Job responsibilities: how to describe your current roles [+examples] (2023)

"You mayDescribe your current professional responsibilities? Please give examples.”

Job interviews are stressful for most people, but how hard can they be?aquestion, really? After all, you know your job responsibilities inside out, don't you?

"Can you describe your current job responsibilities?" seems to be a question that should never be missed. But there are correct answers and AWESOME answers. And only a great answer guarantees that the interviewer will not want to hire anyone else.

This article will show you:

What are the professional obligations.
What the interviewer is asking when he says, "Describe your current position."
How to impress the interviewer when describing your job responsibilities.
Samples and examples of the best answers to describe your current position.

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Why should you describe your current job responsibilities?

It's a reasonable question. Did the hiring manager read your resume correctly? But before we answer that, let's look at another question.

What are professional duties?

job responsibilitiesThey are what an organization uses to describe the work and roles an employee is expected to perform in a specific role.

And back to the first question, yes, the hiring manager has read your resume. Otherwise, you wouldn't prepare for an interview. However, there are some reasons why an interviewer might still ask you to briefly describe your current position.

They want to know it wasn't youthey are on your resumeabout their professional responsibilities.
You want to verify that your job responsibilities overlap with the position you are being offered.
They want to calm you down. Let's be honest. It's a simple question.
They want you to expand on the points you put on your resume.

Okay, let's say you sent out an out-of-the-ordinary resume. You used a beautiful resume template. You took the best professional advice you could find.

To make matters worse, you are the most talented candidate to apply for the job. You may not know it yet, but your skills andexperienceknocked everyone else out of the water.

The HR manager is delighted. But she has her reservations. You need to pinch yourself and make sure it's not too good to be true. Therefore, he asks you to briefly describe your current position.

Well, you never lied on your resume. You never inflated your skills. He never dreamed up numbers to illustrate his accomplishments or overstated his job responsibilities.

But there are those who do.

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

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First, make a brief description of what you do. Briefly describe one or two of the most amazing roles on your resume. Then enter some details that don't fit on your resume.

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Ignore the accomplishments you list on your resume. Instead, decide on something you haven't already shared with the interviewer.

What you are trying to achieve with your answer is a balance.

It is assumed that the interviewer is familiar with the experience section of your resume.

At the same time, you want to delve into some of the stuff you've already recorded.

Remember, you want your answer to be brief.

So don't stop at your achievements on your resume.

The ultimate goal is to paint aclear and attractive imageyour current or last job

Keep in mind that the interviewer may phrase the interview question differently.

Here are some alternatives to the question "Can you describe your current position?":

How would you describe your current employer?

Well, it's not exactly the same question. But you can answer in a similar way.

Rather than starting with your job responsibilities, explain what your employer does. The work culture can also be mentioned. Take advantage of the similarities between the two companies.

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

For example:

Example description of your current employer:

My current employer is a mid-sized retail chain that is standard in most malls. This means that we are a well-known brand and welcome many customers without an appointment. It also means that most customers don't want help. Either they know what they want or they surf.

Example of moving to a description of your current role:

In my current role as a Sales Associate, one of my responsibilities is to nurture newcomers. Our target group is young and modern women. In order for customers to buy the most expensive items, I developed a system. I put some special parts on hold. I'm targeting the well-heeled crowd, our "It" girls. And then I personalize the queue items by putting their names on the hangers. How do I know when these shopping girls are coming? I don't have their names on cards. When they come in, we'll mark the items in store for that girl. The hack resulted in a 70% increase in newcomer sales and a leadership position for me.

Pro tip:Sometimes the interviewer will ask a direct question.Your current position, function or responsibility. So it's best to practice what you say on the points you've included in your experience section.

For example: "It says here that you are responsible for a team of more than 15 people? Can you tell me more about that?"

Also note that you may need to describe other jobs.

Wondering how to select career accomplishments for both your resume and interview? Read our guide: “Resume Achievements - Complete Guide (+30 examples)”

When creating a resume in our builder, drag and drop markers,work skillsand automatically fill in the boring stuff. Spell Checker?To verify. Start building aprofessional resume template here for free.

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This is how you describe your job duties during a job interview

Some of you may find it more difficult to prepare for this common interview question. For example, let's say you're a commodity trader or an astrophysicist.

You may find it difficult to explain your job duties or daily responsibilities in a way that strangers can understand.

This is especially true if your contact is an external recruiter or an employee in the human resources department. They may have some understanding of the role, but they're not experts like you.

Here's what to do if your work isn't clear:

Spontaneously write a description of your current job. Don't think, just write.

Do you notice any jargon now? Do you see complex words or sentences? Can you think of simpler alternatives or simpler terms?

Now imagine telling someone at a party what you wrote. They asked:

"So, what are you doing?"

And you say what you wrote in your note.

Does the person understand?

Or does the person nod, smile, and apologize?

Try to simplify your work overview in a way that most people can understand.

Then adapt your answer to the position.

Go back to the original job description. Look for job roles and corresponding responsibilities.

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

You will eventually use those STAR methodfocus on results.

Okay, so you have your list of current job responsibilities that match what you found in the job listing. And you've chosen two or three that demonstrate your skills and come with a track record of success.

The STAR Method helps you remember how you talk about your achievements.

STAR meansSituation, task, action, result:

Era- You start by explaining a situation where you needed to solve a problem, use a skill or think of a new idea.

homework - Then explain the actions your job requires in such a situation.

action - Then describe the action you performed. If it's a different task than required, you should also explain why you chose a different path.

Result - What happened at the end? How did the situation develop after you took action? Illustrate the successes here with numbers and details if you can. Numbers help sustain the impact of your action.

