How to Answer Questions About Your Weaknesses?

By Arlene S. Hirsch

Every successful executive has weaknesses as well as strengths. The key is ensuring that your weaknesses don't become career-enders. Potential employers will try to discern your shortcomings to ensure they don't hamstring their company. Your challenge is to convince them that you don't bring lethal liabilities.
One way to learn a candidate's weaknesses is simply to ask directly during interviews, "What are your weaknesses?" While job hunters lament this question, employers are determined to continue asking it because the responses typically are so illuminating.
To make sure this question doesn't trip you up, here are possible strategies that you -- as an interviewee -- can use to frame an effective response. Remember that context is as important as content. Whenever you cite a weakness, be sure to remind employers of your strengths. Be honest about your shortcomings, but never cite anything that might genuinely interfere with your ability to do the available job -- and do it well. The key is to present your weaknesses in a way that demonstrates your real strengths and character.

Ten Steps to Better Interviews Strategies That Will Help You

Many job hunters are poorly prepared to interview. They believe that since they're smart people who can think on their feet, they can "wing it" in interviews and still make a great impression on hiring managers. In most cases, they're wrong.
Unless you've spent a lot of time job hunting (successfully) in recent years, you're probably not ready to convince company interviewers to extend you an offer. Once you're willing to admit that you need help to become more effective in interviews, your education can begin -- with the following 10 proven rules to interviewing success:
1. Know yourself.
Before launching your next job search, you need to figure out what you're selling and to whom you're selling it. Start by determining your most marketable skills, which typically fall into three categories:

• Technical qualifications, including expertise in a specific field: "I know stocks and bonds," "I'm an expert in employee benefits," "I'm formally trained in instructional design," "I'm a licensed CPA and certified financial planner," etc.
• General liberal-arts skills: "I'm a good problem solver," "I have solid analytical abilities," "I'm a good writer," "I communicate well," etc.
• Key character traits, such as dependability, honesty and loyalty.

When employers ask where you want to be in five years, it's crucial to have a good idea. If your goal is to become vice president of human resources, you probably shouldn't seek a position as a benefits analyst. You'll have too far to go and not enough time to make it, so your goals will seem poorly formulated.
2. Research prospective employers.
Few candidates learn all they should about a company before arriving for an interview. To avoid basic mistakes, focus your preparation on three areas. First, pay attention to logistics. You need to know where you're going and how long it will take to get there. If you've never been to the building, leave time to get lost.
Next, conduct basic company research. Ideally, you should be able to identify in interviews how your personal goals, plans and mission can be integrated into those of the organization. Once you have this kind of information, you're in a better position to tailor your answers to fit what you know about the company. This will make for stimulating meetings.
Finally, find out all you can about each person you'll interview with by talking with networking contacts and researching industry journals and trade magazines. By doing so, you'll create rapport and boost your chances of earning a second interview.
3. Prepare for and rehearse standard questions.
To give you a feel for the process, consider the most standard (and often anxiety-provoking) interview query:

• What are your reasons for wanting to leave at this time?  Also, what are the reasons for leaving previous positions?
• What are your goals (short and long term)?
• What do you feel your strengths are?
• Where do you feel you need to improve, and what are you doing to improve in these areas?
• What is your current compensation package (salary and bonus)?
• What are your proudest accomplishments?
• Can you give me an example of a time when you did much more than required in a recent project?
• Give me an example of how you communicate to difficult people/ to different levels of people:
• Describe the most recent situation when you failed to sell a good idea to your boss, and what did you learn from this experience?
• How have you helped your company save money, time and/or make money in the last year?
• Are you willing to relocate?

