relate briefly that illustrates the point. For example, if you've described yourself as a "team player," you might include an example of how you came in on your day off to complete some of the more monotonous tasks that no one else wanted to do so a project could be completed ahead of schedule.
• It's a good idea to have more than one example in your outline for each point, even if you only end up using one. That way, if you start writing something and it ends up not working as well as you thought it would, you'll have a back-up handy.
• Brainstorming can be difficult. If you find yourself churning over the same thoughts, stand up and take a break for a few minutes. Step outside or go for a walk to clear your head, then come back to it.

• For example, if you want to describe how you increased sales in a specific quarter, you would want to state specifically how much you increased sales. Your former employer may have sales figures that you could ask them for. You might also have that information in your records.
• Wherever possible, use specific numbers and dates rather than making general statements. It's okay to estimate, but make sure your estimate is conservative. Saying you led your sales team to the highest sales in a quarter is impressive — but only if it's true.

Completing Your Rough Draft

• Think of this paragraph as telling the hiring manager what you're going to tell them in the essay. Outline the points you're going to elaborate on in the essay that back up your theme or thesis statement.
• Sometimes it's best to go back and write your introduction after you've written the body of your essay. That way, you can make sure the introduction provides an outline that matches the body.

• If the employer listed specifically what should be included in your essay, follow their order, since that's what they'll be looking for when they read the essay.
• Write in the first person and make yourself the star of any anecdote you include as an example. Use action verbs to focus on what you did rather than focusing on what happened and how you reacted to it. [7] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

• For example, if you're writing about your skills as a team player, you might note that you discuss doing routine work that others found monotonous so they had time to work on other parts of a project. You could use that detail to move on to a section describing how you're detail-oriented.

• For example, you might write "My business school education, skills as a team player, and focus on detail make me the best candidate to lead your sales team."

Finalizing Your Essay

• For example, you might start by looking solely at punctuation, then read through again focusing on spelling.
• If you find that you tend to repeat a particular error, go through your essay looking for that error specifically.
• If your grammar isn't particularly strong or you're writing in a language other than your native language, have someone else read over your essay as well.

• If you find that you stumble over a sentence while reading aloud, that's a sign that your writing could be clearer. Work with your text until you have something that you can read aloud with ease.

• If the prospective employer did not specify a length, try to keep your essay under 2 double-spaced pages. Remember that hiring managers are busy and don't have a lot of time to read a long, rambling essay.
• Eliminate all unnecessary words or sentences that aren't relevant to the subject of your essay. The majority of your sentences should be short, declarative sentences with action verbs.
• Apps such as Hemingway ( http://www.hemingwayapp.com/ ) or Grammarly ( https://app.grammarly.com/ ) can help you identify portions of your essay that are more difficult to read. Both of these apps have a free version that you can use to edit your text.

• Working backward is particularly helpful for noticing spelling mistakes, especially hard-to-catch homophone errors, because you're seeing the word out of context.

• It may also help to print your essay in a different font or font size than what you used to type it. This breaks your brain's familiarity with the text, which can make typos and other errors more noticeable. Just remember to change the font back after you print it.

Job Application Essay

Expert Q&A

• Give yourself plenty of time to work on your essay. Ideally, you should plan to work on it over the course of at least two days, so you have the time to set it aside after writing before you move to the editing and proofreading stage. [15] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Unless you're applying for a position in a political or religious organization, avoid including anything in your essay that identifies your political or religious preferences or beliefs. [16] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Avoid using humor, especially sarcasm or ironic humor, as it can be misconstrued in text. Additionally, humor may lead the hiring manager to believe that you aren't serious about the position. [17] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/writing-sample-job-application
• ↑ https://www.insidehighered.com/advice/2012/04/30/essay-how-write-good-applications-jobs-or-grants
• ↑ Shannon O'Brien, MA, EdM. Life & Career Coach. Expert Interview. 25 May 2021.
• ↑ https://www.govloop.com/community/blog/government-job-application-essays-made-easy/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/application-essays/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
• ↑ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/proofreading-tips
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/career-transitions/200906/the-dreaded-writing-sample

About This Article

Job application essays can seem scary, but they’re really just an opportunity for you to highlight your skills and explain why you’re suitable for the role. Read the job listing to find out what traits and skills the company is looking for, like time management, working under pressure, and leadership. If you don’t know much about the company, read through its website and do an online search to find articles about its work. In your introduction, you’ll want to to describe yourself and introduce the main points you’ll be making. Then, write a paragraph for each trait or skill. Use real life examples from previous jobs, your recent studies, or extracurricular activities to support your points. For example, you could highlight your leadership skills by talking about a time you led a group project that exceeded your targets. For more tips, including how to write a compelling conclusion for your job application essay, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Professions & Career — Job

Essay Examples on Job

What makes a good job essay topics.

When it comes to choosing a topic for your job essay, it's important to consider What Makes a Good essay topic. A good job essay topic should be relevant, engaging, and thought-provoking. It should also allow for in-depth analysis and discussion. In order to brainstorm and choose a good job essay topic, consider your own interests and passions, as well as current trends and issues in the job market. Additionally, think about the potential impact and significance of the topic, as well as its potential for generating new ideas and insights. A good essay topic should also be specific and focused, allowing for a clear and concise discussion.

Best Job Essay Topics

• The Gig Economy: The Future of Work
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Employment
• The Rise of Remote Work: Pros and Cons
• The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
• The Role of Company Culture in Employee Satisfaction
• The Future of Traditional 9-5 Jobs
• The Influence of Social Media on Job Searching
• The Benefits and Drawbacks of Freelancing
• The Psychology of Work-Life Balance
• The Impact of Technology on Job Automation
• The Evolution of Job Interview Techniques
• The Role of Soft Skills in Career Success
• The Influence of Gender in the Job Market
• The Future of Entrepreneurship
• The Psychological Effects of Unemployment
• The Impact of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• The Importance of Networking in Career Development
• The Role of Mentoring in Professional Growth
• The Challenges of Work-From-Home Burnout
• The Influence of Globalization on Job Opportunities

Job essay topics Prompts

• Imagine a world where everyone works from home. How would this impact the job market and society as a whole?
• Write about a time when you faced a major career decision. What factors did you consider and how did it shape your career path?
• If you could create your dream job, what would it be and why? How would it benefit both you and the community?
• Reflect on a mentor or role model who has had a significant impact on your career. What lessons did they teach you and how did it shape your professional development?
• Explore the concept of work-life integration. How can individuals achieve a healthy balance between their personal and professional lives in today's fast-paced world?

Choosing a good job essay topic requires careful consideration and creativity. By brainstorming and considering current trends and issues in the job market, as well as your own interests and passions, you can select a topic that is relevant, engaging, and thought-provoking. The best job essay topics are those that allow for in-depth analysis and discussion, as well as the generation of new ideas and insights. With these recommendations and creative prompts in mind, you can take your job essay writing to the next level.

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Personal Narrative: My Current Job

Show More It is very natural for a student like me to have growth needs high as we are shaping our career and we expect our growth to turn into the most favorable way we need. In my previous job, I was learning everything new and I was able to relate to my job. After certain extent, I wasn’t able to see job satisfaction and my job became a so much like machine operation. Performing the same work again and again. In my current job too, I did learn something new in the beginning but I happen to do the same repetitive work which creates a concern for me about my job. I get a pay for what I do. I am looking for something interesting, where I could learn something new every day and take up some challenging tasks which will make my day. From this, I do feel

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My First Work Experience and Knowledge I Gained Essay

When I was a child, my dream was to find the work connected with managing people and resources. The vision persisted until it became time for pursuing a college degree, where I opted for a business course in Human Resource Management (HRM). I intended to be in a position to lead people at the workplace. After graduating from school, luckily, I got an internship program with one of the renowned retail companies called Costco Retailers.

The first working experience was memorable because I finally managed to become independent and earn my first money. When I started working in the corporation, I changed my mentality to adapt to the new system. This paper will discuss the experience during my first job recruitment, skills, and knowledge gathered during this period. During the first working experience, recruits should apply the theoretical knowledge in practice to avoid difficulties in time-management, issue solving, and communication with clients and colleagues.

The time-management appeared to be a fundamental problem that I have faced during my experience. It was a requirement that all the staff report one hour before the opening of the stores. This was necessary to facilitate daily planning and arrangement of the work routine to enhance the efficiency of the operations. It was difficult for me to manage time properly and organize the activities of other people. I had to participate in various events and often failed to perform my duties correctly. There even was a period of time when I was at significant risk of being fired. I had to learn how to be time-conscious to overcome the pressure. I solved this problem thanks to applying some time-management techniques.

Besides the time factor, another issue was working under pressure. During the first few months, I was stationed at the customer care desk to attend to the clients’ queries. At this position, several problems emerged that required immediate attention from the top managers within the department. It was challenging to handle some inquiries because of the large number of customers and the nature of their needs. The intensity to meet their expectation was overwhelming, and it involved many commands from the senior staff.

