Category Archives: Interview Tips
December 13, 2011 How to Explain your Weaknesses during an Interview
By Margaret Smith
SPEAKER | CAREER COACH | CERTIFIED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER
“What is one of your weaknesses?” This is a question we’ve all been asked during interviews. It’s not an easy question to answer. But, because you know it’s coming, you can take the time to prepare a response that is graceful, honest, and effective.
Preparation is your key to handling this question in a way that boosts your impact during the interview. Sharing your challenges and flaws—the very things that make you human—can actually help you to come off as a more human, real person.
Joe Grimm of the Pynter Institute, an organization dedicated to integrity in journalism, suggests that interviewees faced with this question should always be honest, and avoid mentioning character flaws because they seldom change. Instead, mention areas where you’re determined to improve. Consider saying something such as, “I’m not as excel-savvy as I’d like to be, but I’m currently improving my skills through internet tutorials.” Never mention strengths as weaknesses.
As with everything, there’s a reasonable limit to the extent of your honest response to this difficult question. In an article about responding to the “weakness question” published in The Washington Post, Heidi McAllister, a local environmental educator who has hired dozens of professionals into government and nonprofit organizations explains that you should be honest, but don’t sabotage yourself. “No one realistically expects to get brutally honest answers like, ‘I’m below average intelligence and difficult to work with.’”
Even though this question may solicit the skewed truth, employers ask it because it helps reveal “whether applicants possess key qualities such as self-awareness, humility, sincerity, zest, and skill in managing shortcomings and mistakes,” says Washington Post journalist Lily Whiteman.
Don’t overthink your response to the point that you panic and don’t have one. As Whiteman reminds us, the worst responses are “I don’t know” and the comical “I have no weaknesses.”
CareerBuilder, the popular job seeker’s resource, outlines this trying question as an opportunity for applicants to demonstrate that they “can think creatively.” Instead of giving a sterile and lifeless response, consider your weaknesses with an attention to “how you have attempted to overcome them,” then weave these proactive actions into your response.
As a final touch, cater your response to the position and organization to which you are applying. Debra Yergen, author of “Creating Job Security Resource Guide”, recommends job seekers imagine themselves sitting on the other side of the desk. Anticipate the motivation and interests of the interviewer when selecting your response and personal story.
Do you have questions about developing your career, business, or landing the job of your dreams? Would your career benefit from informed advice about finding more customers and building a network that gives back? Contact UXL Today to transform the future of your business or career through guided professional coaching.
Tags: "What are your weaknesses?", How to Answer the Question, How to Explain Your Weaknesses, How to Interview Well, Interview tips from a career coach
December 8, 2011 10 Things to Do AFTER the Interview
By Margaret Smith, UXL
SPEAKER | CAREER COACH | CERTIFIED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER
I’ve written and spoken a lot about the tactics for interview preparation and performance that will give you a competitive edge. But there are things you can do after the interview that might up your chances of getting that “We would like to offer you the position” phone call.
These 10 tips for interview follow-up from careerbuilder.com are great reminders of the little steps that can generate huge results:
1. Show that You Are Still Interested:
As I often remind workshop attendees and my coaching clients, you have got to ask for the job at the end of the interview. Make a statement such as, “I would really like to contribute to this company and I hope you select me.” And don’t forget to gather a clear idea of what will happen next in the hiring process. Will there be another interview? When should you expect a call back?
2. Set the Stage for Further Contact:
Don’t let your silence as days pass be interpreted as indifference. Before leaving the interview, find out what the employer prefers in terms of checking in.
3. Be Punctual:
If you’ve made any promises, such as forwarding a list of references, make sure you do it in a timely manner to demonstrate your seriousness and professionalism.
4. Know When to Sit Tight:
If the interviewer requests that you follow up by phone in a week, respect this request. Calling or emailing any sooner could come off as pushy and disrespectful.
5. Send a Thank You Note:
A positive, thoughtful way to remain in an employer’s mind is to send a handwritten thank you note after the interview. I’ve even heard some professionals suggest that bringing a card to fill out in the lobby post-interview to drop at the front desk is a quick and original touch.
6. Send Each Interviewer a Personalized, Powerful Follow-up Letter:
In this letter, include specific references to each person you met and tie your accomplishments directly to the company’s stated challenges, suggests Ford L. Myers, career coach and author of “Get the Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring”.
7. Address one of the Company’s Needs:
Companies are interested in hiring people who will not only adopt their tried-and-true business tactics, but who will also answer some of their pressing business challenges. Consider creating a proposal on how you would address one of the company’s weaknesses or areas of possible expansion.
8. Keep Thinking and Learning about the Company:
Don’t stop researching the company and its field just because the interview is over. Continuing to learn gives you something substantial to contribute to any follow-up conversations and demonstrates your interest in the opening.
9. Leverage Outside Resources:
Networking should never stop. “If you have contacts and connections with anyone who might influence the hiring decision, or who actually knows the interviewer, ask her to put a good word in for you,” Myers says.
10. Accept Rejection with Grace:
Never burn bridges when facing the message, “We regret to inform you that we’ve decided to go with another candidate.” Keep your response positive and even consider sending a thank-you email or letter thanking the employer for the opportunity and the follow-through.
Do you have questions about developing your career, business, or landing the job of your dreams? Would your career benefit from informed advice about finding more customers and building a network that gives back? Contact UXL Today to transform the future of your business or career through guided professional coaching.
Tags: Career Coach Advice, How to Interview, Interview Follow-up, Job Hunt Advice, Things to Do After the Interview, What to Do After the Interview
November 23, 2011 5 Major Don’ts (and Some Major Do’s) of the Modern Job Interview
By Margaret Smith
SPEAKER | CAREER COACH | CERTIFIED INSIGHTS DISCOVERY PRACTITIONER
In one of my many back issues of Oprah Magazine I stumbled upon an article that had some tips for the job interview that I think will be very helpful for today’s job hunters.
Most of us are amateurs at making snap judgments; HR professionals do it for a living, and they’re tough! Susan Sommers explains that “a skirt suit is a good bet” and reminds readers that “navy is a softer neutral than black.”
However, corporate clones need not apply. “Be genuine—don’t dress like someone you’re not,” warns Susan Kim, Marketing Manager for a skincare company.
Another great way to boost your confidence and image is to make sure your grooming day-of is meticulous. To compliment this grooming, wear the best accessories you can afford.
5 Major Don’ts:
- Don’t wait until the last minute: Anxiety breeds mistakes.
- Don’t get a radical haircut or color job: Instead, opt for a trim or salon blow dry.
- Forget painful shoes: No matter how cute they are, don’t wear them if they bind, squeeze, droop, or bunch. You want to be as comfortable as possible.
- Avoid all black: Color has a persuasive, emotional power that should not be wasted.
- Don’t starve yourself beforehand: If the occasion does not include food, you may get lightheaded and really be embarrassed.
As for the men, I always tell my coachees to wear a suit and tie. You can always take the tie off, but it’s difficult to discreetly put a tie on at the last minute! Shoes should be comfortable for men as well, but keep them professional (black sneakers don’t count), and they should be polished.
Many times it’s the little things that make a big difference in those first 3 seconds when perceptions are critical. Invest the time in giving your look a little something that will set you apart in just the right, memorable way.
For more useful tips concerning the job hunt, cover letters, and your career, contact UXL today!
Tags: Confident Interviewing, Interview Do's, Interview Don'ts, Interviewing Tips, Margaret Smith, UXL
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