The definite way to define your

All interviews have to have a few denominator questions which by now you know. All potential employers must ask the dependable, go-to interview question: What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? Few weeks ago, we published articles separately about weaknesses and strengths but today we consolidate this into a compelling article that I will ask you to go through. This question is simple but it requires a complex answer. What employers are really asking is, "Prove to me that you'd bring value to this organization, and show me you're aware of and can learn from your mistakes."

In answering a question about strengths take the following into consideration:

Most job applicants confuse strengths with skills.

Skills are abilities that can be cultivated with a certain amount of training, such as facility with a software application.

Strengths are personal attributes that you may have been born with and cultivated over the course of many years and life experiences - perseverance in the face of adversity, for example, or a natural friendliness that makes meeting new people easy for you.

In responding to this question, do not trouble yourself but follow this guideline:

1.   Look over the job description in the advert: Make a list of the personal strengths that will probably be required for this job. Is this a position that requires handling large sums of money? Then the right candidate will be someone who's responsible, reliable, and ethical. If it's a customer care position, they'll be looking for someone who is personable, patient, and empathetic.

2.   Always think ahead: Ponder what personal strengths could be considered a plus for the job, and list those too. If the job description includes budget management, a thrifty nature could be a competitive advantage for a candidate.

3.   Think of an anecdote: For each of the personal strengths necessary for this position, think of an anecdote that illustrates your strength in this regard. That anecdote would help show you're thorough and responsible enough to handle fiscal responsibilities.

4.   Know yourself: Look over your list of personal strengths that might prove helpful in this job, and identify those you possess. Can you think of a story that demonstrates each of these personal strengths?  

In answering a question about weaknesses take the following into consideration:

Mistakes are common and err is to human. All of us have weaknesses but most candidates have a problem in answering this question. Nothing is more suspicious or less impressive than a flawless candidate. Hiring managers want candidates who have demonstrated an ability to learn and recover from mistakes. What's crucial is the ability to bounce back and not repeat the same ones. So how do you tell a story about making a mistake without losing your credibility, or leading your interviewer to wonder whether you'll make the same mistake again?

Here below are a few tips through which you can comfortably answer this question:

1.   Beware of too much information: Such stories are unnecessary and your prospective employer does not want to know everything. Stories like how you learned the hard way not to date your coworkers or the dangers of cocktails before board meetings are unnecessary. Save these stories for your friends they'll only make your interviewer worry about your judgment.

2.   Keep it work-related: It would be much better to tell the story to a financial planning firm of how you discovered how much more you enjoyed the client problem-solving aspects of website design than the actual coding. Then you'll be remembered as the multi-talented applicant who'd be a natural at helping clients find workable solutions.

3.   Make your interviewer your ally: If you're in the same line of work as your interviewer, chances are your interviewer has experienced some of the same trials you have and will appreciate your graceful handling of a familiar situation.

4.   Explain how the lesson learned relates to this position: If you say you learned that you really don't like elephants and the job you're applying for is in carpentry, that story seems bizarre. But if you learned that you didn't like working with elephants as much as you enjoyed building sets at the circus, this may actually be a helpful story to get you the job. In other words, be sure that lesson learned is relevant to the position you're interviewing for.

It is always advisable that you prepare your answers in advance because by this you'll have a much easier time articulately responding and not coming across as pompous or inadequate when employers ask the inevitable question.  

All of us are human beings and that should be in your mind before, during and after the interview. Honesty is the key here and by being honest about your strengths and weaknesses, you'll come off more wise and experienced.

Otherwise, all the best from us at HCC

More Jobs