How to talk about your shortcomings in job interviews?
The resumes of four vacancies in sales and information technology of the small market research company Worldwide Panel LLC are flooding in.
Worldwide Panel LLC, a small market research company, is preparing to recruIT four sales and it technicians, and as a result, it has received a large number of resumes.
However, officials are expected to finish asking "What is your biggest weakness?" Christopher Morrow, senior vice president of Calabasas, California, said that candidates usually respond with "something that is not a weakness". This is a deal breaker.
However, recruiters will ask candidates: "What is your biggest weakness?" After that, many people will be eliminated. Christopher Morrow, senior vice president of Worldwide, said that candidates' answers to this question are often not shortcomings, so they cannot pass the test.
The weakness problem is the most common and stressful problem in the interview. However, in today's weak job market, the wrong answer will reduce your chances of winning a job.
The problem of "shortcomings" is the most common and headache problem in job interviews. In the current weak job market, inappropriate answers will reduce your chances of winning a job.
Some people will give answers that they mistakenly think the boss likes, such as "I am a perfectionist". Joshua Ehrlich, director of the executive coaching master's program jointly organized by new york coaching company BeamPines Inc and Middlesex University in London, warned that this kind of answer "will be bad for you" because you don't seem to be able to delegate.
Some candidates will give answers that they mistakenly think the boss will like, such as "My weakness is to pursue perfection too much". In this regard, Eric warned that this answer will be bad for your job search, because it seems that you are unable to authorize others. Eric is the director of the master's training program for managers jointly organized by BeamPines Inc, a vocational training institution in new york, and middlesex University in London.
A careful game plan can help you deal with shortcomings and highlight your suitability for the ideal position. Moreau said that job seekers who answered this question well showed that they could "take the initiative and improve themselves".
To deal with this problem, you can carefully design an answer in advance and highlight the position you are suitable for. Moreau said that job seekers who answered this question well showed that they could "actively improve themselves".
Keys? Fully prepared. Career experts advise you to evaluate your weaknesses and focus on work-related aspects that will not prevent you from performing your duties. Tony Santora, executive vice president of Right Management, a large employment agency in Philadelphia, said that an information technology manager answered a wrong question in an interview in 2007. He chose a personal weakness as the answer: "My real weakness is that I cook badly."
What's the point? That's full preparation. Career experts suggest that you can sort out your shortcomings and pick out aspects that are related to your job but will not prevent you from performing your job duties. Tony Cintrat, executive vice president of Right Management, a large employment agency in Philadelphia, said that in 2007, an IT manager lost an interview about shortcomings: his answer was, "My real weakness is that my cooking skills are terrible."
Rehearse your answers loudly, role-play with friends or videotape yourself-but don't memorize them. Peggy Klaus, a leadership coach in Berkeley, California, says that while watching videos, look for things you want to change, so that you can keep improving in practice.
Read the answers aloud. You can find your own friends or use video role-playing. However, don't recite the answers. Peggy Klaus, a management trainer in California, said that when you look back at the video, find out what you think can be improved, so that you can do better in practice.
In Cincinnati, the IT manager changed his attitude after practicing proper management with other job seekers and a consultant. On the contrary, he said that he worked so long that it was difficult to keep up with current world events. So, he spends 30 minutes at home every night making up.
The IT manager changed his mind after attending a training course of Right Management with other job seekers and consultants in Cincinnati. His later answer was that he found it difficult to keep abreast of world events because he was busy with work for a long time every day. Therefore, he spends 30 minutes at home every night to learn this information.
Santora said that when the manager sought opportunities in a global pharmaceutical company, his revised answer "really resonated with the interviewer". The manufacturer hired this man.
Cintrat said that when he later applied for a job in a global pharmaceutical company, his answer made the interviewer very excited. The company finally hired him.
It is equally important to consider the employer's corporate culture. Ben Dattner, an industrial psychologist in new york, said, "My weakness is that I am tired of routine." .