Another problem that required theoretical knowledge from me was cultural diversity. Shoppers consist of people from different races, gender, culture, and profession. Communicating with customers was a nightmare, especially for those whose cultures tend to diverge at some point. Sometimes you might offend people from different cultures without noticing it. Nonetheless, thanks to their interactive nature and understanding, some clients helped me learn how to communicate appropriately.

Generally, working with customers entails fluctuating motions since they come in different moods with various expectations to be fulfilled. Meeting people from different backgrounds increased my exposure and understanding of individuals behave in relation to their culture. The race-tolerance strategies learned during my education helped me to adjust my communicational style.

I thought handling customers was the main challenge of this position, but there was another significant problem. Being a novice, young, and unfamiliar with the company’s system was another terrifying encounter. At the customer care desk, we had co-workers who had been in the institution for an extended period. These workers used to take advantage of the recruits by assigning complex tasks and overworking them. I became a victim and felt exploited since I could do twice what the other workers were doing. From one point of view, such pressure was rational, aiming to increase my working skills. From the other point, I had moral difficulties coping with a considerable amount of work while experienced colleagues did not offer me any help.

It is also essential to mention which new skills I have gained during my working experience which contribute to my professional development. Thanks to this organization, I gained valuable knowledge and skills helpful for developing in this work industry. First, I gained an understanding of how to communicate with customers and colleagues. Before joining the Costco team, I thought managing people was easy to perform and did not require any special knowledge. Thanks to this working experience, I have learned that communication and management is a whole science that requires profound knowledge and well-developed communicational skills. Therefore, I realized that it is critical to apply the behavioral analysis approach to maintain effective communication.

Moreover, the company made me develop and improve my intrapersonal skills. Working with people having different ages and cultures requires self-understanding (Horak & Matoskova, 2018). To be able to relate effectively with other staff members and even customers, I had to learn how to communicate and listen. Communication is essential in advancing the relationship amongst the business affiliates. The on-the-job experience made it easier to comprehend and apply the skills. Here I also successfully applied the gained during my education knowledge.

Surprisingly, technological knowledge was vital during my working experience. Furthermore, being at the customer care desk exposed me to using the computer system to record, search, monitor, and even communicate with the administration. I developed deep insight into technology, and my computer knowledge increased. Through the period, I could use the system to perform critical tasks like monitoring the level of inventory, tracking customers’ purchasing records, and updating new valuable information for clients. In addition, I was able to analyze the trend of buyers, which was helpful for the administration for updating the stocks.

Another critical skill that I acquired during the period was the ability to solve problems. At the customer care desk, clients came with various issues ranging from sales of defective products to poor service delivery. I have analyzed different literature on the topic of problem-solving. Multiple techniques help the manager build good relationships with the customer and colleagues (Funke et al., 2018). One of them is the culturally-tolerant attitude towards the participants of communication. I developed a profound knowledge of managing different circumstances to generate a proper solution by handling such issues. Seeing and learning how the colleagues were regulating similar situations at work was vital and prompted self-confidence. To make a decision, self-reliance is essential as it allows one to find their own answers to the problem.

Generally, obtaining a job after completing coursework in college is beneficial because you can gain valuable experience. On the job, learning makes the whole perspective different as it comes with arrays of experiences both encouraging and demoralizing. Sometimes changing and adapting to a new routine is difficult for the new employees. Furthermore, interacting with various people at the workplace advance understanding and worldview of individuals.

The exposure also makes people gain the necessary knowledge and skills that are essential for further carrier development. Joining the proper organization could impact the level of experience individual gains. If people are ready to develop their knowledge and skills, asking questions, elaborate new ideas, then the chances of attaining new skills at work are high. It is also vital to implement the theoretical concept learned through education in practice. Thus, applying theoretical concepts and constant development contributed to forming a positive working experience.

Funke, J., Fischer, A., & Holt, D. V. (2018). Competencies for complexity: Problem solving in the twenty-first century. In Assessment and teaching of 21st century skills (pp. 41-53). Springer, Cham. Web.

Horak, M., & Matoskova, J. (2018). Comparison of training programmes and activities for cluster managers in Europe with respect to their focus on skills development. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Knowledge , 6 (1). Web.

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• INSEAD Essay Tips and Examples

August 29, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

INSEAD candidates must respond to four short career-focused queries (a fifth one is optional) and provide three motivation essays (with an optional fourth).  Applicants are also tasked with completing a video component for which they answer four questions as four separate video recordings. Given the total number of prompts, tasks, and questions involved, some candidates could find INSEAD’s essay gauntlet a bit intimidating and likely arduous as well. Read on for our full analysis, which we hope will make the process a little easier to manage.

INSEAD 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Job description 1: briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. (200 words maximum)  , job description 2: what would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company instead of going to business school (200 words maximum)  , job description 3: please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. describe your career path with the rationale behind your choices. (300 words maximum)  , job description 4: discuss your short and long term career aspirations with an mba from insead. (100 words maximum)  .

For the school’s job-related mini essays, we encourage you to start by very carefully parsing exactly what data the school requests for each. Together, these four prompts cover many of the elements seen in a traditional personal statement essay, including info about one’s career to date, interest in the school, and professional goals. However, the topics are clearly separated among individual submissions rather than covered in a cohesive single essay, and INSEAD also asks applicants to comment on their expected progression within their current firm were they to remain there rather than entering business school.

The first prompt requires that you outline roughly six different aspects of your current or most recent position. Be sure that you address each of the elements the school lists, and do not skip any just because you would rather write more about some than others. You might also want to consider providing a very brief description of your company or industry, if the nature of either might not be readily clear to an admissions reader. For the second question, your response should be fairly straightforward. If your firm has a clearly defined management hierarchy in which one position leads directly to a higher one—and you would be interested in adhering to that system—you simply need to explain this and perhaps offer a short description of the new responsibilities your next position would entail. If your company does not have such an arrangement or you would want to move in a different direction, simply explain what your preferred next role would be and the duties involved. 

The third prompt is rather self-explanatory with respect to detailing the various stages of your career to date, but do not be remiss in responding to the “rationale” and “choices” aspects of the query. The school wants to know that your progression has not been passive, with you simply accepting the next good thing to come along, but rather that you have made thoughtful decisions with clear motivations and intentions behind them. For the fourth question, you will need to present your professional goals within the context of an INSEAD MBA education. Do your research on the school to identify specific resources it offers that relate directly to the skills and experiences you need to be successful in your career, thereby illustrating how INSEAD would help you achieve your aims. Above all, be sure to show determination and direction—that you are focused firmly on your intended end points and will not be easily deterred. 

For all your job description responses, avoid using any acronyms or abbreviations that would not be easily recognizable to most people. Using shortcuts (in the form of abbreviations/acronyms) and skipping basic contextual information could make your answers less understandable and therefore less compelling and useful to an admissions reader, so do yourself a favor by depicting your situation as clearly as possible. 

As we have noted, these questions cover many elements of a traditional personal statement, so we encourage you to download a free copy of our  mbaMission Personal Statement Guide . In this complimentary publication, we provide a detailed discussion of how to approach such queries and craft effective responses, along with multiple illustrative examples.

Optional Job Essay: If you are currently not working or if you plan to leave your current employer more than 2 months before the programme starts, please explain your activities and occupations between leaving your job and the start of the programme. 

With this essay, INSEAD hopes to see signs of your interest in ongoing self-improvement, knowledge or experience collection, and/or giving back. Whether you are choosing to leave your job a few months before the beginning of the MBA program or are asked to do so by your employer, simply explain what you expect do and gain in the interim. The admissions committee wants to know that you are the kind of person who takes advantage of opportunities and to understand what kinds of opportunities appeal to you. For example, perhaps you plan to complete a few quantitative courses to be better equipped to hit the ground running in your related MBA classes, or perhaps you want to spend some time with family members or volunteering in your community because you know that your availability to do so will be limited when you are in school, and you want to maintain those important connections. Maybe you want to focus on improving your foreign language ability before coming to INSEAD, given the importance of this skill in the school’s program. Or you might arrange informational interviews, job-shadowing opportunities, and/or unpaid internships, which could help in various ways with recruiting and job selection. Whatever your goals and plans, clearly convey how you anticipate that your experience(s) will add to or change your character, enhance your skill set, and/or increase your understanding of yourself or others—all of which are valuable in business school.

Motivation Essay 1: Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary (maximum 500 words).  

Although INSEAD’s request for “main factors which have influenced your development” comes in the latter half of this essay prompt, we feel you should actually provide this context for your formative experiences before discussing the strengths and weaknesses you derived from them, because showing a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the two is important. The school asks that you offer examples “when necessary,” but your essay will be strongest if you present anecdotes to illustrate and support all your statements. Still, your essay should not end up being a hodgepodge of unconnected anecdotes that reveal strengths. Instead, focus on two or three strengths and one or two weaknesses in the mere 500 words allotted.

