How to Answer a Key Interview Question
Like many people you worked hard just to get invited to interview for this position, now make sure you are prepared when you go in to it! Interviewing is usually a series of questions an employer asks you to get an idea of your skill set, and a way for them to get to know your strengths and weaknesses.
They want to see if you are not just the right candidate for the job, but in this market they are looking for the best.
In almost any interview you can expect the question: Tell me about your strengths, and your weaknesses.
Now I am pretty sure everyone is OK ready and able to talk about their strengths, but how do you answer and expose your weakness? Some people take the approach and try to spin it by saying something like they are a perfectionist.
Only problem with that is it might actually be a weakness that can hinder your job performance, and now more the ever employers are seeing right through that and following up your reply asking you for something more.
Here is my advice to that question - always answer with something that is a trainable skill relating to the job and not a faulty trait in your personality.
For example if you were applying for a sales job in the cell phone industry and had to answer that question you might say something like "I feel like my biggest weakness is my lack of experience in your industry".
This is a great answer because it gets you through that question, and any employer is going to train you in their company and industry when they hire you.
Now, if you had answered this question by saying that you are too much of a perfectionist then that is not something an employer can help you with in their training.
In other words it is who you are and it is not a trainable skill they can just teach you.
As always remember to think of 2 - 3 alternate replies to some of the most common interviewing questions and practice them before you even walk in.
In the mean time if you are having difficulties finding full time employment then please consider looking for a part time job to get you through and help make ends meet.
Good luck with your interview!
They want to see if you are not just the right candidate for the job, but in this market they are looking for the best.
In almost any interview you can expect the question: Tell me about your strengths, and your weaknesses.
Now I am pretty sure everyone is OK ready and able to talk about their strengths, but how do you answer and expose your weakness? Some people take the approach and try to spin it by saying something like they are a perfectionist.
Only problem with that is it might actually be a weakness that can hinder your job performance, and now more the ever employers are seeing right through that and following up your reply asking you for something more.
Here is my advice to that question - always answer with something that is a trainable skill relating to the job and not a faulty trait in your personality.
For example if you were applying for a sales job in the cell phone industry and had to answer that question you might say something like "I feel like my biggest weakness is my lack of experience in your industry".
This is a great answer because it gets you through that question, and any employer is going to train you in their company and industry when they hire you.
Now, if you had answered this question by saying that you are too much of a perfectionist then that is not something an employer can help you with in their training.
In other words it is who you are and it is not a trainable skill they can just teach you.
As always remember to think of 2 - 3 alternate replies to some of the most common interviewing questions and practice them before you even walk in.
In the mean time if you are having difficulties finding full time employment then please consider looking for a part time job to get you through and help make ends meet.
Good luck with your interview!
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