In our previous guide, we discovered the importance of researching the company you're interviewing with. It's just as important, however, to make sure you know how to talk about yourself.
Besides the request, "Tell me about yourself," the most common topic covered in an interview is some variation of, "Tell me about your strengths and weaknesses." The interviewer might bring this up in a variety of ways, including:
The questions may sound different, but the purpose is the same. The interviewer wants to know more about you as a professional and how you use your skills to deal with problems in the workplace. There is a right way and wrong way to answer these questions, and the way you answer will have an impact on your overall success.
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All too often, there is confusion about the correct way to talk about your strengths. When talking about your strengths, here are a list of things that you should and should not do:
Speaking honestly about your strengths will go a long way in gaining the trust of your interviewer. If you're not an organized person, don't list it as one of your strengths. Often, interviewers will be able to tell that you're lying. Even worse, you might get the job and find yourself unsuited for the work.
Interviewers will look for candidates who know what their strengths are and know how these strengths can help their team succeed. An unprepared candidate will often provide a long-winded response. It's important to make sure your answers are relevant and concise.
When speaking about your strengths, take the time to figure out a past situation where you utilized your strength in the workplace. Chose an example that showcases your positive attributes while still being short and to the point. Don't ramble about your past experiences; have a specific example planned out.
Sometimes candidates are hesitant to talk about their strengths because they aren't comfortable with selling themselves or because they don't want to come off as bragging. However, it's vital that you are able to speak about yourself in an articulate and positive manner.
Conversely, some candidates will take a request like, "Tell me about your strengths" and use it as an excuse to pump up their ego. Being too arrogant can be off-putting, and interviewers will see it as a red flag. It can often give the impression that a candidate is not a team player and takes credit for the team's effort.
When candidates show up to an interview unprepared, they will often revert to answers they come up with on the spot. If you want to make a good impression during your interview, it's important that you take the time to think about what your strengths really are and how they set you apart from other potential candidates. If you are using a strength that anybody can use, you aren't going to stand out in an interview.
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."
- Albert Einstein
It can be difficult to figure out what your strengths are. Luckily, everybody has something they're good at! Follow these steps to identify your strengths:
If you're having difficulty identifying your strengths, brainstorming is a great exercise to get started. Think about tasks, projects, and activities that you enjoy. We usually enjoy doing things we're good at.
Note whether it's applicable to the job you're applying for. Out of these tasks, projects, or activities, make a list of potential strengths - aim for between 7-10.
It's okay if the strengths don't seem particularly great to you. What's more important is that you get your creative juices flowing. Seeing things physically on paper can often help you think of things you might normally miss.
Looking back at past successes can give you clues as to what your strengths are. You might not think you're a good speaker, but if you got a lot of compliments when you gave a presentation at the last staff meeting, you may have a strength you didn't even know about!
If you're having difficulty coming up with something, take a look at your last performance evaluation! Was there ever a time a customer left you a positive review? Does your supervisor always make note of how organized you are? Looking through official records about your work history can help you learn a lot about your strengths.
Now write down 4 or 5 of your best past successes. Once you have them, start analyzing! Do they have anything in common with each other? If all 5 of your past successes focus on how much of a people person you are, that is likely a great strength for you to present during an interview.
Sometimes it can be difficult to identify your own strengths, especially if you don't have any official records to fall back on. That's when it helps to look within your network!
Supervisors, co-workers, and even friends can give you great feedback about what you're good at! Don't worry too much about only getting feedback from within your professional network. Talking to your personal friends or family can give you insight on strengths that your co-workers might never see in the workplace.
Asking for honest feedback about your strengths can help you gain a new perspective on what you're good at. It also has the added benefit of giving your self-confidence a boost!
When assessing your strengths, don't be afraid to get creative! Sometimes your strongest asset is the one you would never expect.
Now that you know how to assess your strengths, let's take a look at something else that's just as important - identifying your weaknesses. Sometimes, candidates will attempt to hide their failures because they think it will ruin their chances of getting the job. However, this is not the case. Nobody's perfect, and interviewers know that.
Rather than looking for the perfect candidate, interviewers look for candidates who can speak openly and honestly about their shortcomings and what they're doing to overcome them.
When talking about your weaknesses, here are a list of things that you should and should not do:
You'll notice a theme here - honesty is a big deal in interviews! This is especially true when talking about your weaknesses. Choosing a weakness that you actually have trouble with will help you come across as authentic during your interview and will also help you establish a better rapport with the interviewer.
When speaking about your weaknesses, it's a good idea to choose a weakness that won't be a huge handicap for the position you're applying for. If you are applying for a bookkeeper position, telling the interviewer you have trouble staying organized will not go over well. Choose a weakness that won't diminish your ability to do your job responsibilities. For the bookkeeper role, you could say you have trouble speaking in front of large crowds instead.
Once you've decided on a weakness, determine ways to show that you are actively working to overcome it. For instance, if your weakness is public speaking, you can tell the interviewer about how you decided to sign up for a speech seminar. This shows the interviewer that you are motivated and focused on growing and bettering yourself.
Lying about our weaknesses is one of the worst mistakes you can make in an interview. Interviewers will often be able to tell you're lying instantly. Worse, if you somehow manage to fool them and you do end up getting the job, it will show when you begin working.
Some candidates will try to pass off a strength as a weakness, saying things like, "I'm a perfectionist," or "I'm a workaholic." Interviewers recognize these immediately as fake weaknesses, and you will come across as sneaky or worse, dishonest.
While it's important to be honest about your weaknesses, you don't want to choose a weakness that will raise a red flag for the interviewer. For example, telling the interviewer you have trouble meeting company deadlines is probably not a good idea.
Now that you know how to talk about your weaknesses, let's work on how to assess them.
Think about your most stressful times at work. Was it that time your supervisor asked you to present to your executive team? Or that time you took on too many projects at once and were struggling to stay organized?
Write down as many of these past situations you can think of. We often get stressed when we are not suitably equipped to handle a situation. Looking at these past stressors can provide a goldmine of information.
For each of these past situations, ask yourself why you were stressed. For instance, were you stressed because you dreaded pitching to new clients? Then you may have a problem with public speaking.
Look at all the reasons you have listed. Do the same reasons appear more than once? If so, it is probably a legitimate weakness you struggle with.
Now take the weaknesses you've identified and look back at the Dos and Don'ts section of Identifying Your Weaknesses. Make sure the weakness you choose matches all the criteria listed.
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Sometimes, candidates have trouble recognizing their own weaknesses. When you only see things from your perspective, it can be difficult to recognize your own shortcomings.
Luckily, people within your network are often very receptive toward providing constructive criticism. Make sure to convey that you will be open-minded and appreciative of any feedback they can give you. You'll be surprised at the amount of helpful criticism you'll get!
What many people don't realize is that their strengths and weaknesses are transitional from different positions and even different industries. It is easy to think that because you only have experience in one industry, that it will not carry over to another. When identifying these transitional skills, there are several things to keep in mind.
When it comes to strengths and weaknesses, candidates often have more going for them than they realize. It’s just a matter of identifying the right traits and then articulating them in a positive manner!
Now that you know how to how to utilize your strengths and weaknesses to your advantage, be sure to check out the accompanying Strengths & Weaknesses Worksheet.
Also, stay tuned for the next part of our exclusive training program: