Strengths of a professional Interview: what are the negative qualities worth mentioning, and which are not? How to voice your positive traits, strengths and weaknesses? Survey of the environment - the path to self-knowledge

Not everyone requires your resume to show your weaknesses. But if there is such an item in the form, then putting a dash will be a mistake. It is better to look at an example of the weaknesses of the character in the resume.

What to write

Please consider your answer before completing the deficiencies box. In no case do not skip it, because ideal people do not exist. As a rule, managers want to see how adequately you evaluate yourself. If you do not know what to write, look at the suggested options and choose something that suits you best.

Universal formula: select such character traits that are a virtue for performing this particular job, and in ordinary life can indeed be considered a human defect.

You can write the following weaknesses:

  • excessive directness, the habit of telling the truth in the eye;
  • difficulty in establishing contact with strangers;
  • inability to be flexible in labor matters;
  • reliability;
  • increased anxiety;
  • excessive emotionality, irascibility;
  • love for formalism;
  • restlessness;
  • slowness;
  • hyperactivity;
  • fear of air travel.

All these weaknesses in the resume can become advantages if you look at them from a different angle. An example is restlessness. For a sales representative or an active sales manager, this can even be a plus. The same goes for reliability. For the manager, this is a signal that you may be the person who will do all the overtime work.

Linking weaknesses to the characteristics of professions

All applicants should think about how to correctly write my weaknesses for a resume. For example, a future accountant or design engineer might write:

  • incredulity;
  • excessive scrupulousness;
  • increased anxiety;
  • excessive demands on oneself;
  • straightness;
  • pedantry;
  • modesty;
  • inability to lie;
  • difficulty establishing contact with strangers;
  • pride;
  • lack of flexibility in labor matters;
  • adherence to principles;
  • overestimated sense of responsibility;
  • lack of diplomacy.
  • hyperactivity;
  • self-confidence;
  • restlessness;
  • impulsiveness;
  • the need for external motivation;
  • incredulity, desire to double-check and confirm all information.

Disadvantages for one profession can become advantages for another.

You can also indicate in your resume among your negative qualities:

  • straightness;
  • workaholism;
  • excessive love for communication.

Applicants for the position of manager need to prepare before filling out the specified column. It is better to think in advance what weaknesses to indicate in the resume. They can write about such character traits:

  • excessive emotionality;
  • pedantry;
  • love for little things;
  • thoughts about work, planning take up most of the free time;
  • increased demands on others.

A good example is the following:

  • inability to respond with rudeness to rudeness;
  • the tendency to make decisions based on one's own opinion;
  • mistrust of people and a love of confirmation of facts.

Some applicants choose to indicate that they:

  • overly trusting;
  • can raise their voice to subordinates;
  • straightforward, express their opinion without veiled embellishments;
  • quick-tempered;
  • always looking for confirmation of words;
  • have a hypertrophied sense of responsibility;
  • prone to formalism and pay too much attention to detail;
  • irritated by disorder;
  • slow;
  • do not like to do things for the sake of others.

For all occasions

Many are afraid to write about shortcomings, believing that the employer will immediately send their resume to the trash can. Of course, you should not be too frank, but you should not completely skip this section of the questionnaire. In this case, you can write about some neutral qualities that will not affect the work in any way. For a person applying for any vacancy, among the inherent weaknesses can be indicated:

  • fear of airplanes;
  • arachnophobia (fear of spiders), vespertiliophobia (fear of bats), ophidiophobia (fear of snakes);
  • excess weight;
  • lack of experience;
  • age (suitable for people over 40 years old);
  • love for shopping
  • sweet love.

This information does not characterize you in any way, it simply speaks of your fears or small weaknesses.

The following shortcomings can be stated:

  • I do not always accurately express my thoughts;
  • I trust people too much;
  • prone to reflection;
  • I often analyze past mistakes, focusing on them too much attention;
  • I spend a lot of time evaluating my actions.

These are negative qualities, but they should not affect the workflow.

Regardless of the position for which you are applying, you can write such weaknesses in your resume:

  • I get so carried away with work that I forget to take breaks;
  • I can’t build relationships with colleagues because I don’t like gossip;
  • I can’t fight back in response to a boorish appeal;
  • I constantly pass all situations through myself;
  • let people get too close;
  • I can't swear;
  • I noticeably worry when I have to lie.

Important nuances

Please note that there are items that are better left unmentioned. You should not write, for example, that you:

  • like to be lazy;
  • afraid to take responsibility;
  • do not like to make decisions;
  • not punctual;
  • are often distracted;
  • think only about salary;
  • love office romances.

For example, by writing about your laziness in your resume, you risk: the employer will decide that you do not want to work.

Not everyone requires your resume to show your weaknesses. But if there is such an item in the form, then putting a dash will be a mistake. It is better to look at an example of the weaknesses of the character in the resume.

Please consider your answer before completing the deficiencies box. In no case do not skip it, because ideal people do not exist. As a rule, managers want to see how adequately you evaluate yourself. If you do not know what to write, look at the suggested options and choose something that suits you best.

The universal formula: select such character traits that are a virtue for performing this particular job, but in ordinary life can really be considered a human flaw.