As always, be honest about your strengths (do not try to tell the committee what you think it wants to hear; truthfully describe who you legitimately are) and especially about your weaknesses—this is vital. Transparent or disingenuous statements will not fool or convince anyone and will only reveal you as someone incapable of critical self-evaluation.

Motivation Essay 2: Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned (maximum 400 words).  

For this essay, you will need to offer two anecdotes that reveal different sides of you as an applicant, describing a high moment from your life and a low moment. Because the school also asks you to address how these incidents subsequently influenced your interactions with others and what lessons they taught you, you must identify stories that not only involve a significant incident but also affected you personally in a meaningful and long-lasting way. These elements of your essay are just as important as the accomplishment and the failure you choose to share; your unique thoughts can differentiate you from other applicants, and showing that you recognize how these incidents changed you and your relations with others demonstrates your self-awareness and capacity for growth. Steer clear of trite and clichéd statements about your takeaways, and really reflect on these situations to uncover your deeper reactions and impressions. For example, everyone gains some level of resiliency from a failure, so you must offer something less common and more compelling and personal.

Be aware that the best failure essays are often those that show reasoned optimism and tremendous momentum toward a goal—a goal that is ultimately derailed. In most cases, you will need to show that you were emotionally invested in your project/experience, which will enable the reader to connect with your story and vicariously experience your disappointment. If you were not invested at all, presenting the experience as a failure or learning experience will be less credible.

Motivation Essay 3: Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, etc). How are you enriched by these activities? (maximum 300 words)   

Although stereotypes about the top MBA programs abound—this school wants consultants, that school is for marketing professionals, this other one is for techies and entrepreneurs—the truth is that they all want a diverse incoming class, full of people with various strengths and experiences that they can share with one another for the good of all. Discussing how you choose to spend your free time—explaining why your chosen activities are important to you and what you derive from them—provides the admissions committee with a window into your personality outside the workplace and classroom and an idea of what you could contribute to the student body and INSEAD as a whole.

Optional Motivation Essay: Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (maximum 300 words) 

We tend to believe that the best use of the optional essay is to explain confusing or problematic issues in your candidacy, and this prompt offers an opportunity to do just that. So, if you need to, this is your chance to address any questions an admissions officer might have about your profile—a poor grade or overall GPA, a low GMAT or GRE score, a gap in your work experience, etc. We suggest downloading your free copy of the mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , in which we offer detailed advice on deciding whether to take advantage of the optional essay and how best to do so (with multiple sample essays), if needed.

INSEAD does not stipulate that you can only discuss a problem area in this essay, however, so you have some leeway to share anything you think might be pivotal or particularly compelling. We caution you against trying to fill this space simply because you fear that not doing so would somehow count against you. Remember, by submitting an additional essay, you are asking the admissions committee to do extra work on your behalf, so you need to make sure that time is warranted. If you are using the essay to emphasize something that if omitted would render your application incomplete, take this opportunity to write a very brief narrative that reveals this key new aspect of your candidacy.

After submitting your INSEAD application, you will need to complete a video interview consisting of four questions. You will be given 45 seconds in which to consider your answer to each one and then 60 seconds in which to deliver it. You have until 48 hours after the deadline for the round in which you apply to complete this element of the process, but we strongly recommend doing so sooner rather than later while your mind is still in application mode and to ensure you do not somehow forget this task or have to rush through it at the end of the allotted time period.

Because all INSEAD admissions interviews are conducted by the school’s alumni, this is a way for members of the admissions committee to virtually “meet” candidates and supplement the information provided in the written portions of the application. This video component gives the committee direct and dynamic insight into applicants’ character and personality, as well as another angle on their language abilities. About the videos, INSEAD says on its site, “The MBA Admissions Committee is interested in obtaining an authentic view of you as a person, to see how you think on your feet and how you convey your ideas.” So when the time comes for you to record your responses, do your best to relax, answer genuinely, and let your true self shine through!

Learn more about INSEAD’s academic program, elective courses, location, facilities, and other key features by downloading your free copy of the mbaMission INSEAD Insider’s Guide .

The Next Step: Mastering Your INSEAD Interview

Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. We therefore offer our free  Interview Guides  to spur you along! Download your  free  copy of the  INSEAD Interview Guide  today.

2023-2024 Business School Essays INSEAD International Business Schools MBA Essay Tips

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2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

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5-Paragraph Essay " My Job in an Apple Plant"

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My job in an apple plant, by john langan from english skills with readings.

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2023-2024 INSEAD Essay Analysis

May 1, 2023

• Who is INSEAD looking for?
• How should I answer INSEAD essay questions?
• Get expert help

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 1, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With business increasingly taking place across borders and popular industries (we’re looking at you, tech!) moving at a breakneck speed, INSEAD is a more popular target for business school applicants than ever. 

Though INSEAD offers two intakes each year, the increased attention the school has garnered makes it more competitive than ever to earn a spot at this prestigious business school. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your INSEAD admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included INSEAD sample essays to ensure you give your INSEAD application your best shot. 

1. Who is INSEAD looking for?

Source: remessaonline.com

“The accelerated full-time MBA programme curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities, and we are looking for smart, well-rounded candidates who believe that business can be a force for good.” Minh Huy Lai , Managing Director of the INSEAD MBA Program.

Every year, INSEAD searches the globe for outstanding, globally-minded professionals. More than 75 countries are represented in INSEAD’s MBA class . With a strong emphasis on diversity, collaboration, and global mindset , there is a lot of variation in the INSEAD class, with previous work experience ranging from 3 to 8 years . 

Beyond the impressive statistics, though, INSEAD is a highly values-driven community that values diversity, adaptability and teamwork — and professionals who are adept at putting these values into practice in their daily lives. 

According to INSEAD’s admissions committee:

 “The MBA Admissions team are looking for people with intellectual curiosity, personal qualities to contribute to the many INSEAD activities and a desire to stretch themselves in a rigorous academic programme. We welcome applications from around the world regardless of race, religion, gender, colour or financial status. Our aim is to build an exciting, dynamic and diverse student body.​”

If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering INSEAD’s highly varied, challenging  admissions essay questions. 

2. How should I answer INSEAD essay questions?

Writing any admission essay is a tough task. However, INSEAD requires applicants to submit a highly-challenging set of nearly a dozen essays that discuss everything from strengths to failures to personal characteristics to future plans to extracurricular activities. 

Keep reading for a more in-depth look at how to turn this advice into outstanding essays!

2.1. Motivational Essay 1

Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (500 words)

Considering the fact that you only have 500 words to present yourself , this essay can seem like a daunting task. However, we have found that the following structure helps this essay flow nicely and perfectly nail the brief. 

We suggest including two strengths and one weakness (in any order you prefer), and a theme to connect them all. 

As you can see in Motivational Essay Sample Set 1 (available for download below), the author uses his passion for digital as the theme for his essay, comparing various technical processes to strengths and weaknesses in his personality before ending by stating his working to become version 2.0 of himself. 

Many people argue initially that their personality should be enough of a theme. This can definitely work, however, we have found that a more robust theme that integrates with and connects to your characteristics makes for a more interesting, cohesive essay . It will also help you discuss what led you to develop the unique characteristics that make you you! 

Finally, please ( please !) do not use a fake or made up weakness. Your weakness should be thoughtful , yet appropriate for business school. 

Talking about how you often fight with superiors, for example, is not appropriate for business school, since the experience is inherently collaborative and teamwork driven, so make sure you don’t build an argument that you have a hard time relating to others. Furthermore, answers like losing your temper easily or being lazy are not good choices. 

You also don’t want to stray too far to the other side, choosing answers like “I work too hard.” Instead, choose real, well-considered weaknesses and include information about why this personal trait is a weakness. 

REMEMBER: your weaknesses should be an obstacle to other strengths and NOT one of your inherent flaws. 

For example, if you tend to get lost in the details, show the adcom that this has led to negative feedback at work, where you’re increasingly asked to take care of your team’s big picture responsibilities. 

Finally, end by showing how you are working on this weakness. The important thing here is not to show you are a “perfect” person, but to show them that you are mature, self-aware, and focused on self-improvement. 

TOP TIP: There is a lot of space for repetition with Essay 2, so we suggest planning out all your examples for all essays and double-checking for any conflicts before you start writing. 

Need more guidance? Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of past successful INSEAD essays and a detailed brainstorm to help you plan out a winning INSEAD essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join ! 

2.2. Motivational Essay 2

Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. (400 words)

For many of our clients, this is the most difficult essay to write, considering the sheer amount of content applicants must cram into a 400-word essay. 

However, with the right approach , this essay can be much less daunting. 

First, we suggest you brainstorm a list of your greatest accomplishments and greatest failures.  

After doing this, filter out examples that are contradictory to Essay 1 (for example, your achievement revolves around being an excellent presenter and your weakness in Essay 1 is presentation skills) or that overlap with stories you are telling in other essays. 

After this, go through the list again and remove examples that have nothing to do with other people. 

This is incredibly important because this essay is not asking you to discuss your life’s absolute greatest mess up, it’s asking you to talk about a failure and discuss how it influenced your relationships with others . 

