How to Ace “Walk Me Through Your CV” in Your PM Interview

Learn how to confidently answer “Walk me through your CV” and stand out in your next PM interview with this proven structure.

Picture this: you’re sitting in a PM interview, and they hit you with, “Walk me through your CV.” Your palms are a little sweaty, your mind races where do you start? How much do you say? And how do you make it sound like more than just a list of jobs?

You’re not alone. This question trips up a lot of people, not because it’s tricky, but because it’s open-ended. The good news? There’s a simple structure that helps you sound confident, clear, and completely in control of your story.

Let’s break it down together.

Start With Your Current Role

A lot of people make the mistake of going back to the beginning of their career. Don’t. The interviewer isn’t looking for your life story. They want to know if your most recent experience matches what they need. So always start with your current or most recent role. For example, you might say: “Thanks for asking. I’ll start with my current role. I’m a Project Manager leading three software projects with a combined budget of £2 million. I manage everything from scoping to delivery, working closely with cross-functional teams.” This immediately positions you as someone who’s active, relevant, and capable.

Work Backwards (But Briefly)

Once you’ve covered your current role, move backwards – chronologically. The key here is to give less time to older roles. For each, share what’s relevant, then move on.

Think of it like telling someone how you got here not reciting your CV word for word. Focus on wins and transferable skills. Tailor your examples to match the job description whenever you can.

Make It About Them

Remember: the interviewer is trying to solve a problem. They have a role to fill, and they want to know if you fit. That’s it. So instead of treating this question like a history lesson, treat it like you’re pitching your value.

If the job calls for setting up a PMO, say something like:

“In my last role, I set up a PMO from scratch defined governance processes, trained project leads, and helped reduce project slippage by 25% within six months.”

Give them what they’re looking for. It’s all in the job spec use it as your cheat sheet.

Read the Room

Here’s the underrated skill no one talks about: know when to stop. If your interviewer looks like they’re zoning out, wrap it up. If they’re leaning in, feel free to go deeper.

One way to handle this is to say:

“Happy to go into more detail if needed just let me know.”

This keeps the conversation collaborative and shows that you’re self-aware.

Think Like a Client

One way I like to explain this is with a decorating analogy.

Imagine you’re hiring someone to redecorate your flat. You ask what kind of work they’ve done. They say, “Well, 15 years ago I painted a royal palace.” Impressive, sure. But what you really want to know is what have they done lately? And is it similar to your space?

Same thing with interviews. They want recent, relevant experience. Something they can see working in their world.

Structure Recap

Here’s a quick outline you can follow:

Start with your current or most recent role.
Work backwards, briefly touching on past roles.
Emphasize projects, results, and skills that align with the job.
Be ready to pause and ask if they want more detail.
End with a strong, relevant takeaway.

This question isn’t just about what you’ve done it’s about how you connect your story to the role you want.