How To Answer “What’s Your Greatest Weakness?”

“What’s your greatest weakness?” This is one question most job search candidates hate. But if you happen to be a lifelong learner, or someone who embraces personal and professional development, it can be a decidedly easy question to answer.

My favorite way to respond to the question, “What’s your greatest weakness?” is to share a past weakness and position it as a current strength. If you share a genuine weakness but don’t show what you’ve learned from it, you will accidentally damage your candidacy for the job in question. If, on the other hand you can share a genuine weakness and demonstrate how you wrestled with it in positive ways, you say more about your assets as a candidate than you’ll have time to list in the meeting. Here’s how:

1. Choose a previous weakness that you once possessed but have since overcome.

Select a genuine weakness, one that is (preferably) work-related, and one that will bolster your candidacy when seen through a more positive lens. Ideally, choose a weakness that you have since transformed into a strength.

Example: perfectionism.

2. Share an example of how this weakness threatened you, your team, or your work performance.

Be real (but not too real) in showing your interviewer how this weakness had a negative impact on you or your work environment. Give specific examples without belaboring the point.

Example: “Early in my career, I was anxious to prove myself and inadvertently allowed my determination to succeed to bleed into perfectionism. Although I never expected perfection of the teams I led, I did expect too much of myself, to the point that I developed an ulcer and began to feel burnt out in my work.”

3. Tell the story of how you overcame the weakness.

Relay to the interviewer the steps you took to turn this situation around. Use the CAR (challenge | action | result) format to convey the situation you faced, the steps you took to resolve those challenges, and the results your efforts produced in you, your team, and your performance.

Example: “As a prolific reader and lifelong learner, I discovered a range of self-help solutions I could implement. I rebalanced my personal and work lives, learned to proactively deal with stress, and realigned my expectations with reality. This process took time, of course, but with assiduous discipline I was able to resolve my health issues and reignite my passion for my work. I believe this effort is never-ending, which is why I refer to myself as a recovering perfectionist.”

Hopefully this example has the ring of truth about it because it is true. Don’t make things up! Recruiters and employers expect a genuine reply to this question, so this is your chance to reveal the kind of candidate you really area. Show them you know how to own your own warts and heal them. After all, giving an honest answer to this question demonstrates your problem-solving approach and ability to learn from failure.

Lastly, note that this example can be comfortably shared in less than 30 seconds. Aim to keep all of your interview responses to less than two minutes unless you are asked multi-part questions that clearly call for a comprehensive approach.

Contrast this 3-step weakness-turned-strength story with the two ways most candidates answer this question. First, many refuse to share a weakness or claim they don’t have any. They end up trying to deflect the question, say they can’t think of anything, or claim not to have any significant weaknesses. Your interviewer will recognize such replies as disingenuous and you’ll lose respect and candidate “clout” as a result.

Second, other candidates share a true weakness without knowing how to emphasize the silver lining in that particular cloud. Without meaning to, they focus too much attention on a negative issue and leave their interviewer(s) with a negative impression of their candidacy.

By taking an honest yet strategic approach to the “What’s your greatest weakness?” question you demonstrate your integrity as a candidate and prove your ability to rise like a phoenix from the ashes of negative experiences. This inevitably reveals your resilience – a trait most companies will welcome with open arms.

Why Learning To Work With Younger Generations Is So Important

Did you know that there are four generations in the workplace? That’s right. And if you want to have a satisfying career, you’ve got to learn how to work with ALL of them.

This can be challenging for many professionals. Why? Because each generation has a different way of looking at work and a different definition of accountability.

This is causing lots of friction between the “old schoolers” and the “new schoolers,” which can be detrimental to both your work relationships and productivity.

As a seasoned worker who’s had years and years of experience in your field, it can be tough to watch someone straight out of college excel in front of your eyes, and easy to shut down new, innovative ideas with the excuse, “We’ve always done it this way.”

What you might not realize, though, is that frustration you’re feeling is being projected to your co-workers, especially those who you feel are overstepping their professional bounds.

You’ll look intimidating to them and, instead of seeing you as a helpful resource, they’ll see you as the grumpy, old co-worker who has a huge problem adjusting to the times.

And your co-workers aren’t the only ones who will see you this way. Employers will, too.