For example, while brainstorming this essay, many of our clients suggest writing about not passing at their top choice undergraduate university for their failure. Though this is certainly a crushing blow, it’s hard to talk about how this impacted the way you relate to others. An example like not asking for help and failing to deliver on a project, on the other hand, is a much better choice. 

As such, be absolutely sure that you choose examples that allow you to answer the full question. 

Finally, given the short word count, you may want to consider a situation where you experienced a failure, learned from it, and turned things around to lead to your greatest achievement. Though you certainly don’t have to follow this model (and many of our successful clients have not), it can help shorten the word count by eliminating the need to provide context for two situations. 

TOP TIP: STAR-format examples work best here. If you’re not sure how to achieve this, check out this post , designed to help you use the STAR methodology easily and effectively in your essays. 

2.3. Motivational Essay 3

Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc.). How are you enriched by these activities? (300 words)

Here, we suggest choosing a few different activities you currently participate in (or have meaningfully participated in previously). 

These can be a range of activities, from hobbies to community service to sports, etc. If you can, try to choose activities that reinforce you’re a globally-minded, team-oriented person and use this space to highlight new elements of your profile that you did not discuss elsewhere. 

No matter what you choose, you must justify how each activity has enriched you . 

You don’t have to get overly dramatic here and state that soccer saved your life (if it did, though, write about that!), but make sure to show a mature, thoughtful analysis of how this activity has led you to grow as a person. 

2.4. Optional Motivational Essay

Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the admissions committee? (300 words)

As with nearly all elite business schools, INSEAD does not want to see a summary of your profile or a restatement of why you want to attend INSEAD. Considering they give you 8 other essay questions and a video essay , you have plenty of space to make your most important arguments within the confines of the application. 

However, if you have extenuating circumstances that merit additional explanation (a good overview of what kind of circumstances qualify can be found here ), make sure to explain them clearly and directly. 

2.5. Job Essay 1

Job Essay 1: Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. (200 words)

For this question, the most important thing is to answer all elements of the question and maintain focus on your current role . 

You’ll have plenty of room to discuss your past career choices and future ambitions in other essays, so make sure you give the adcom a full picture of what you do on a daily basis. 

If you’re currently working on a particularly interesting project, you can include information about the project and your related responsibilities, but don’t bog your reader down with an exhaustive list of every project and result you’ve ever obtained in your current role. 

Should you feel a little bit of context is necessary to understand your current role, feel free to provide it. Keep in mind, however, that you’re given an entire essay to discuss your career choices leading up to the present day. 

Finally, make sure to include the data they ask for, specifically related to the budget and the number of people you manage. 

2.6. Job Essay 2

What would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company instead of going to business school? (200 words).

Depending on how complex this next role will be, this might be a very short answer or a slightly longer one. 

Here, focus on your next logical step in your current organization ( whether you intend to return post-MBA or not ). By asking this, the committee is attempting to gauge your career progress and momentum thus far. 

Thus, highlight how the complexity and scope of your position would increase, especially making sure to note any additional leadership or management responsibilities. You may also want to mention a feasible timeline for being promoted to this role. 

2.7. Job Essay 3

Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. Describe your career path with the rationale behind your choices. (300 words).

Here, INSEAD does not want a 2-page dramatic retelling of your CV, so make sure you start writing this essay with your ultimate goal in mind. 

We suggest applicants take this opportunity to show the “whys and hows” of their career choices thus far, specifically focusing on what led you to move from one company or role to another and what you learned. It’s also a good practice to highlight any of your “blockbuster” moments to establish a track record of excellence in your career. 

Furthermore, show the adcom your career is on an upward trajectory by including information about increased responsibilities with each new role. 

As for size, try to keep it short, but use your best judgment. If you’ve had 10 positions since graduating university, your essay will likely be longer than someone who has had 2-3 positions at one company in the same amount of time. 

Though this is not a traditional goals essay, you may find it helpful to think of this as the “setup” section of a goals essay, since you’re required to demonstrate how your trajectory thus far has prepared you for the goals you plan to pursue post-MBA. 

2.8. Job Essay 4

Discuss your short and long term career aspirations with an MBA from INSEAD. (100 words).

Unlike many other schools, INSEAD poses a very straightforward goals question that asks you to discuss your short-term and long-term goals, as well as your need for an INSEAD MBA. 

Considering the fact that you’ve just told the admissions committee about your past experiences, we recommend jumping right in and starting to discuss your short-term goal, namely, the job you hope to have right after graduation. 

Then, continue by discussing why you want to pursue this goal , before moving on to stating your long-term goal (this varies, but somewhere in the 5-10 year range is a good target) and the reason for wanting to pursue this goal as well. 

Though it can be tempting to be vague or generic here, that’s not going to help your application.

INSEAD, like all elite business schools, will use this essay to determine your career risk (i.e. the likelihood of you getting the job you’ve said you want after graduation). As such, specificity is an absolute necessity (include both title and industry). 

Finally, if you’re pursuing goals that are very loosely related to what you’ve done thus far, make sure you fully explore why you’re making such a drastic change and give any evidence you can that you’ll be successful in making this big shift. 

Show the admissions committee you recognize that you still need to grow as a person and as a professional in order to successfully reach the goals you’ve laid out. To do this, consider key skills that you need to build or develop that are specifically related to your plans. 

For example, if you’re planning to pursue partnership at a major consulting firm, pitching clients will become a huge part of your job description, so improving your abilities to do so is important. 

On the other hand, if your post-MBA goal requires managing a huge team, you may want to think about how you need to grow as a leader and manager to successfully rise to the occasion.

After you’ve identified your skill areas, show how specific elements of the INSEAD experience will help you develop. 

Finally, it’s worth mentioning how and why you might benefit from being part of INSEAD’s highly global MBA. Regardless of what you choose to write about, make sure you do extensive research into the INSEAD program and deeply reflect on your future goals before you start writing. 

TOP TIP: Not sure how to define your goals for your MBA application? Check out our guide on the topic here !

2.9. Optional Job Essay

If you are currently not working or if you plan to leave your current employer more than 2 months before the programme starts, please explain your activities and occupations between leaving your job and the start of the programme.

If you are currently unemployed or plan to leave your position early, make sure to show how you will use this time off to develop your skills and bring yourself closer to reaching your short-term and long-term goals. 

Ensuring you offer specifics about what you’ll be doing and showing how you intend to be enriched by your activities will be a convincing argument in showing your commitment to pursuing an MBA and your goals beyond. 

If you’re not sure if you’ll leave your job early or not, we recommend not writing this essay. 

3. Make Sure You Get into INSEAD

Are you almost finished with your application but are still worried your essay is not quite perfect enough to send? 

At Ellin Lolis Consulting, our goal is to add more value to your application than you ever thought possible by giving you the tools and positioning you need to write outstanding essays that help you gain admission to a top MBA program.

If you’re struggling to put your core values into words, or aren’t sure you’ve really nailed the brief for INSEAD, let our award-winning editors use their expert storytelling abilities to help you transform your essay from average to attention-grabbing and land an INSEAD interview. 

That’s how we helped our recent client Georgia navigate her application. 

After all, you don’t get into a prestigious business school without standing out!

4. INSEAD Deadlines

INSEAD has two deadlines each year, one for the September intake and one for the January intake. Please check INSEAD’s website directly for the most recent information about deadlines! 

You can start your online application by clicking here . 

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Essay on current job

Devki My Current Job I am working at classic eyebrows as an eyebrow/eyelash stylist. When I was in India I got to learn how to shape eyebrow, but back home I never worked as a professional stylist. After few years we moved here for good. When I came to USA, initially I couldn’t find any job; so one day my aunt offered me a job position at her salon. I accepted her offer and started working at her salon first as a temporary employer. In the beginning I already knew how to shape the eyebrow but I didn’t know how to do artificial eyelashes; So my aunt taught me how to do eyelashes, I felt it was difficult compared to styling the eyebrows and since then I just hate to do styling of eyelashes. During first month at my job people didn’t trust me; everyone was scared to sit with me. It was natural, because I was new at work. Eyebrow is a most important part of our face, because when we look anyone’s face if her or his eyebrows are in perfect shape, he or she would look good. We all have different types facial shape like round, square, oval, long, heart, diamond, etc hence everybody cannot have similar type of eyebrow shape. There are main 2 types of eyebrow shapes as in natural- thin and natural thick, also depending on people how they want to keep it. Most of the people prefer nice thick angled, and only few people like to keep natural –thin. There are 3 techniques to do temporary eyebrow shaping: threaded, wax, and tweeze. Threading is a non-invasive hair removal technique that shapes eyebrows. Holding the knotted end of a special cotton thread, and artist gently twists the thread and runs it along the brow area needing hair removal. She quickly grabs and removes excess hairs from the roots. Second method is waxing your eyebrows, in wax eyebrows first you clean eyebrows with clinger, and how you want eyebrows shape you put hot wax along the hairline side and then gently remove it off by pulling with a stripe. And third Method is tweezing your eyebrows; in this method tweeze off your extra hair with a pair of tweezers and Show More

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• How to Answer “What...

