If you are looking for a new job, it is very important to be prepared for the job interviews you are going to face. During these interviews, you probably will be asked to talk about your previous experience in projects that are relevant to the position you are applying to.

Hence, the question: How should you describe your previous experience? What are the aspects that you should emphasize?

In my opinion you should talk about:

• The project itself
• The role you had in this particular project

Regarding the project, you should explain why it was:

• Important
• Interesting
• Challenging

Regarding your role in the project, you should explain your:

• Contribution
• Achievements
• Growth

Let’s discuss each one of these items in more detail below.

Aspects Related to the Project

Important

Why was this project important? Here you should explain that this was not just another project. Perhaps it was a project for the biggest customer, or for a new customer. Perhaps it would enable your company to enter a new market, or to reach a new segment of users. A project is important when it is creating new opportunities. The fact that you were chosen to participate in such a project tells something about your abilities.

Interesting

Why was this project interesting? Here you should explain that there was something special about this project. Perhaps you would be the first to try a new technology. Perhaps the project required innovative approaches, or the exploration of new strategies. A project is interesting when it requires imagination and creativity. The fact that you participated in such a project may mean that you have a unique experience.

Challenging

Why was this project challenging? Here you should explain that this project was not trivial, that it had some difficult aspects. Perhaps you had to work with very limited resources, or with many constraints. Perhaps there were special regulations, or the customer had very unique requirements. A project is challenging when it requires sophisticated, non-standard solutions. The fact that you were able to overcome these challenges is a special achievement.

Aspects Related to your Role in the Project

Contribution

What was your personal and individual contribution to this project? What was your role, your authority and your responsibility? Perhaps you lead a team, or were responsible for coordinating efforts with other departments in the company?  Perhaps you had to implement a specific component, or design a new interface? Your contribution in this project is a reference to the responsibilities you may undertake in your new job.

Achievements

What were your main achievements in this project? Here you focus not on what you did or how you did it, but you describe the results. So for example you can say that you increased the profit and reduced the costs. Perhaps you were responsible for improving the efficiency of a system or for defining a new process. Your achievements should indicate that you delivered results above the expectations, that you overperformed.

Growth

How did you grow as a consequence of this project? What was the impact in your professional career? Perhaps you were promoted, or perhaps you got more responsibilities? What did you learn in this project? How did you expand your knowledge and your experience? Did you acquire new skills? The successful execution of a project should always have a positive impact on the professionals that executed the project.

In Summary

When doing job interviews, you certainly will be asked to describe previous projects.

Regarding the project, you should explain why it was:

• Important
• Interesting
• Challenging

Regarding your role in the project, you should explain your:

• Contribution
• Achievements
• Growth

Good luck! Please feel free to share your experience in the comments below.