4. Keep the conversation flowing.
A good interview isn't a one-way conversation. It's a dynamic interaction between employers and job hunters to determine whether they can work together. From the employer's standpoint, their goal is to find people who have the skills and personality to fit the company's culture and make a contribution. To this end, they'll likely try several techniques to determine whether you're the one, some of which may make you feel uncomfortable and judged unfairly. You're a capable person with strengths and skills to sell, and your goal is to find out what the employer really needs, then tailor your responses accordingly.
One of the best ways to get key information is to ask timely, relevant questions during interviews. Don't save your questions until the end of the meeting. Ask them spontaneously at appropriate times.
5. Build rapport.
Rapport is a crucial but unstated factor in interviewing. Hiring managers tend to forgive the faults of people they like and, in many instances, are overly critical of those they don't. Knowing that there can be instant rapport (or, conversely, dislike and mistrust) between employers and interviewees, there are lots of things you can do to establish chemistry. Controlling your emotions is a key factor
Objective feedback can go a long way toward remedying defects in your body language. But don't be overly critical or make yourself too self-conscious. How you talk is an important part of who you really are, so let the best parts of your presentation shine through.
6. Put the best spin on the truth.
The key to skilled communication involves knowing how to address your weaknesses and past mistakes without being naively honest. None of us are perfect, but you need to review your work history to identify weak spots that employers might zero in on, then develop a communication strategy that puts the best face on the truth. Although it's never a good idea to lie in interviews, you don't have to tell all, either..
To avoid future trouble, compare past problems concerning your work style, goals and needs with what a potential employer can offer you. Although some people find this uncomfortable, it's better to find out during an interview that a company's culture isn't right for you than to learn it later. Not only will your admission of honest preferences make your needs clear from the start, it will help avoid your having to look for a new job a year or so later.
7. Be a good listener.
In an ideal job interview, you should listen as much as you speak. It establishes rapport, helps you focus on the employer's needs and goals and gives you a chance to learn.
A few tips to get you started include:

• Don't be so preoccupied with your own ideas and opinions that you fail to hear what other people are saying.
• Control your biases.
• Try to keep an open mind.
• Focus on their needs, not yours.

8. Tell stories.
Odds are, no one has ever told you that storytelling is part of the interviewing scenario. But it's critical. A good story paints a picture of how you work and provides compelling evidence to support your qualifications.
When an interviewer asks, "What are your strengths?" you might say, "I'm a good problem solver." But if you can provide an example of a work problem, how you handled it and the net result, an employer is more likely to believe that you're telling the truth.
To develop a good story structure, try the following three-part strategy:

• Identify and describe a problem or situation you were asked to handle.
• Describe the actions you took to resolve the problem or situation.
• Describe the end result of your actions, including why your strategy was effective.

9. Prepare to talk money.
The best time to discuss compensation is after you've received a job offer. Any salary discussions before then should be considered premature, and you should try to defer them until you've had a chance to learn more about the job and organization.
What happens if the employer is ready to make you an offer and asks, "What are you looking for?" When it comes to talking money, the person who mentions dollars first usually loses.
10. Follow up and follow through.
Good follow-up communicates that you're that person.
It's also important to follow up on specific requests. If the interviewer asks you to provide references, be sure to send that information promptly, perhaps with your thank-you note.
Before leaving the interview, establish the interviewer's timetable, since it's important to know when a decision will be made. If you haven't heard anything by that day, call to determine whether you're still a candidate. This conversation should be relaxed and no defensive. Watch your tone of voice. If you can't carry off this discussion without sounding paranoid, insecure or too assertive, don't make the call. But if you can sound positive and interested, it will help you re-establish rapport. You'll also benefit from knowing whether it makes sense to keep hope alive.
Even if you're turned down for a job you really want, it helps to ask for feedback about why you were rejected. Then you can work on your interviewing style and presentation to ensure that you don't make the same mistake again.

How to Prepare for a Telephone Interview

It is important to prepare thoroughly for your telephone interview.
Begin by studying the job description and the candidate profile. This will enable you to identify the company's particular needs and demonstrate that you possess the skills required to meet them.
Find out all you can about the company's products, services, history, and culture. Make a special effort to identify any areas where your skills and experience may be of particular value.
Familiarize yourself with the company's website and be prepared to comment constructively upon it if asked.
Prepare a list matching your accomplishments to the company's stated requirements. Keep this list in front of you during the interview and refer to it at every opportunity.
Specify and quantify your accomplishments, e.g. 'increased sales by 35%' or 'reduced overheads by 27%'.
Interviewers are keen to hear about relevant challenges or problems you faced in the workplace, the specific actions you took, and the measurable results you achieved. They seek to identify key competencies such as communication skills, analytical skills, teamwork, drive and initiative. Be prepared to give examples of how and when you have demonstrated these key competencies.
To get the feel of being interviewed over the phone, compile a list of probable questions and ask a friend use them in a simulated phone interview. Prepare your answers carefully, using key words and phrases from the job description and candidate profile. Do not attempt to write out your answers in full or they will sound wooden and scripted.
Select a quiet place where you will not be disturbed during the phone call. Keep your resume and cover letter, a copy of the job advertisement, and your notes in front of you. Jot down key points throughout the course of the interview.
It is a good idea to stand during a telephone interview as this makes you sound more confident and helps project a positive and professional image.
Matching your speaking rate and pitch to that of the interviewer will help you to establish rapport.
Professional radio broadcasters can vouch for the fact that smiling creates a friendly and enthusiastic impression. So make an effort to smile appropriately during the call.
Since it is important to convey the impression that you are genuinely interested in the company and eager to make a contribution, refer to salient information you discovered during the course of your research.
Listen attentively to the interviewer's questions and comments. Respond appropriately to verbal or tonal cues. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification. Provide well-developed, balanced, and analytical answers. Avoid monosyllabic 'yes' and 'no' replies.
f asked to explain your reasons for leaving your previous job, make sure to have positive reasons prepared. Under no circumstances should you criticize your previous employers or colleagues. Having researched the company and analyzed the job description as suggested, you should find it easy to prepare a few thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer when afforded the opportunity.
At the end of the phone call, emphasize your interest in the job and the company and reiterate your qualifications. Stress that you would welcome the opportunity of a face-to-face interview.
After the interview, write a short thank-you letter.