How to Answer “What Motivates You?” - With Examples

11 min read · Updated on October 26, 2023

Knowing how to explain what motivates you tells an interviewer that you not only can do the job - you'll enjoy it, too

When a recruiter or hiring manager asks, “What motivates you?” it sounds like a simple-enough question and one that should be easy to answer - but this is another one of those open-ended questions that need a bit of preparation to answer effectively and keep you in the running for the job.

While there might be many things that motivate you, your answer must be crafted to align with the specific position you're after and the company hiring you to do it.

Why do interviewers ask “What motivates you?”

This question is similar to asking  “What makes you unique?” It's meant to discover whether or not you're the right fit for the job and, more importantly, if you'll fit within that company's particular workplace  culture and goals.

It provides insight into how and why you're motivated to be a successful employee, as well as what fulfills you in your job or career, which in turn offers some additional insight into your personality and approach to work. All these things - plus your skills and experience - help the interviewer to determine whether you're the best person to hire.

It is important to remember that employers who ask what motivates you are not asking you why you've decided to pursue your career options or apply for their open position. They are simply trying to figure out your motivations and drive to do a great job, achieve your mission, and contribute to your employer's success.

“What drives you?” and other ways this question is asked

Some interviewers won't ask this specific question. You need to recognize it when it's asked in different ways, so you can still provide the answers they're after. Instead of “what motivates you?” you might hear:

What inspires you?

What drives you to meet challenges?

What excites you about your job (or about working in general)?

What drives you to be successful?

What makes you want to get up every day for work?

How to prepare an answer to “What motivates you?” 

As with all interview preparation, begin by researching the company in detail. The more you know about the company (and the position), the more you can tailor your answer to match the company's needs. Try to learn about the employer's mission and values, as that can be critical in framing your answers.

In most cases, the hiring manager is asking this in the context of your work life, not your personal life. Most importantly, don't start off with the obvious answer of “a good salary” or “excellent benefits.” It's a given that these things are generally part of everyone's motivation for taking a job and, for the right candidate, these discussions come later in the hiring process.

Possible motivations to focus on as you develop your answer

Taking on or overcoming challenges

Developing new skills

Working with others

Working independently

Having little (or more frequent) direct supervision

Being part of, or leading, a team

Teaching or mentoring others

Creating new processes or improving existing ones

Learning new things

Being innovative or creative

Having challenging goals and deadlines

Aligning your answer with the position you're seeking

As we noted, it's important to know as much as possible about the employer and the job you're seeking, so that you can tailor your response to align with the position. For example, if you're seeking a job dealing with data and analysis, you should try to include those concerns in your answer. You can find an example of this type of data-focused answer in our sample answer section below.

One way to ensure that your answer aligns with the position is to review the job description. Figure out which responsibilities seem to inspire you and build your answer around those duties. Remember to be honest with yourself as you do this, since your response will be more believable if it truly conveys your motivations.

It's also important to not stray too far from that alignment. If the job you're seeking requires a great deal of collaboration with others, then you shouldn't respond by talking about how much you love studying spreadsheets by yourself in a corner office.

Other factors to consider as you create an answer

Consider your strengths . Generally, what motivates someone is also what they're good at, so your answer can highlight skills as well as motivation.

Reflect on the past. Think back to one of your best days at work. Why was it such a good day? What were you doing? Who were you working with? What made you happiest?

Use actual examples. Sharing a specific example from your current job or a previous position means backing up your motivation with the skills that will also make you successful in the job. This often makes a recruiter sit up and take notice.

Keep it short - or as short as possible . Be sure your answer isn't too long or rambling. Keep it as short as possible while still getting across what motivates you the most.

Stay positive. Don't frame your answers using negative examples about you or about others. Share the things you enjoy doing and show how they've helped you to be an excellent employee in all your jobs.

Be honest. Hopefully, you're applying for a position that you really do feel is a good fit for your skills and abilities, as well as for what drives you to be successful. That said, it's important to be honest about your motivation for a job, or it's quite possible you won't have the job for long once your employer discovers you're not a great fit. For example, being motivated by leading a team and consistently interacting with others is not the same as being fulfilled by working mostly on your own crunching numbers or researching data. Neither is good or bad. It's just a question of which one is best for you and that specific role.

Use the STAR method . Describe your motivation examples around S ituations, T asks, A ctions, and R esults. The benefit of this method is that it can show how your motivation ultimately benefited your past company or could benefit a future one. What's more, you end up telling a story rather than just rattling off an answer. That approach can make you sound more interesting and make the interviewer more interested in you.

Practice. Share your answer with a family member or friend and get their feedback. Practicing will help you to answer confidently and concisely.

If you're interviewing for your first full-time job, talk about what motivated you while working in an internship or volunteer role. The outcome should be the same: to convey what's meaningful to you in a job and help the company to see that you'll be a motivated employee who's a good fit for their role.

Sample answers to “What motivates you?”

As you develop your answers, consider the things that attracted you to your current career or specific job. Think about why this kind of work feels right for you and how you've become even more talented over time.

Hopefully, you'll discover more about why you're after any specific position and, in turn, be able to clearly communicate that to the hiring manager or recruiter. Here are some examples to get you started:

Example of someone motivated by learning and skill development

“Learning new skills really motivates me. It's so satisfying to see myself improve as I gain more knowledge about a job or market sector. In my last job, I consistently signed up for training or courses that would grow my skill set, paying for some out of my own pocket. I really believe that ongoing learning makes you more innovative and valuable in the workplace.”

Example for someone motivated by a desire to solve problems

“ I've been coding since middle school, when I was first exposed to it. My mom is a Software Developer and helped me whenever I needed it. Coding has been “it” for me ever since and I've become an expert in Java and C++. I think about coding from the minute I wake up until I go to sleep. Solving problems with code is what challenges me, motivates me, and drives me to be successful. ”

Example for someone who loves organizing projects and activities

“ I'm addicted to planning! Being organized at work and at home drives me to make sure I have enough time to achieve my goals and give my best in all I do. It ensures that I don't overtask myself, so I can focus on doing quality work and not get burned out by working long hours on any one project. Good time management helps me to maintain consistently excellent standards.”

Example for someone who's motivated by serving others

“ Providing outstanding customer service is what drives me. I worked as a Mobile Sales Associate for a local credit union. The days were hectic with solving customer issues and answering questions. I worked hard to understand their queries and explain the how and why of our processes and operations. It really motivated me and upped my confidence whenever customers gave me a great review and a high rating.”

Example for a team player or leader

“I was a Team Lead in my last position, managing a team of 10. Our task was to improve outcomes, so the team had to work efficiently and deliver consistently accurate results. I made it my goal to streamline the team's processes and be more productive with less “busy work.” Working with a team to complete tasks accurately and ahead of schedule was and is what drives me every day. I want to help any company I'm with to always meet their bottom line.” 

Example for someone who's driven by managing successful teams

“I've been responsible for directing software development teams and implementing repeatable processes for a variety of companies. My teams achieved 100% on-time product delivery for six straight months. The challenge of finishing the projects ahead of schedule and successfully managing teams to reach our goals is the kind of thing that's always motivated me.”

Example for a person who's driven to get results

“I'm motivated by results. I'm always excited when I have a tangible goal to meet and enough time to develop a sound strategy to accomplish it. In my current job, we have very aggressive quarterly and yearly goals. I was tasked to work with my manager and my team to create a month-by-month strategy to meet our quarter-end and year-end numbers. Accomplishing that was a great thrill and made me even more result oriented.”

Example for a person who's motivated by data

“I love numbers. Analyzing data and providing results really drives and motivates me. I love getting my hands on a spreadsheet to figure out what's driving the numbers and sharing my conclusions. In my current position, I generate our monthly sales analytics reports. Being able to provide this essential information is really motivating because the data from these reports helps the company to determine its sales goals for the upcoming months and clarifies how the organization will move forward, and I know I've made a big contribution to that.”

Proper preparation can help you approach your interview with greater confidence

Knowing what motivates you means you can clearly and confidently convey to an interviewer that you not only have the skills to do the job but that you will also fit well with the company's culture and values. As long as you've done your research and preparation, you'll conquer your fear of this particular interview question and be ready to promote yourself as the best candidate to hire.

Your motivators are simply what you love to do and, as the saying goes, “find something you love to do and you'll never work a day in your life.”

Learn how to ace every part of your interview with our  expert interview tips , and let our free resume review make your resume shine! This article was originally written by Lisa Tynan and has been updated by Ken Chase.

Recommended reading:

Ask Amanda: How Can I Be More Confident During Interviews?

5 Tricky Interview Questions and How to Handle Them

What to Say at an Interview: 5 Boring Interview Lines to Avoid

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From Bland to Beautiful: How We Made This Professional's Resume Shine

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How To Say “I Love My Job!” in 9 Steps

“I love my job!” Don’t we all dream of saying these words regularly?

