During the interview process, particularly at 2nd interview, it is likely questions will be positioned at you by the interviewer on areas of your career aimed at discussing where you have encountered challenging situations or addressing weaknesses.
When questioned on these interviewers are often positioning these questions as they are keen to find out more about your work based habits and ethics during adverse circ*mstances.
It’s easy to champion your successes when all is going fantastically well and everything is in your favour, but how do you manage to be successful or adopt positive traits when the chips are down or you are not 100% happy in your role? – as this will inevitably happen at some point in most roles.
What is key within an interview scenario is how you convey and communicate these to the interviewer, as extremely subtle differences in your answers can have a massive impact on how these are received and ultimately how you may be viewed.
Here are tips which will help you to avoid coming across negatively at interview.
Be honest about your strengths and weaknesses
When addressing these areas, it pays to approach it honestly – it is not unreasonable for candidates to discuss openly certain challenges and personal development areas they have faced.
Do not avoid admitting weaknesses as you feel that this will lessen your chances of securing the role - most interviewers will respect you more for awareness of weaknesses this a balanced approach to work and personal development.
Not being able to identify weaknesses can come across as either arrogant or of a lack of self-awareness or openness to personal development and workplace training.
The idea of managing someone who feels they are already sees themselves as the perfect article is not appealing to a hiring manager!
Prepare in advance to be questioned on Strengths and Weaknesses and how you will answer them
Being questioned on this area is so common that it is worth preparing to expect to be asked them.
Everyone encounters personal areas they are aware are weaknesses at some point in their career – it is not the weakness itself the interviewer is interested in it is how you addressed them.
To answer positively ensure you are prepared to answer these four aspects
-What the weakness is you are going to highlight
-How it made your role more challenging
-What steps you have taken for personal development in this area
-How development of this has been beneficial in your role
This will demonstrate not only a self-awareness of your weaknesses but also a thirst for personal development and overcoming them with positive results.
Re-phrase answers regarding your Reasons for leaving current/previous roles positively
It is almost guaranteed that at some point you will be asked about leaving your current/most recent employers and even previous ones.
If this was due to redundancy then ensure that even, as is likely, this was a frustrating and stressful situation, that you try to display some empathy for the difficult decision your company had to make, as opposed to reflecting on it negatively – no interviewer likes to hear candidates bad mouthing previous employers, however strongly they feel.
If leaving the company was your own choice, ensure that not only are you clear on the reasons but that they are positioned as a desire (positive) as opposed to a dislike or dissatisfaction (negative).
Examples of this are as follows -
Management style
Negative – “I left as my previous employer/manager was a micro-manager”
Positive – “I’m looking for a new position with more of an autonomous management style”
Salary/commission
Negative – “My current employer’s pay and salary is really poor”
Positive – “I’m looking for an opportunity where I can enhance my earnings further”
Career progression
Negative – “There is no career progression path at my current company”
Positive – “I’m looking to move to a company with strong investment personal development and career progression”
Workload
Negative – “I’m frustrated my employer expects me to work long hours and weekends on a regular basis”
Positive – “I’m looking for an employer with more values on staff having a positive work/life balance”
Product range/NPD
Negative – “My current company’s products aren’t very good/dated and they don’t focus on developing the range”
Positive – “I’m looking for an opportunity to work for a company with a focus on innovation/NPD/up to date with current market trends”
Service levels
Negative – “Service and delivery levels are awful at my current company and I am always dealing with customer complaints”
Positive – “Strong customer service is really important to me and I’m looking for an employer that shares these values”
Of course, interviewers may delve deeper into these answers to find out further details.
However, opening with a positive statement can suggest you have a glass half full as opposed to glass half empty demeanour, and of course you can link these positives to what the company you are interviewing for has to offer.
Companies will always respond more favourably to candidates who come across that they are at the interview for positives they will get from them as an employer as opposed to escaping from areas they are unhappy with at a current/previous employer.
Take ownership for your weaknesses and reasons for leaving
Even if you strongly believe that 3rd parties have had a strong influence on weaknesses and reasons for leaving, take ownership of your own actions during the situation and focus on discussing these as opposed to those of others.
Interviewers will respect the fact that your focus is channeled towards the areas within your control, which were your own actions as opposed to those of others, which are often outside of your control.
As difficult as it can be avoid speaking in negative terms about other employees, managers, or the company itself – as this will rarely be viewed positively.
As someone deeply entrenched in the realm of career development, interview strategies, and workplace dynamics, I've had the privilege of navigating the intricacies of job interviews, both as a professional and in advising others. Over the years, I've gained firsthand expertise in understanding the nuances of conveying strengths, addressing weaknesses, and presenting oneself positively during interviews.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts highlighted in the provided article:
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Honesty about Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Emphasize the importance of addressing strengths and weaknesses openly.
- Advocate for honesty, as interviewers appreciate candidates who demonstrate self-awareness and a balanced approach to personal and professional development.
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Preparation for Strengths and Weaknesses Questions:
- Stress the commonality of being questioned about strengths and weaknesses during interviews.
- Encourage candidates to prepare for such questions by identifying their weaknesses, understanding how it affects their role, outlining steps for personal development, and highlighting the positive outcomes of that development.
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Rephrasing Reasons for Leaving Current/Previous Roles:
- Highlight the inevitability of being asked about leaving current or previous positions.
- Provide examples of negative and positive rephrasing for reasons such as management style, salary/commission, career progression, workload, product range/new product development (NPD), and service levels.
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Positive Approach to Reasons for Leaving:
- Emphasize the importance of maintaining a positive tone when discussing reasons for leaving.
- Illustrate the difference between negative statements and positive, forward-looking statements.
- Connect positive reasons for leaving to what the candidate is seeking in a new role, aligning with the potential employer's offerings.
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Taking Ownership of Weaknesses and Reasons for Leaving:
- Advocate for taking ownership of one's actions, even in situations where external factors may have influenced weaknesses or decisions to leave.
- Suggest focusing on areas within one's control and refraining from speaking negatively about colleagues, managers, or previous employers during interviews.
In essence, the article provides valuable insights into effectively communicating strengths and weaknesses, strategically addressing reasons for leaving, and maintaining a positive demeanor throughout the interview process. Following these tips not only enhances the candidate's chances but also fosters a constructive and professional image that resonates well with hiring managers.