This is where you run into issues. If you allow this negative attitude to interfere with your work, people will notice. And trust me, it’s a bad look for you. It hurts your professional brand immensely and it will make it harder for you to find a job.

Companies want professionals who are excited and willing to collaborate with employees of all ages because, in the end, it doesn’t matter how old you are – the only thing that matters it that you do a great job at work.

11 Signs A Job Isn’t For You

So many of us have had the misfortune of taking the wrong job. It is one of the worst feelings in the world. You feel trapped and worried all the time. If you realize it very early, you stress about being labeled a “job hopper” if you realize it too late, you are stressed beyond belief that you wasted so much time. Over the course of my career, I have had a few instances of “buyer’s remorse” in taking a new job. And I’ve seen a few consistencies in my experience as well as those of my friends.

The hard part is identifying if it is the actual job that is not right for you, or if it is just a tough period of time for you, your manager, or the company. Here are a few ways to recognize the difference between a poor fit (and it might be time to start looking) and just a tough time.

1. Your goals are not aligned with the company.

Knowing what you want to achieve in your job is the first step in building a career. Setting goals on what you aspire to and the type of work and projects you want to be involved in helps you focus your work and deliver on the things that make you proud. When these goals for your career are not aligned with the company, you, my friend, are in the wrong job. Your goals as a professional and what you hope to achieve should align with the company goals.

2. You are discouraged from being you.

You should not be forced to be one person at work and another person at home. It’s simply too taxing. Finding a company that values your unique attributes is important. Staying somewhere that doesn’t isn’t a good long-term plan.

3. The culture makes you uncomfortable.

Let’s say you are a super environmentally friendly person and your company doesn’t give a rip about waste. Or conversely, you are the type of person who has completed their job by 5, but the culture is one of “whoever logs the most hours, wins!” These are cultural disconnects that are very difficult to overcome.

4. You don’t see a career path (if you want one).

To many people career progression is important. To others, not so much. So, if you want a career path and your company doesn’t provide a way to advance your career and skills, this isn’t the place for you. Conversely, if you are completely satisfied in your job and want to do that forever, but the expectation is progression, then, this may not be the place for you.

5. The actual job is different than what was described.

Ah, the old bait and switch. In the interview, you get so excited about the culture and the day-to-day, and when you get there, it isn’t even close to what was pitched. It is a massive disappointment.

6. “Other duties as assigned” is the bulk of your job.

If you look at your job description, typically, the first 3-5 bullets are going to be where you spend your time. You feel good about those bullets because, well, that is what you do for a living. When the bulk of your day does not resemble any of the bullets on your job description and you are into the “other duties as assigned” world all the time – let that be a flashing red light.

7. Your manager stresses you out.

If you are always dreading a conversation with your manager, you find that your shoulders are regularly scrunched up near your ears, or you consistently get a stomach ache thinking about your next manager interaction and nothing you’ve done is fixing this, it’s time to explore other options.

8. You show up energetic and are drained before lunch.

When you are working on your favorite stuff, it should give you energy. It is your Zone of Genius. When you are working on stuff you hate, it drains your energy. If your energy is drained daily by lunch, you’re doing too much of the stuff that drains you and you are in the wrong job.

9. You keep saying: “When this XYZ is over, it will be better.”

Saying it once, maybe twice is fine. We all go through periods at work where it is stressful or challenging, but when you continually keep thinking that when something is over, it will be better. Chances are, it’s the job not XYZ that is making life so hard.

10. You’re bored… all the time.

When your assignments and tasks are simply not challenging you in any way and, despite asking for new and interesting things to do, you are pigeonholed, it might be time to find greener pastures.

11. Your accomplishments are never enough.

You’re working very hard to achieve the goals. You achieve the goals, and they are never enough for your manager or the company, this is a big sign that you may not be in the right role at the right company. Feeling valued is a key component of career satisfaction.

So, ask yourself, are these challenges your experiencing consistent? Are you in the right job at the right company? Remember, every career is temporary.

When you’ve come up against these obstacles, it is up to you to overcome them within your current company and with your manager. If you are unable to overcome them despite your best efforts, start honing that personal brand and get out there and find a fit.

What’s Your 30-Second Resume?