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

Era:I am currently aFlight attendantwith a major airline. I help with longer trips to New Zealand and Australia. Therefore, one of my main tasks is to reassure passengers. On most flights, I check in with nervous passengers. I also serve food and drinks and serve passengers with special needs. On longer flights, I have to use a unique skill set.

Homework:This is because passengers may feel anxious, restless or upset. It's my responsibility to keep them calm and comfortable. Listening is key.

Action:I use a soft voice and active listening. I also try to find quick and easy solutions to calm them down. I'm discreet when it comes to following other passengers with problems. I am often asked to 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 became an emergency situation. My team and I value passenger comfort and care. For this reason, we always receive positive feedback from passengers.

Pro tip:You may want to go into detail about some of the job responsibilities you've listed on your resume. But don't use your resume as a script.

Hiring managers ask that you briefly describe your current position to reassure them. Once you're relaxed, you'll want to see if he says anything that suggests he's a good employee.

What they don't ask you to do is let them know about your resume. So while you can build on some of your resume strengths, also remember that you can stray from the script.

Customizing your interview responses is similar to customizing your resume. Discover how:6 proven tips for matching your resume to the job descriptionand check out all our others too.

Examples of Best Answers "Describe your current position."

So what's the best answer to the interview question "Can you describe your current position?"

Here is an example of a cocktail service job posting:

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Describe some areas of responsibility that you will fit into the job description. Choose tasks that reflect your strengths and show what you look like when you get results. My current position is a server at a catering company. We take care of evening dresses and cocktails for wealthy clients. This means that we must provide the highest level of service at all times. I have several years of experience in serving this type of event. One of the job requirements is "to guarantee a constant and high level of service at all times". Upon mentioning that this is part of her current role, the contestant adapted her answer. Now the interviewer knows there is overlapping job responsibilities. My professional responsibilities include providing personalized services. I also have to support other people with special projects if needed. At one event, for example, a guest had an allergic reaction to the flowers in the centerpieces. My manager asked me to run out in the middle of the event and buy a different type of flower. Host was busy so didn't have instructions on what to buy. I consulted the florist. I came back with flowers that were the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. They didn't spoil the aesthetics of the event either. The hostess was so pleased that she became a regular customer. Here the candidate applies the STAR method. It addresses some job posting responsibilities. I am also responsible for handling special requests and maintaining cleanliness standards. I have a great memory for wine pairings and extensive menus. I'm part of a team that keeps events rolling while remaining invisible.

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Describe some areas of responsibility that you will fit into the job description. Choose tasks that reflect your strengths and show what you look like when you get results.

My current position is a server at a catering company. We take care of evening dresses and cocktails for wealthy clients. This means that we must provide the highest level of service at all times. I have several years of experience in serving this type of event.

One of the job requirements is "to guarantee a constant and high level of service at all times". Upon mentioning that this is part of her current role, the contestant adapted her answer. Now the interviewer knows there is overlapping job responsibilities.

My professional responsibilities include providing personalized services. I also have to support other people with special projects if needed. At one event, for example, a guest had an allergic reaction to the flowers in the centerpieces. My manager asked me to run out in the middle of the event and buy a different type of flower. Host was busy so didn't have instructions on what to buy. I consulted the florist. I came back with flowers that were the least likely to cause an allergic reaction. They didn't spoil the aesthetics of the event either. The hostess was so pleased that she became a regular customer.

Here the candidate applies the STAR method. It addresses some job posting responsibilities.

I am also responsible for handling special requests and maintaining cleanliness standards. I have a great memory for wine pairings and extensive menus. I'm part of a team that keeps events rolling while remaining invisible.

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A list of all the tasks you do every day. In my current position as a dog walker, I walk the dogs. I give the dogs water. I take the dogs to the park for them to play. I throw sticks at the dog park. I sometimes throw balls or frisbees if the owner provides them. I pet the dogs. I clean up after the dogs. I do some discreet care. For example, I brush them when they stick sticks or thorns in their fur. I think that's all. Oh wait, I forgot! I pick up the dogs and take them home.

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A list of all the tasks you do every day.

In my current position as a dog walker, I walk the dogs. I give the dogs water. I take the dogs to the park for them to play. I throw sticks at the dog park. I sometimes throw balls or frisbees if the owner provides them. I pet the dogs. I clean up after the dogs. I do some discreet care. For example, I brush them when they stick sticks or thorns in their fur. I think that's all. Oh wait, I forgot! I pick up the dogs and take them home.

Pro tip:Keep it short One thing you don't want to do is rattle off a long list of job responsibilities.

The hiring manager wants to know more about that achievement on your resume and less about all the boring stuff you do.

You know that performance that shows you're a genius at file system optimization? Such a wonderful genius that it increased office productivity by 25%? You should mention this.

Now that you've passed the interview with flying colors, what's next? It's time to send a thank you email to the interviewer. That's how: "How to write a thank you email after a job interview (+10 examples)”

Prima:Download the FREE step-by-step pre-interview checklist."Things to do before your big interview."

Also, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an edge over other applicants. You can write on ours.Cover letter generator here.Can it be like this:

View moreCover letter templates and start writing.

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Answer the question "Can you describe your current position?" sounds like a no-brainer. But like all typical interview questions, it requires forethought and is worth preparing for:

Take a few minutes to think about what you want to say and what the interviewer might ask.
The hiring manager wants to know about the accomplishments on your resume, not the boring things you do.
If you do this, you can arrive at your interview prepared and relaxed.

Not sure how to describe your current position in an interview?We can help!Leave us a comment and we'll help you identify what work responsibilities you need to settle down before the big day.