It is equally important to consider the corporate culture of the target company. Ben Dattner, a psychologist in new york, said that if you go to a startup for an interview, you can say, "My weakness is that I get tired of convention easily." .
According to Klaus, a member of the board of directors of a non-profit organization in the suburbs of San Francisco, an aspiring executive director almost jeopardized his choice last month because his answer to a variant of the weakness question ignored a core value of the organization. At the end of the interview, she wanted to know if he had any questions about the job. "No, I am confident that I can do all this," declared the potential customer.
Klaus said that last month, the enthusiastic executive director of a non-profit organization in the suburbs of San Francisco almost ruined his opportunity because he ignored a core value of the organization when answering a disguised weakness question. Klaus is a director of this organization. At the end of the interview, Klaus wanted to know if he had any questions about all aspects of the position. "No problem, I think I can solve it all," replied the job seeker.
Klaus was frustrated by his rash comments because she felt that he lacked understanding of his weaknesses. She said that his answer aroused the doubts of the board members, who doubted whether he could accept critical feedback, which was an attribute that the organization attached great importance to.
Klaus was a little disappointed with his thoughtless answer because she felt that he lacked understanding of his own shortcomings. She said that his answer made directors doubt whether he could listen to criticism, which the organization attached great importance to.
Because this person is very qualified, the board of directors gave him a second interview and asked him to give a more comprehensive explanation of his shortcomings. He said that he was "unprepared for this problem and was not worried about making a fatal big mistake", and then described his tendency to make decisions too quickly in the workplace crisis. The doubts of the board members disappeared, and they chose him as the highest position in the non-profit organization.
However, because the applicant had other good conditions, the board of directors gave him a second interview and asked him to explain his shortcomings more fully. He said that at the first interview, he was "unprepared for that question and worried that he would say something fatal." Later, he mentioned to the interviewer that he often made a decision too hastily when his work was in crisis. The worries of the board of directors were eliminated, and finally he was appointed as the head of this non-profit organization.
Ideally, your reply should also exclude the word "shortcomings" and cover your corrective measures. Oscar Adler, the retired sales director of Maidenform Brands, said that calling your biggest mistake a "window of opportunity" shows that your improvement efforts should benefit the workplace. For example, the author of "Sell Yourself in Any Interview" suggested that salespeople might notice that after strengthening their digital skills, they sold more things.
Ideally, you should try to avoid using the word "shortcomings" in your answers, and you can also mention corrective measures. Oscar Adler, the sales director of Maidenform Brands and the author of "Sell Yourself in Any Interview", said that turning your biggest weakness into a "window of opportunity" shows that your improvement measures will benefit your work. For example, he suggested that salespeople can say that sales performance has improved after strengthening their mathematical ability.
When the interviewer suddenly asks this headache, your body language is also very important. Wrong nonverbal hints will reduce your credibility. Some candidates hunch over, secretly scan the room, or twist their sweaty palms. Adler said they looked a bit like they were asked a question they couldn't solve.
When the interviewer suddenly asks such tricky questions, your body language can also reflect some problems. Improper body language will weaken your credibility. Some job seekers will curl up, scan the room blankly, or twist their sweaty palms. Adler said that they look a bit like they have a problem that they can't cope with.
Stop self-destruction! Pat Pearson, author of the book, said that keeping eye contact, breathing normally and smiling brightly would make employers feel that "you are prepared for weaknesses".
According to psychologist Pat Pearson, maintaining eye contact, breathing normally and smiling clearly can make employers feel that "you are prepared for questions about weaknesses". Pearson is the author of Stop Self-destruction! ) A book.
For the same reason, if you pause before answering, you will appear thoughtful. But don't wait too long. Moreau reminded me that if it takes you a minute, I will have found your weakness.
Similarly, if you pause before answering questions, it will make you look thoughtful. But not for long. Morrow warned that if you pause for a minute, I can already find your weakness.