In today’s highly interwoven social networks, it’s very possible you will run into people with whom you may want to share your job search plans. Given your interaction is likely to take place on the “fly.” It’s a great idea to have a 30-second resume ready to go – and, by ready to go, I mean well-thought-out and well-articulated, but not so rote as to be awkward like you are reading from a script.

With that in mind, the same “rules” of the job search apply:

• Know what you want – it makes the conversation easier for both of you and makes it easier to help you. Focus is important here.
• Be comfortable asking for help – most will help if they can and if you do not take advantage of their time, network, or generosity.
• Use some quick examples to show you are qualified for the type of position you are seeking; but, don’t give an oral version of your resume: it’s too long and no one will remember it. Plus, you’ll have to talk really fast and might be misunderstood. Always show value.
• No bad mouthing your current or past employer(s). No matter what.
• No complaining nor whining. No matter what.
• Don’t be desperate. Put your best foot forward, no matter how hard that may be to do.
• Stay in touch.

By keeping these concepts in mind, you may find that your networking is far more effective.

Top 3 Tips For Phone Interviews

More and more companies are relying on phone screens, or phone interviews, as a preliminary gauge of whether or not a candidate should be invited for an in-person interview. Phone interviews are generally less expensive and time-intensive for the company, so don’t be surprised if you are contacted for this type of interview.

Some candidates don’t feel a phone interview is a real interview, but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, this may be your gateway for getting in the door at a company, so don’t blow it on the phone!

Tips For Phone Interviews

Here are some tips to help you navigate the world of phone interviews:

1. Treat the phone interview the same way you would an in-person job interview.

This means that you should be focused and come prepared with knowledge of both the company and the job. One benefit of having a phone interview is that you can have company materials in front of you for handy reference. Some people like to have the company’s website in front of them on a computer screen and others like to have a copy of their resume or job description.

Figure out what works best for you and have those things available before you take the call. Be sure that you aren’t typing while you’re doing the phone interview. The interviewer may be able to hear your keyboard clicking, so pull up all the necessary websites and documents a few minutes before your scheduled call time.

2. If you must take the call from your cell phone, make sure you are in an area that has good reception and you’re in a quiet environment.

Background noises are very distracting to the interviewer and you want to make sure that the interviewer knows you are taking the interview seriously. If you take the call at a coffee shop or restaurant, you really aren’t in control of the ambient noise. Would you want a screaming toddler to interrupt your train of thought and be distracting to the person on the other end of the phone? Probably not.

If you don’t have a quiet space available in your home, check with your local library to see if they have a meeting space you can reserve for free.

3. Eliminate any distractions while on the phone.

For example, turn off your computer’s speakers, find a babysitter for your children, put your dog outside, etc. You should only be focusing on what the interviewer is saying. It’s very difficult to do so when there are other things competing for your attention.

After the phone interview concludes, send a quick e-mail to your interviewers to thank them for their time. This goes a long way in indicating that you are still interested in the position.

6 Tips For Job Seekers On Body Language

Body language speaks volumes at a job interview. Everything from your handshake, eye contact,  and how you move your extremities when you talk, to your posture when sitting can reveal a lot about you to the hiring manager sitting across from you.

If you want to make the right impression, be aware of your own body.

1. Eye Contact.

Eye contact can help you build a personal connection with the interviewer. It is especially important at the time of the handshake and when the interviewer is speaking or asking a question. By giving eye contact, it communicates that you are confident, listening, and engaged. However, there has to be a balance with breaks in between eye contact. If you stare too long, it can come across as being overly aggressive and you may begin to look crazy and creepy.

2. Handshake.

The handshake is a professional point of contact, so how you do it sends a very important message. To come off as confident, you want to be firm, but not overpowering. And on the other end, if your handshake is limp like a dead fish, the interviewer may sense you lack confidence and interest. Women tend to overcompensate and shake hands too firmly so practice on you family members as this is where you make a first impression.

3. Expression.

No matter what you say, if your expression does not match the message, it will not come across. For example, at the time of the first handshake at the job interview, exhibit a smile when you say, “It’s nice to meet you.” When you are talking about one of the most exciting projects you were involved in, your expression should match that, otherwise you’re giving the hiring manager a mixed message.

