Don’t Wait to Be Asked About Your Strengths and Weaknesses

“What are your strengths and weaknesses?” This is one of the most commonly asked questions during a job interview, so you should anticipate needing to answer it. But rather than waiting for your interviewer to formally ask, you can make a great impression by touching on these areas beforehand.

An Opportunity

A recruiter will be assessing and analyzing you from start to finish during an interview. Not only will they be paying attention to what your responses are, they’ll be looking at how you respond. For this reason, you may feel as if you’re sitting in “the hot seat” – like you’re being interrogated.

One way to give yourself a bit more leverage and paint yourself in a flattering light is to use every opportunity to highlight your strengths, including areas in your career where you have grown or strengthened your qualifications.

An Example

Let’s say an interviewer is asking you about previous jobs you’ve held and what type of experience you gained from them. This would be the perfect time to mention how you increased your knowledge and built up your skill set in a way that makes you an excellent candidate for the job at hand.

The Interview Guys recommend first researching the company you’re applying to and finding out what they value in terms of strengths. Then look at the job itself to pull out a few core needs an employer is likely to want. When the time is right, point out how your strengths coincide with the job you’re applying for.

It’s all about subtly reassuring the recruiter you’ve got the skills and you’re the right fit for the job.

Addressing Weaknesses

Jacquelyn Smith quotes Enterprise Rent-A-Car talent acquisition manager Dylan Schweitzer in an article on Forbes. According to Schweitzer, “Hiring managers who ask about weaknesses during interviews are looking for examples of how a person faced obstacles in the past. All employees have flaws, but how they deal with failures and have taken steps to fix them are indicators as to how they will handle constructive criticism in the future.”

Keep this in mind when bringing up your weaknesses. Ideally, you’ll discuss problems you’ve faced in other positions and how you overcame them to become a better employee. But once again, don’t wait until an interviewer formally asks you about your weaknesses. Try to work this in at the right time without them having to ask.

There’s a strong likelihood a recruiter will ask you directly about your strengths and weaknesses. So why not go ahead and get it out of the way? By being upfront and transparent, you should be able to make a solid impression and prove why you would be such a valuable asset to their company.

Is your job search at a standstill? Contact Encadria Staffing Solutions today to see how we can help.

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