How to Answer “Tell Me Something That Is Not in Your Resume”

You walk into the interview room, all set to dive deep into your resume, feeling confident and ready to showcase your skills and work experience. Then the interviewer throws you a curveball: “Tell me something that is not in your resume.” Here's where things can get tricky—even after all that preparation.

In the heat of wanting to stand out and impress the hiring manager, you might find yourself making a common mistake: sharing too much information or completely losing the plot and simply repeating what's already on your resume or cover letter.

Luckily, like many typical interview questions, this one also has a formula for crafting the best answer possible—without losing your personality and sounding robotic. Check out our guide and get one step closer to landing that job.

Why do recruiters ask this question?

Classic interview questions, as strange as they may seem, always serve a purpose. With “Tell me about something that is not in your resume” is no different. Recruiters typically ask this to gain insight into who you are beyond your qualifications. 

“They're often looking to uncover aspects of your personality, values, and interests that aren't visible on paper,” says Jessica Munday, co-founder and People and Culture Manager at Custom Neon. Here's what else they can gather from your response:

• Are you a good fit for the company? If you've been invited for an interview, you likely have the necessary skills to handle the day-to-day tasks of the role. However, recruiters also want to find employees who align with their company's culture and values.

• Are you prepared for the interview? A thoughtful response shows seriousness and genuine interest in the job position, while a weak response can signal to the recruiter that you didn't take the process seriously.

• Are you able to communicate effectively? When interviewers ask broad questions about you, they may be checking your communication skills. It's all about evaluating your ability to express yourself well and share the right information. 

• Are there any hidden strengths or weaknesses? When you tell something about yourself to the interviewer, it can help them uncover aspects that aren't necessarily related to the hard and soft skills evident from your resume or other interview responses.

In a nutshell, the idea is to possibly bring up some uniqueness—for better or worse—that separates you from the rest of the candidates. “They can determine your objectives and whether you possess qualities that align with the particular requirements of the function or the organization's values,” Munday says.

Answering “Tell me something that is not in your resume”

Every question you face in a job interview should be an opportunity to highlight your qualifications and stand out. Some questions, like this one, even allow you to add a bit of personality by mentioning interests or projects that wouldn't typically fit on your resume. 

Here's our guide to crafting the perfect response:

1. Choose relevant information

“Tell me something that is not mentioned in your resume” is not a code to “Tell anything about yourself that has nothing to do with this interview.” So, choose information that is relevant to this context. 

“The best way to respond to this question is to be sincere and methodically deliberate. Consider discussing personal projects or experiences that demonstrate your dedication to lifelong learning and development, or that highlight transferable skills related to the role you are applying for,” says Munday.

For example, it makes sense to share:

• A personal project: Something you can connect to a hard or soft skill relevant to the job. It could be a podcast you host with friends, a blog about a cause or subject you're passionate about, or a website you developed for fun.

• Volunteer experience: Volunteering can be incredibly rewarding and impactful in one's life. Even though it's not always resume-worthy, it certainly can be discussed during the interview. It demonstrates your values and may even highlight some transferable skills, like leadership and proactiveness, for example.

• Awards and recognitions: Do you have any notable awards or recognitions from past work experiences? If they're relevant to the field you're pursuing, this is the perfect moment to mention them. Seize the opportunity to highlight the work you've been recognized for and the qualities that have made you such a valued professional.

• Language proficiency: Speaking multiple languages can really set you apart, especially in companies with diverse teams or international operations. You could talk about your learning journey and the skills you've gained from it.

• Training and certifications: Sometimes it's impossible to squeeze all your training or certifications into a one-page resume. If you feel that one you've left out is relevant to the position you're applying for, bring it up and explain how it helped you grow as a professional.

2. Focus on the positive

No matter what you decide to share, always emphasize the professional and intellectual benefits of it. “Beyond the abilities listed on the resume, you should elaborate in your response on your work ethic, personality, and/or your soft skills,” Munday says.

If you choose to mention any challenges or hardships, be sure to tie your response with the solutions you came up with to overcome them. While we all have flaws and weaknesses—and recruiters are aware of this—they are more interested in hearing how you handle adversity and the lessons you've learned from it.