4. Posture.

The way you sit can impact how others want to communicate with you. If you are leaning back all relaxed, you may leave the hiring manager thinking you’re lazy and not serious about the meeting. If you lean too forward and invade their space, it can come off as too aggressive. What you want is a neutral position – sit straight up on the chair with a slight lean forward to express you’re interested and engaged. You also don’t want to be stiff in posture. It’s unnatural and can make it hard for others to communicate with you comfortably. A good technique is to slightly mirror the interviewer’s posture.

5. Arms.

Many security guards have their arms across their chest. It signals that they are in defense mode. This is the same message that’s sent to the hiring manager when they see a job candidate with arms across their chest. You want to be viewed as approachable, so it’s best to leave your hands to your sides when standing or on your lap/knees when sitting.

6. Excessive Nodding Or Shaking.

Yes, you want to communicate agreement and understanding, but excessive nodding of the head can be seen as being overly agreeable, and you end up looking like a bobble head. One or two nods tagged with a smile is all you need. Along the same lines, be watchful of your extremities like leg kicking (often a result of nerves) or flaring arms as you talk. Maintain self-control of your extremities, keeping your feet flat on the ground and using your hands only when trying to make a gesture.

To better prepare for the next job interview, consider doing a video recording of a mock interview. You’ll see habits in your body language that you can practice to correct before the next real job interview!

How To Prepare For Difficult Interview Questions

Let’s face it, preparing for a job interview could be daunting. A lot of my interview coaching clients struggle with interview performance and are unsure of what the interviewers are really looking for.

You should always answer questions directly and try to use the appropriate examples from your past experience to demonstrate your skills and personal characteristics. Keep your answers concise and relevant. If you cite an example, keep it brief and don’t lapse into telling a long-winded story.

Most interviewers will know that it is difficult to remember every area of your past quickly. They will also appreciate your wanting to provide a suitable response by taking the time to consider your answer. So don’t be afraid to say something along lines of “Let me think about that for a moment.”

Also, making a concerted effort to end your answering of especially difficult questions with a slight, but natural smile should overcome your giving away feelings of discomfort or any other negative emotion.

Being able to tell the interviewer about particular situations that relate to each question will be far more effective and make a far more positive impression than responding in general terms. Being able to quantify results will also be of great help because numbers easily impress people.

You should consider each question posed to you as an opportunity to sell yourself by providing some of your strengths.

You will be evaluated on your answers and not the strength of your resume/CV.

Here is some advice on how to answer three of the common interview questions:

Why do you want to work for us?

This should be fairly obvious… but it isn’t always easy to answer succinctly during a job interview. The key to answering this question is to focus on what the company needs, not what you want.

While there aren’t any right or wrong ways to answer this question per se, you want to indicate that you are knowledgeable about the company and let them know what you bring to the table. In other words, you would really like to work for this company specifically and will contribute in ways that other candidates can’t.

Your best bet is to express your interest in the company and your knowledge of their business. Focus on a specific aspect of the company that you are interested in – their line of business, the technology they use, a new project they will work on – that illustrates that you’ve done your research and weave this into your answer.

What can you do for our company?

Similarly to the previous question, your answer should focus on what you offer the company, not the other way round. The company wants to make sure that you are the right person for their firm.

When a company hires a good person, they are making it harder for their competitors to compete with them. Basically, you want to try to answer this question by letting the interviewer know what you can do that other candidates can’t. Companies hire people to solve problems, so let the interviewer know what problems you’ve solved and how your employers benefited as a result.

Focus on specific tasks in the job description that are critical to the position and tell the interviewer why you are the person to handle them.

Why should we hire you?

Similar to the above question, you are expected to let the interviewer know why you are better than other candidates for this job. Just like you did with your resume and cover letter, you need to separate yourself from the pack and illustrate why you are the best person for the job.

To do this, focus on answering the question by describing your experience, skills, problem-solving accomplishments, and how the company will benefit by hiring you. Tell them why you are the answer to their problem(s).

Back your answers up with examples. Anyone can say that they have good organizational skills for example, but if you say something specific, for example, “I have excellent organizational skills and in the past 12 months I have personally organized and supervised 10 corporate events with up to 300 participants on each one,” you are definitely going to make a better impression than someone giving a generic answer.