The Simple Way To Tackle the Tough Interview Questions - The best Way to deal with Deficiencies

By Christopher Everett


The past few articles have covered how to reply to specific job questions. We wrap up with one of the most challenging ones which, when answered properly will aid you in knowing how to face an interview - "What are your weaknesses?" There are 1 or 2 alternative ways to answer this query. The best way is to recount an earlier weakness but then show how you have had success dealing with it. Maybe during the past there had been a part of your job that you were obviously weak in. This can have resulted because you were promoted to a new position or because your other strengths were so strong the business was prepared go live with this inadequacy. You took a training course and got a high mark, so removing that weakness.

This is an excellent answer for lots of reasons. It demonstrates a high degree of honesty and the ability to critically examine your own performance - just as significantly it really helps with how to face an interview successfully. Never underrate the significance of this as many people are terrified of appearing very weak and rather try and make themselves look exemplary, which is impractical. Seeking help further reflects an eagerness to get better the desire to take initiative and the need to boost your contribution to the business. Another satisfactory way for many to reply to this is to give a trait that in one sense can be perceived as negative but can also be viewed as positive. An example is "I regularly hand in projects right at the last minute because I'd like to repeatedly check everything to be sure it is absolutely right". While often successful this strategy can come across as shallow if not related with the right sincerity and tact.

A better one is to explain a position where you were working in a team and you brought in another person who was gifted in an area you aren't and how this improved the quality of the collective output. Rather like the best answer above, it conveys truth, a lack of vanity, and the desire to put the results and the company before your own ego. Other people teach you to state a weakness which has no bearing on the position being applied for. Perhaps your typing speed is slow - no problem because you have applied for a promotional position. This is a relatively safe answer in the sense you haven't said anything too damaging, but if you recall that every interview question is "Why should I hire you?" you haven't done that and risk appearing evasive.

Take a big breath. The interview is finished and it's now time to relax. Whether you get the job or not, prep yourself for the subsequent interview by carefully learning as much as is possible from this one. Many of us bring a paper with pen or laptop PC on the interview and secure it in their car or tote bag. After the interview they head to a coffee shop or another relaxing place and fully review their interview performance, always asking themselves both the highlights and the lowlights of the interview. Many individuals limit the advantages of this process by only reviewing what went right.

Those who will be successful first look at what failed and then practice, practice and practice some more so they minimize that area of weakness as much as feasible. This is definitely one of the clearest differences between the elite and the lackluster - their willingness to tackle problems head on and to make them evaporate, leaving them more prepared for how to face an interview. Take notes and review them on a regular basis. Practice with a friend who can give fair feedback and watch that problem disappear.




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