In the last two years, tens of millions of workers took a leap of faith and left their existing jobs in what’s become known as the “Great Resignation”. In 2023 alone, almost 96% of workers were planning a career change. The lockdowns  gave people a chance to reevaluate their lives and look for their dream career. The ultimate goal, of course, is to find a role with the most merits possible alongside the fewest faults. In other words: the dream job!

If your current position isn’t living up to your expectations, it’s time to start asking whether you can make some changes .

Don’t let years pass you by waiting around in a position that’s merely “ fine” . You deserve to work in a job you find stimulating and enjoyable. 

Use the clickable menu to navigate through the article more easily:

Why I love my job: an easy question to answer?

• Find a purposeful mission
• Look for a challenge
• Ensure there’s room for progression
• Check how impactful the work is
• Be mindful of your work-life balance
• Think flexible
• Ask for a fair salary
• Find a positive work culture
• Find a leader who sets goals and listens
• Key takeaways

How can you be sure it’s the right time to switch up your career?

If you’ve been in your current role for a long time, it’s possible that comfort and habit have set in, and it won’t be so easy to tell how satisfied you actually are. If you’re not sure whether you ought to be leveling up your career, a good starting point is to write a list. 

Title it something like “Why I love my job”, and write down everything that you enjoy about your daily work life.

Your list should, hopefully, include points such as:

• I work with supportive colleagues who make me smile
• I work in an area that interests me and inspires me to learn
• I believe my work has an impact on the company as a whole
• The company’s values align with my own
• I can see a clear path ahead, with room for growth
• My managers appreciate my efforts and encourage my development
• My role involves challenges, which I am able to overcome
• I am respected as an employee, and not treated merely as a number

If you find yourself filling the page easily, you know you’re in a good spot. If, however, you find you’ve run dry after only a couple of bullet points, it’s time to take the next steps toward finding a position you truly love.

9 steps to say “I love my job”

1. find a purposeful mission.

Let’s be honest: you’ll always struggle to love your job if you don’t believe in the work you’re doing — at least to some extent. You don’t have to decorate your car with branded stickers or fly the company flag from the roof of your house, but you should feel that your work has a genuine purpose and that you’re making a change in the world in a way that makes you feel proud. 

If you’re not sure yet, try reading our guide to answering that pesky question “What should I do with my life?”

2. Look for a challenge

Everybody enjoys the occasional quiet, easy day — only a couple of new emails, an empty in-tray, and no long meetings. Too many, however, and life gets monotonous. It’s important to feel challenged and tested in your career, as overcoming obstacles is a major part of growth. 

There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction that comes from solving a complex puzzle, and with a career that offers the right level of challenge, you’ll be leaving the office with a smile on your face each day.

3. Ensure there’s room for progression

To feel satisfied in your career, it’s crucial to feel you’re heading somewhere. If opportunities for advancement are zero — no possibility of promotion, no skill-boosting seminars, no training days — then not only will you feel frustrated and stagnant, but the business may soon lose momentum as a whole. 

Instead, find somewhere with the space to flourish, a clear route of progression, and open-minded leaders who want to see you advance.

4. Check how impactful the work is

When you’re interviewing for jobs, try to discern from the interviewer how much of an impact your work will have on the business as a whole. 

Will you be making meaningful decisions? Or will your work be left unseen in some distant, gloomy corner (metaphorical or otherwise)? 

A key factor in job satisfaction is creating impactful work, and directly witnessing the impact of said work. Even something as small as receiving a mention in the monthly company newsletter can make all the difference. Nobody wants to feel like a tiny part of an incomprehensible machine.

5. Be mindful of your work-life balance 

It’s easy to get sucked into the mindset of working every spare minute, particularly when you’re new in a role and are determined to make a positive impression.

Too many late nights and early mornings, however, can lead to a lack of sleep, thereby increasing stress , and in turn leading to even less sleep and even more stress.

Yes, there are times in every business when a little extra is required from employees, but a company must respect the work-life balance of its employees, not bury them beneath a mountain of unpaid overtime. 

Listen for hints that this might be the case during the interviewing process, and read reviews on sites like Glassdoor to discern whether a company is considerate of its employees’ home lives.

6. Think flexible

The standard nine-to-five is on its way out. If you’re looking to yell “I love my job” from the rooftops, flexible working is a crucial component to look out for during your job search. 

This could mean flexible working hours, remote or hybrid working options, or a good amount of paid holiday. All of these benefits give you the option to work in a way that suits you, giving you time to thrive outside and inside the workplace. 

It’s mutually beneficial: flexible working attracts top talent, makes employees happier, and has been proven to increase productivity.

7. Ask for a fair salary

If you’ve put years into studying, growing, and honing your abilities, don’t undersell yourself! 

Even a fun, fulfilling job can start to feel pointless if the remuneration is far below what you’re worth. While it can definitely sometimes be worth taking a pay cut if it means you’re able to break into an industry you’ve been wanting to, in the long run, fair pay means you’ll be able to work your dream job without the stress of wondering whether bills are getting paid. 

And a little security can work wonders for overall happiness.

8. Find a company with a positive work culture

Company culture starts with the CEO and flows down. You’ll be able to sense whether a company has a positive (or not-so-positive) culture early on—sometimes, as early as the interview process. 

Is the HR department warm and open to chat, or do they have little interest in pleasantries and putting you at ease? If the latter, it’s probably fair to assume things won’t improve much when you’re hired. So seek better!

A rich company culture can mean many things.

It might mean a creative, inspiring office space. It could mean team-building activities. It might mean yoga classes, skills workshops, or engaging company all-hands meetings once a week. It might simply mean a lot of laughter during the working day. 

You’ll know it when you find it—because you’ll feel at home.

9. Find a leader who sets goals and listens

Good management can be a huge factor in career fulfillment. If you’re being micromanaged, given unreachable targets, or if all your ideas are ignored, it’s unlikely you’ll feel like sticking around. 

For true job satisfaction and that blissful “I love my job!” feeling, seek out a company where the management sets clear, measurable goals that are challenging yet achievable. 

Further, seek out a company where your voice is heard, and your expertise is both listened to and appreciated. This is what good leadership looks like.

How to say “I love my job”: Key takeaways

Consider this list as a series of suggestions, rather than absolute requirements. 

We haven’t written them in order of importance—that’s down to you to decide. We’re giving you a rundown on things you should try to consider. 

Of course, in reality, everybody’s vision of perfect career happiness looks a little different. You might prefer less flexibility and rigid, tight deadlines to help keep you motivated, or you might like strict hierarchies that give you a concrete sense of where you stand within the company.

You might not want any kind of challenge in your career, you might passionately hate work socials, or your only concern might be finding a job that’s future-proof.

All of that is perfectly fine. Finding your dream job—the one that gets you all excited to go to work in the morning—isn’t about following a set formula as much as it’s about being aware of what’s out there, and what suits you.  

Why not begin now? Make a list of your priorities, using this article to help you, and see where it takes you. This could be the moment you’ve been waiting for. If you’re unsure what you might be best suited to, try our free job career quiz .

If you’d like to learn more about switching up your career, these articles are packed with information to help you:

• “What Should I Do With My Life?” 15 Questions to Find Your Path
• “I Hate My Job”: What To Do Next
• 5 Ways to Prepare for a Major Career Change
• How To Successfully Change Careers in 2024: Your Step-by-Step Guide

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• Interview Questions

How To Describe Your Current Job Duties (With Examples)

• How To Answer Tell Me About Yourself?
• Elevator Pitch
• Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?
• What Are Your Career Goals?
• When Can You Start?
• How Do You Define Success?
• Describe Your Work Ethic
• Where Are Your Current Duties?
• What Are Your Learning Goals?
• Intrinsic Vs Extrinsic Motivation
• What Is Your Desired Salary?
• What Makes You Unique?
• Why Are You The Best Person For This Job?
• Reasons For Termination
• What Are Your Work Values
• How To Make A Hard Decision?
• What Are You Most Proud Of?
• Personal Code Of Ethics
• Problem Solving Interview Questions
• Taking Initiative Example
• How Do You Prioritize Your Work
• Explain Gaps In Employment
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• Tell Me About A Time When You Made A Mistake On The Job
• Tell Me About Gaps In Employment
• What Are You Passionate About
• What Skills Would You Bring To The Job
• Who Is Your Mentor?
• How To Answer Tell Me About A Time You Disagreed With Your Boss
• How To Answer Common Screening Questions

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Summary. When answering “describe your current job duties” you should match your qualifications to the new job’s duties, focus on how you create value for the company, and provide examples in your answer. Avoid giving too much detail about your current responsibilities and mentioning anything you don’t do.

When the interviewer asks “tell me about your current job duties?” it should be an easy answer since you do it every day, right?

It can be tricky to know where exactly to start, what to focus on, and how to put it in terms that make sense to someone who isn’t totally familiar with your field or role.