Take the example of a candidate Munday interviewed: “One standout answer came from a candidate who has her own side hustle, selling handmade pet bandanas, toys, and accessories. We valued that she had this experience as she had gained a number of transferable skills that would work perfectly for the role. This also showcased her work ethic and dedication, as she had created a successful business of her own.” 

3. Tie your answer to the job position

If every interview question is an opportunity to sell yourself (and it is), there's no better way to do it than by connecting your answers to the role you're applying for. (Here's how to read a job description the right way.)

Use this moment to indirectly reinforce to the interviewer why you're the best candidate by circling your response back to a relevant requirement for the position or a characteristic that the company is known for. 

For example, if the role requires creativity and an innovative spirit, mention how creating a podcast made you more creative and taught you how to take risks. This shows that you've prepared for the interview and understand what the company is seeking in an employee. 

4. Explain why it's not in your resume

This step is optional—unless the recruiter asks you directly why. But if you choose to do so, briefly explain why you left this information off of your resume. Just be strategic and avoid saying it wasn't relevant, as that raises the question of why mention it at all. Instead, mention that you preferred to optimize space by including information directly relevant to the job position.

5. Keep it brief and concise

It's easy to get carried away when talking about yourself and your achievements. However, your answer shouldn’t be too long. Choose just one topic to discuss, without oversharing or getting into too many details. Focus on giving information that adds value to the interview and strengthens your candidacy.

“Tell me something that is not in your resume”: What not to say

Don't mistake this question as a chance to talk about anything that comes to your mind. “Avoid discussing topics that are too personal or unrelated to the work at hand. Sharing something that could be seen as unprofessional or that contradicts the company's values might work against you,” says Munday.

Here's what you shouldn't bring up when answering “Tell me something that is not in your resume”:

• Experiences unrelated to the role: Skip any trivial or irrelevant information. Instead, focus on something that supports your candidacy.

• Too much personal information: Keep your response strictly professional—the interviewer doesn't need to hear about your deepest secrets or childhood hardships. 

• Information already on your resume: This one should go without saying, but avoid mentioning something that is already on your resume. Be mindful of redundancy.

• Controversial topics: Again, keep a professional tone during the interview. Don't bring up controversial topics, like politics and religion, that could cause tension or disagreement.

• Negative experiences: Another interview mistake is dwelling on a negative experience or a failure, even if it was a learning moment. Emphasize positive experiences. 

• Lies or exaggerations: Lying during a job interview is never a good idea. Most interviewers can sense when you're being insincere and may seek ways to verify the information. 

Keep in mind that being authentic and transparent is welcomed, but don't overdo it. “Recall that the goal is to enhance the recruiter's perception of your suitability for the role, not to divulge information that would call into question your professionalism or judgment,” Munday says.

“Tell me about something that is not in your resume”: Answer examples

With the above advice in mind, crafting a concise yet strong response should be easy. But if you want to see it in action, here are three sample answers to “Tell me something that is not in your resume”:

Example #1: Mentioning a personal project

“One experience I left out of my resume is that I run a blog about music. I love listening to new records in my free time and deep diving into the meaning behind music lyrics.

I decided to start the blog about five years ago to explore my passion and share my findings with my friends. However, it became more than that, as it helped me discover my passion for writing and editing.

This project has also helped me develop a deep understanding of SEO strategy, HTML, and tools like Google Search Console and Semrush.”

Example #2: Highlighting language proficiency

“In addition to my professional experience, I am proficient in Spanish and am currently learning French. As someone interested in learning about other cultures, I found that studying a new language was one of the best ways to do so.

Asides from enrolling in Spanish classes, I took a three-month trip to Spain in the summer of 2019, after finishing college. Learning a new language taught me a lot about communication, consistency, and discipline.

Now, it gives me the opportunity to work in diverse environments, communicating with clients and partners abroad. I also find it easy to read documents or manuals in Spanish and French and translate them for the team.”

Example #3: Emphasizing training and certifications

“I didn't include my screenwriting certification because this role appears to be more focused on video editing. However, I'm passionate about cinema and wanted to learn about this specific aspect of filmmaking.

For one year, I was enrolled in a screenwriting 101 course that provided a fundamental background on storytelling and all the steps of the writing process. 

I believe this experience has made me a more well-rounded video editor. Now, I can contribute to the content team by offering new ideas and perspectives on how we should tell the story.”