The Secrets of Interview Success

As a candidate you should be able to express yourself with clarity and precision. To do this you must make adequate preparation, anticipating likely questions and rehearsing your responses. Your answers should appear spontaneous. At the same time, you should come across as thoughtful, articulate and coherent. So preparation is essential.
During the interview you should speak confidently, making sure to support your answers with relevant examples from your work experience. It is up to you during the course of the interview to acquaint the interviewer with whatever information you consider to be important in advancing your claims to the job on offer.
Always relate your answers to the job for which you are applying. This is particularly important in the case of candidates who are faced with the sort of indirect questions favoured by many interviewers. For example, the interviewer may ask you to describe your current job. This is an indirect way of asking you to what extent your present skills and experience relate to the job for which you are applying.
Always present a positive face. Having studied your application form, interviewers will have identified the weaker aspects of your case. So it is in your own best interests to examine your application critically with a view to identifying any significant weaknesses or negative aspects. Prepare positive and convincing explanations of any shortcomings; and emphasize what you have done or are doing to rectify matters.

Since interviewers are looking for candidates who display a positive attitude, you should state and supply evidence that you enjoy your job; that you are enthusiastic and ambitious; and that you welcome challenge.
It is important to tell the truth in interviews. However, try to present the facts as persuasively as you can. So examine and assess your own case and tailor the facts to create the best and most positive impression.
It is essential to develop a rapport with the interviewer right from the start. If you can give the impression that you have a lot in common with the interviewer and if he or takes a liking to you, you will greatly improve your chances of success.

Six Tips for Writing A Winning Cover Letter

These days, as many employers prefer cover letters to be sent via email, the strength of your writing will mean the difference between a shot at an interview, or a trip to the "deleted items" folder.

The cover letter is your potential employer's first introduction to your personality. This is every bit as important as the skills and experience you list on your resume. Naturally, you want to make a great first impression.
To make your cover letter stand out, consider:

Sending it to a specific person. Letters addressed "To whom it may concern" at best show you have little knowledge of or interest in the company. Call the company or check its Web site to find out specifically who is likely to be reading your application. Ask for the correct spelling of that person's name, as well as his or her title.

Using your connections. If you know people who know people at a place you want to work, ask for a referral. Starting your cover letter with "Our mutual friend/acquaintance So-in-so thought I should email you" will immediately create a sense of familiarity for the person reading your letter. He or she will be much more likely to give you a thorough look.

Staying relevant -- and brief. Describe your most recent accomplishment and how it relates to the job you want. Try to include new information about yourself, rather than reiterating what is in your resume.

Keeping your goal in mind. Be specific about what job you want and why you would be a strong addition. This is where solid research comes in handy -- search the Web site, newspapers, annual reports, etc. Find out what the company needs, and describe how you can help.

Ending with a call to action. Ask the employer to call or email you, instead of writing that you'll follow up with them. You should still follow up, with a call or via email, within a week of your sending your letter and resume.

Proofreading. Double-check the letter before you send it. When you're applying for multiple jobs, it's easy to send the wrong cover letter, or not change the company name. Make sure you have addressed the letter to the correct person and have included the correct company name and job position. Check also, of course, for spelling and grammar problems. And if you're sending your resume via an attachment, don't forget to attach it before you send it.