We’ll cover exactly what interviewers are looking for in an answer, how to approach your job description, and a few sample answers to see all of our advice in action.

Key Takeaways:

They aren’t trying to give you a trick question, so take a deep breath.

Interviewers ask this because they want to know more about you how and how your skills apply to their needs.

Preparing for this answer can help ease the stress of an interview a little bit more.

How to Answer “Describe Your Current Job Duties”

Example answers to “describe your current job duties”, why interviewers ask about your current job, tips to answer “describe your current job duties”, common mistakes when describing job duties, describing your current job duties faq, final thoughts.

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This is a common interview question that interviewers ask to see if you are qualified for the position or not.

In general, don’t worry about convincing the interviewer that you were truthful on your resume. If you can address the other two main concerns with details and examples, it won’t be an issue.

As with many things in life, preparation is crucial . Consider the following principles when preparing an answer, and you’ll likely impress:

Match your qualifications to the new job’s duties. Before you walk into the interview room, make sure you remember the key responsibilities from the job posting.

When asked to describe your current duties, don’t simply list them off. Identify which are relevant to their needs and prioritize explaining those.

Understanding how companies create job listings can give you insight into the major qualities they’re seeking.

If the role lists excellent management skills as a requirement, then mention events you’ve planned or teams you’ve managed.

Focus on how you create value for the company. When mentioning your skills or job responsibilities, always include how they’ve brought actual value to the company.

For example, if you’re a software engineer , don’t say, “at my job, I write programs in Java and Python. Instead, say, “I leverage my extensive Java experience to develop solutions that increase efficiency, reduce costs, and fulfill business requirements for my company.

Be conversational rather than giving a list. The interviewer doesn’t want to hear a list of bullet points; they could review your resume for that.

This doesn’t mean you should tell a winding story that wastes time, just to be conversational.

Don’t be too granular in detail. Depending on the company, the interviewer may be a human-resources manager with only a basic understanding of the job title.

Giving off a long list of your skills and duties will likely just confuse and distract from what they’re looking to hear.

For example, suppose the job requires knowledge of specific software tools. Only list those tools specifically or ones you think may be related. Otherwise, your words pass as jargon through the interviewer’s ears.

Note: It’s essential to understand if the company culture is a fit for you , but ask that question later. Don’t try to explain how you match their culture in your answer here.

When reading through these examples, take note of how the main principles are used:

Focus on value

Match your duties to the job

Be conversational rather than making a list

Don’t be too granular in detail

Web Developer Example:

Sample key skills in job listing: Excellent troubleshooting skills Improvement-oriented attitude Ability to work well with others “As a web developer , I maintain the company’s website to function properly for all users and clients. Employees report to me with any issues on the website, and I use my programming skills to resolve them quickly. I am continually analyzing user feedback and website performance to provide regular updates and upgrades. I am also extremely communicative and easy to collaborate with. I work closely with our creative team to ensure my back-end design matches well with their front-end design.

Administrative Support Example:

Sample key skills in job listing: Strong office management skills Excellent verbal communication skills in dealing with clients and assisting co-workers Data-entry and ability to maintain detailed records “As administrative support for the company’s VP, I efficiently organize their schedule so they can effectively steer the team. I do this by maintaining detailed records, paying close attention to events they need to attend, and clearly communicating any time conflicts with them. I also assist client and co-worker calls in a clear and friendly manner. I saw that data entry was an important skill you’re looking for. I’m extremely experienced in Microsoft Excel and use my skills to create concise reports that summarize important metrics to my manager.”

Marketing Coordinator Example:

Sample key skills in job listing: Social media competency Understands how to build brand awareness Strong research skills to build targeted campaigns “As a marketing coordinator , I’ve used my skills to build a strong online presence that has expanded brand awareness among the company’s target audience. I did this by researching the trends and interests of our target audiences. I also studied marketing strategies from competing firms to refine our edge. I then incorporated this into a social media advertising campaign that successfully reached the target audience and increased our conversion rates by 30% over four months.”

Sales Representative Example:

Sample key skills in job listing: Exceptional interpersonal skills Highly self-motivated Ability to meet and exceed sales quotas “As a sales representative , I’ve used my interpersonal skills to drive high volumes of yearly sales for my company. On a day-to-day basis, I communicate with clients in a friendly and conversational manner. I listen closely to their needs and use my knowledge of our products to steer them towards a correct purchase. I’ve been able to exceed sales quotas by 20% consistently. I attribute this to my drive to work hard and continuously hone my skills.”

High School Teacher Example:

Sample key skills in job listing: Excellent communication skills and a friendly personality Experience and knowledge in the subject area of the class Able to connect with students, keep them engaged in learning, and personalize lessons “As a teacher , I’ve used my passion and experience to create welcoming learning environments that kids really engage with. My students have told me personally that they have tons of fun learning in my class. I’ve seen drastic improvements in test scores and class engagement since I first started. I do this by taking the time to understand every student’s needs and making an effort to create fun assignments and learning materials. In addition, I have a diploma in mathematics and several years of tutoring the subject.”

Construction Supervisor Example:

Sample key skills in job listing: Knowledge of all types of tools and the ability to operate machinery Able to interact with subcontractors and customers with respect Demonstratable skill in organizing a team “As a construction supervisor , I oversee a team of six that operates in residential construction. I listen closely to customers to understand their requirements and then communicate these effectively to my immediate team and our subcontractors. I listen closely to any issues my team has and frequently operate all types of tools myself to help get the job done. By efficiently scheduling and organizing my team according to their strengths and weakness, we have never missed a deadline and have always exceeded customer requirements.”

Notice how each major element of the job listing was incorporated conversationally in each of the above answers.

They did this through examples of actual results, which showed how they provided value.

For example, “ability to meet and exceed sales quotas” is answered by “I’ve been able to exceed sales quotas by 20%.”

Interviewers could simply read your job duties from your resume or, even easier, Google your job-description. So why do they bother asking you to describe your duties?

It’s not a trick question, but there are a few key things they want to hear. Learn what these are, and you’ll be at an advantage before you’ve stepped into the room.

When recruiters ask you to describe your job duties, they really want to know:

Whether you’ve lied on your resume . It’s easy for people to add jargon and fluff to a resume . This unravels when they’re asked to explain in conversation.

What actual value you can provide. Resumes tell interviewers your skills and tasks, but they want to hear about results.

Whether your skills transfer to their needs. This one seems obvious, but interviewees often list off impressive skills that the interviewer simply doesn’t care about.

There’s a specific set of duties they’re looking to fill. You may be a skilled candidate , but you won’t get hired if those skills aren’t a close enough match.

There are plenty of other reasons interviewers ask this question, like getting a glimpse into your personality. However, these are the main ones.

Think about how you help people. This tip works just as well for casual conversation as it does for a job interview. Reframing your job duties in a way that describes how you make people’s lives easier or better is incredibly valuable (not to mention personally reaffirming).

Research your interviewer. This tip matters for every interview question , but especially for ones that get at the heart of your job responsibilities. As we’ve mentioned a few times now, an HR rep should get a different answer than someone who’s intimately familiar with your field and job responsibilities.

Use numbers. Numbers help contextualize your job duties for interviewers. For example, saying that you manage a team of six, respond to 20 client queries each day, and are on pace to increase store traffic by 13% year-over-year sounds a lot better than saying you’re a store manager who handles customer service and is responsible for increasing footfall.

Giving a laundry list. Interviewers already know the basic duties associated with various job titles. Part of what you’re being judged on is your ability to distill your job duties down to their most important elements, as you understand them.

Getting too detailed. The level of detail you get into with this question (and many others) depends on what the interviewer’s job is. If they’d be a direct supervisor , then you can get into the nitty-gritty, but it’s better to keep things simple with an HR rep.

Mentioning what you don’t do. Keep your answer entirely positive and focus on the set of duties you are responsible for. We know the urge to proactively cover up for a lack of experience, but there’s really no benefit to drawing the interviewer’s attention to a gap in your experience.

How do you answer what you do in your current role?

When answering questions about your current role, focus on the tasks and responsibilities that you do that match the job description. This shows the interviewer that you have the experience and qualifications necessary for the position. You should also list your accomplishments to help support your qualifications.

How do you describe your skills and experience?

When describing your experience and skills, make sure you use strong words and action words. When using action words in a resume you should choose the correct phrase that helps enhance your skill set and experiences. Make sure you are using the present tense when describing your responsibilities at a current job and past tense for previous jobs.

What are professional skills?

Professional skills are the abilities that you use in a workplace or professional environment that help you do the job. These can be a combination of hard skills and soft skills. Most professional skills are transferable skills and can be used in different jobs.

Interview preparation involves many other things , but now you know how to answer one of the most common and dreaded questions at least.

Your dream job may not have been listed above, but just keep in mind the four main principles and use our examples to guide you along. You’ll be sure to impress.

Prepare hard and good luck!

Harvard.edu – Resume Guide

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Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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• Job Interviews

Job Responsibilities Examples (to Use for Job Interviews)

Our customers have been hired by:

“Can you describe your current job responsibilities ? Please, provide examples.”

