What they are really asking

This question comes in many versions. "In your last job, how much of your time went on managing people?" "What part of your week involved customers?" "What share of your week was hands-on work?" The interviewer picks the activity that matters most in their role, and asks how much of it you actually did. A job title can say "manager"; the percentage tells them whether you really managed.

So be honest and specific. Rough numbers are fine, and they're more believable than perfect ones: "about half," "maybe twenty percent." If the activity they ask about was a small part of your job, say so, and then say where you did get that experience or how the rest of your work prepared you for it.

A shape that works

Numbers, example, link. Give a rough split in one or two sentences. Then describe a typical week or day with one or two concrete examples. Finish by linking the split to the new job: you're ready for more of one part, or you've done a lot of what they need.

Model answers

Listen to how each answer is built, then make it yours.

Answer 1: an account manager in São Paulo
Answer 2: a team lead in Shanghai
Answer 3: a nurse in New York

Check yourself

1Why do interviewers ask how you divided your time?
2The interviewer asks about an activity that was a small part of your job. What should you do?

Practice · 3 min

Pick the activity that matters most in the job you want, like managing people, working with customers or hands-on technical work. Write how much of your time went on it in your last role, with a rough number, one example of a typical week, and one link to the new job. Record your answer and check that you used "about" or "I'd say."

Your recording stays on this device. Nothing is uploaded.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.