Question by eternus: How do you answer the question “what are your strengths” in an interview if you’re pessimistic about yourself?
When I’m asked “what are your weakness” I sometimes accidentally name 3 or 4, but I can’t think of a good strength. I have low self esteem and can’t think of anything from my work experience that was notable. Usually I say something like “well, uh, I got my job done when there were deadlines” but I probably need something better. Yes, I know, confidence is important, you don’t need to tell me that. Can you give examples of what I could say? I could name a technical skill but that may not be a good idea. I’m talking about interviews for IT type jobs.
Best answer:
Answer by adi v
it means on what you’re good at,example you’re a cook and your strength is you’re good at cooking chinese dishes.it’s like that men.
just try to say good at multi tasking,doing different task at the same time.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Well the first thing to fix is your head. Instead of what are your strengths, what do you think others would say are your strengths? This is not you talking it is what others would say about you. Coming at the problem from that perspective can help unblock some ideas. Same goes for the weaknesses, I coach people to say,’I could use some training in xyz…” That way you covered a weakness and the notion that you would improve it by training.
Comment by RecruiterTips — September 5, 2010 @ 3:33 am
RecruitingTips is right in asking the question, “What do others say about you?” Ask friends or former bosses. Read through your old performance reviews. Some good possible strengths are:
“I’m good at prioritizing. When I have multiple projects and deadlines, I identify the one most crucial to the business and start there.”
“I have a strong sense of urgency. I don’t waste time at work and I always meet my deadlines.”
“I’m a good communicator. When someone’s explaining the details of a project to me, I use active listening skills to make sure I have a complete understanding of what they need.”
Self esteem doesn’t matter. It’s like passing an exam — all you need is practice! Grab a friend, or the mirror, and say your answers to common interview questions again and again. Never name three weaknesses if they’re asking for one. Always be specific about your strengths. The more you practice (and I don’t mean thinking through it, but speaking the words aloud) the easier interviewing will get. Best of luck to you!
Comment by WordGirl — September 5, 2010 @ 3:35 am