Interviews are stressful for most people, but how difficult can that question be, really? After all, you know your job duties top to bottom, don’t you?

“Can you describe your current work responsibilities?” seems like a question you can’t get wrong. But, there are right answers, and there are AWESOME answers. And only an awesome answer will ensure the interviewer won’t want to hire anyone else.

This article will show you:

• What job responsibilities are.
• What the interviewer is asking when they say, “Describe your current position.” 
• How to blow the interviewer’s mind when you describe your job responsibilities.
• Examples and samples of the best answers for describing your current position.

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Why Would You Need to Describe Your Current Job Responsibilities?

It's a reasonable question. The hiring manager has read your resume right? But before we answer it let's take a look at another question.

What are job responsibilities?

Job responsibilities  are what an organization uses to describe the work and functions that an employee needs to perform in a particular role.

And back to the first question, yes, the hiring manager has read your resume. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be preparing for an interview. But there are a couple of reasons an interviewer might still ask you to briefly describe your current position. 

• They want to know that you weren’t lying on your resume about your job responsibilities.
• They want to check if your job responsibilities overlap with the role on offer.
• They want to put you at ease. Let’s face it. It’s an easy question.
• They want you to expand on the points that you included in your resume.

Okay, so let’s say you sent a resume that was off the charts. You used a beautiful resume template. You followed all the best career advice you could find. 

To top it all off, you just so happen to be the most talented candidate that applied for the job. You may not know it yet, but your skills and experience blew everyone else out of the water.

The hiring manager is thrilled. But she has her reservations. She needs to pinch herself and make sure you’re not too good to be true. So, she asks you to briefly describe your current position.

Now, you’ve never lied on your resume. You’ve never inflated your skills. You’ve never made up numbers to illustrate your achievements or exaggerated your job responsibilities. 

But there are those out there who do. 

So, how do you reassure the interviewer that your resume is pure gold?

What you want to achieve with your answer is a balance. 

It’s safe to assume that the interviewer is familiar with your resume experience section.

At the same time, you will want to go into greater detail about some of the things you have already included. 

Remember that you want to keep your answer brief. 

So, don’t linger on your resume achievements. 

The end goal is to paint a clear and compelling picture of what is that you do at your current or most recent job.

Keep in mind that the interviewer might phrase the interview question in a different way. 

Here are some alternatives to the “could you describe your current position” question:

• How would you describe your current employer?

Okay, not quite the same question. But you can answer it in a similar way to pass an interview . 

Instead of starting with your job responsibilities, explain what your employer does. You can also mention the work culture. Draw on similarities between the two companies. 

Then briefly describe how your current position fits into the scheme of things.

For example:

Sample description of your current employer:

My current employer is a mid-range retail chain that is a standard fixture in most malls. That means that we are a well-known brand and get a lot of foot traffic. That also means that most of the customers don’t want help. They either know what they want, or they’re browsing. 

Sample transition to a description of your current role:

In my current position as a Sales Associate, one of my job responsibilities is to push new arrivals. Our target demographic is young, trendy women. So, to get customers to buy the more expensive items, I’ve developed a system. I put a couple of special pieces on hold. I target the big spender regulars, our “it” girls. And then I personalize the items on hold by putting their names on the hangers. How do I know when these girls will come in to shop? I don’t. I have their names on index cards. When they come in, we mark the held items for that girl. The trick resulted in a 70% uptick in sales for new arrival items and a management position for me.

Pro Tip: Sometimes the interviewer will ask a direct question about your current job title , role or responsibility. So, it’s best to practice what you might say about any of the bullet points you included in your experience section.  

For example, “It says here that you’re in charge of a team of 15+ people? Could you tell me more about that?”

Also, keep in mind that you might have to describe other jobs.

Want to know how to select professional achievements for both your resume and interview? Read our guide: “ Achievements to Put on Resume - Complete Guide (+30 Examples) ” 

Join other members in mastering the know-how behind the pre-interview stage. Use the practice set tailored to your experience level and find out what to improve. You’ll feel instantly ready to nail your next interview.

Connect with interview coaches today. You’ll know you did a good job when you’re done.

2. How to Describe What Your Job Responsibilities During an Interview

Some of you might have a harder time preparing for this common interview question. For example, let’s say you’re a commodities trader or an astrophysicist. 

You might struggle to explain your job responsibilities or what you do during the day so that outsiders can understand. 

That’s especially true if your interviewer is an external recruiter or an HR staff member. They may somewhat understand the role, but they aren’t experts like you.

Here’s what to do in the situation where your work is a bit obscure:

Write down a description of your current job off the top of your head. Don’t think. Just write.

Now, do you notice any jargon? Do you see any complex words or phrases? Can you come up with simpler alternatives or layman’s terms? 

Now, imagine saying what you’ve written to someone at a party. They ask:

“So, what do you do?”

And you say what you’ve written down on your piece of paper. 

Does the person understand?

Or does the person nod, smile, and excuse themselves? 

Try to simplify your job overview so that most people would find it understandable. 

Next, you’re going to tailor your answer to the position.

Go back to the original job description. Look for matching duties and job responsibilities. 

Are there any that you’ve already mentioned? Are there any that you can illustrate with achievements and success stories? Narrow it down to two or three.

Finally, you’re going to use the STAR method  to focus on the results.

Okay, so you have your list of current job responsibilities that match those you found on the job offer. And you’ve picked two or three that show off your skill set and come paired with a success story. 

The STAR method helps you remember how to talk about your accomplishments.

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result:

Situation   - You start by explaining a situation which required you to solve a problem, use a skill, or come up with a new idea. 

Task - Next, you explain the action that your job requires in such a situation. 

Action - After, you describe the action that you took. If it’s different than the required task, you should also explain why you chose a different path. 

Result - What happened in the end? How did the situation play out once you acted? It’s best here to illustrate successes with numbers and details if you can. Numbers help reinforce the impact that your action had.

Here’s an example of how to describe your current position using the STAR method:

Situation:  I am currently a  flight attendant  with a major airline. I assist on longer trips down to New Zealand and Australia. That’s why one of my key job responsibilities is to reassure passengers. On most flights, I check in with nervous passengers. I also serve food and drink and assist passengers with special needs. On longer flights, I have to use a unique skill set.

Task:  That’s because passengers can become distressed, restless, or upset. It’s my responsibility to keep them calm and comfortable. Listening is the key. 

Action:  I use a soothing voice and active listening skills. I also try to find quick and easy solutions to soothe them. I am discreet about following up with other disturbed passengers. I am often called upon to help soothe young children, as I am the oldest in a family of five. 

Result:  I have yet to observe an incident on a flight that evolves into an emergency situation. My team and I place emphasis on passenger comfort and care. Because of this, we get consistent positive feedback from passengers. 

Pro Tip: You might want to go into detail about some of the job responsibilities you’ve put on your resume. But don’t use your resume like a script. 

Hiring managers ask you to briefly describe your current position because they want to put you at ease. Once you’re relaxed, they want to see if you’ll say anything that indicates you’re a good employee. 

What they aren’t asking is for you to brief them on your resume. So, while you may refer to some of your strengths from your resume, also keep in mind that you can go off script. 

Tailoring your answers for a job interview is a lot like tailoring your resume. Find out how: 6 Proven Tips on How to Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description  and also check out all our other Interview Tips & Advice .

3. Examples of “Describe Your Current Position” Best Answers

So, what does the best answer look like for the “can you describe your current position” interview question?

Here’s an example of a job offer for a cocktail server: 

Pro Tip: Keep it brief. One thing you don’t want to do is rattle off a laundry list of job responsibilities. 

The hiring manager wants to know more about that accomplishment from your resume and less about all the boring things you do. 

You know the accomplishment that shows you’re a whiz at optimizing filing systems? Such a wonderful whiz that you increased office productivity by 25%? That’s what you should mention.

Now that you’ve aced your interview, what’s next? Time to send a thank you email to the interviewer. Here’s how: “ How to Write a Thank You Email After an Interview(+10 Examples) ”

Bonus: Download FREE step-by-step checklist of things to do before an interview. “Things You Need To Do Before Your Big Interview.”

Getting ready for an interview? That’s great! How about finding even more opportunities? The best way to apply is with a resume created in our auto-fill resume builder . Attach a professional cover letter from our cover letter builder to create an irresistible duo.

Make a resume template and a cover letter template work together, and get ready for your incoming interviews!

Key Takeaway

Answering the “can you describe your current position” question sounds like a piece of cake. But like all typical interview questions, it takes forethought, and it pays to prepare:

• Take a few minutes to think about what you want to say and what the interviewer might be asking.
• The hiring manager wants to know more about accomplishments from your resume, not the boring things you do. 
• Do that, and you can show up at your interview feeling prepared and at ease. 

Still not sure how to describe your current position during an interview? We can help! Leave us a comment, and we will help you pinpoint what job responsibilities to describe before the big day.

About Zety’s Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines . We’re committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

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