First, I have to give a shout out to Rick Hernandez at DBM because they loved my resume! Thanks Rick! Rick helped me write my resume when I was laid off in 2007 and my company paid for out-placement services. I'm still using the tips he gave me when updating my resume and it's working.
After looking at my resume (which didn't need any work, thanks to Rick), the recruiter asked me the dreaded "What are your strengths & weaknesses?" question. Now I don't know about you but this is the question that I like least in an interview. I always feel that I am boasting if I talk about my strengths and I'm always nervous to talk about my weaknesses. Today's recruiter had some really good advice which I am going to share with you.
Strengths:
- Don't be afraid to talk about your strengths. This is a time when it is okay to boast a bit about yourself. Be prepared for this question. Review the job description carefully and if you are proficient in an area that they mention, then you should definitely mention that when discussing your strengths - even if it's usually way down on your list of things to mention.
- Remember that you are promoting yourself and the company you are interviewing with doesn't know anything about you. If good stuff is buried in your resume, bring it up during the interview. If you don't point it out, you can't be sure that they will notice it.
Weaknesses:
- Don't be negative when discussing your weaknesses. Give a positive spin whenever you can. You want them to think "That weakness is really a growth opportunity". Again, it's very important to review job descriptions carefully.
- If you are under-qualified, or lack something that they require, it's polite to decline the interview. You want to respect the interviewer's time as well as your own.
- If you have some experience in a required area, but it's not a strength, you want to avoid mentioning that as a weakness. Here's an example, if you are in Southern California and applying for a position dealing with the public, you might say "I wish that I spoke better Spanish." For myself, I might say "I wish that I had more opportunities to use some of the Excel skills that I learned in class." My resume states that I am a certified Excel Expert. That is true, but I have never had to do some of the things in the real world that I learned how to do in the classroom and I know those skills will get rusty without use.
Good luck on your next interview!