You can write the following weaknesses:

  • excessive directness, the habit of telling the truth in the eye;
  • difficulty in establishing contact with strangers;
  • inability to be flexible in labor matters;
  • reliability;
  • increased anxiety;
  • excessive emotionality, irascibility;
  • love for formalism;
  • restlessness;
  • slowness;
  • hyperactivity;
  • fear of air travel.

All these weaknesses in the resume can become advantages if you look at them from a different angle. An example is restlessness. For a sales representative or an active sales manager, this can even be a plus. The same goes for reliability. For the manager, this is a signal that you may be the person who will do all the overtime work.

All applicants should think about how to correctly write my weaknesses for a resume. For example, a future accountant or design engineer might write:

  • incredulity;
  • excessive scrupulousness;
  • increased anxiety;
  • excessive demands on oneself;
  • straightness;
  • pedantry;
  • modesty;
  • inability to lie;
  • difficulty establishing contact with strangers;
  • pride;
  • lack of flexibility in labor matters;
  • adherence to principles;
  • overestimated sense of responsibility;
  • lack of diplomacy.
  • hyperactivity;
  • self-confidence;
  • restlessness;
  • impulsiveness;
  • the need for external motivation;
  • incredulity, desire to double-check and confirm all information.

Disadvantages for one profession can become advantages for another.

You can also indicate in your resume among your negative qualities:

  • straightness;
  • workaholism;
  • excessive love for communication.

Applicants for the position of manager need to prepare before filling out the specified column. It is better to think in advance what weaknesses to indicate in the resume. They can write about such character traits:

  • excessive emotionality;
  • pedantry;
  • love for little things;
  • thoughts about work, planning take up most of the free time;
  • increased demands on others.

A good example is the following:

  • inability to respond with rudeness to rudeness;
  • the tendency to make decisions based on one's own opinion;
  • mistrust of people and a love of confirmation of facts.

Some applicants choose to indicate that they:

  • overly trusting;
  • can raise their voice to subordinates;
  • straightforward, express their opinion without veiled embellishments;
  • quick-tempered;
  • always looking for confirmation of words;
  • have a hypertrophied sense of responsibility;
  • prone to formalism and pay too much attention to detail;
  • irritated by disorder;
  • slow;
  • do not like to do things for the sake of others.

Many are afraid to write about shortcomings, believing that the employer will immediately send their resume to the trash can. Of course, you should not be too frank, but you should not completely skip this section of the questionnaire. In this case, you can write about some neutral qualities that will not affect the work in any way. For a person applying for any vacancy, among the inherent weaknesses can be indicated:

  • fear of airplanes;
  • arachnophobia (fear of spiders), vespertiliophobia (fear of bats), ophidiophobia (fear of snakes);
  • excess weight;
  • lack of experience;
  • age (suitable for people over 40 years old);
  • love for shopping
  • sweet love.

This information does not characterize you in any way, it simply speaks of your fears or small weaknesses.

The following shortcomings can be stated:

  • I do not always accurately express my thoughts;
  • I trust people too much;
  • prone to reflection;
  • I often analyze past mistakes, focusing on them too much attention;
  • I spend a lot of time evaluating my actions.

These are negative qualities, but they should not affect the workflow.

Regardless of the position for which you are applying, you can write such weaknesses in your resume:

  • I get so carried away with work that I forget to take breaks;
  • I can’t build relationships with colleagues because I don’t like gossip;
  • I can’t fight back in response to a boorish appeal;
  • I constantly pass all situations through myself;
  • let people get too close;
  • I can't swear;
  • I noticeably worry when I have to lie.

Please note that there are items that are better left unmentioned. You should not write, for example, that you:

  • like to be lazy;
  • afraid to take responsibility;
  • do not like to make decisions;
  • not punctual;
  • are often distracted;
  • think only about salary;
  • love office romances.

For example, by writing about your laziness in your resume, you risk: the employer will decide that you do not want to work.

It is known that there are no phenomena or events that would have only positive or negative consequences, therefore, each of the factors of the external or internal environment must have a comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms and results of the impact. In addition, it must be borne in mind that the analysis of the environment is carried out by certain persons who can evaluate events and phenomena in different ways, develop various approaches regarding the behavior of an enterprise in certain conditions. There is still a basic rule: you need to analyze the external and internal environment in their relationship and dependence.

Strategic balance is a certain combination of negatively and positively affecting the factors (threats and opportunities) that affect the activities of an enterprise, which objectively exist in the external environment of the enterprise and are subjectively changed by managers, with relatively strong and weak sides in functional enterprises. In addition, the greatest threats arise when the negative development of the situation in the environment is superimposed on the weaknesses of the enterprise, opportunities are situations in the external environment, a positive process or phenomenon in which the enterprise has the opportunity to show its strengths. It is necessary to identify threats in a timely manner in order to prevent the crisis of the enterprise, and knowledge of potential opportunities makes it possible to write in advance to use them most effectively.

Drawing up a strategic balance in Western literature is called SWOT analysis.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE ENTERPRISE, USED IN SWOT-ANALYSIS

Potential Intrinsic Benefits

Potential Internal Drawbacks

competitive advantages (uniqueness)

the most important features in the competence in relation to a certain activity

strong position in specific market segments, well-known leader

tough competitor in the market (use of aggressive initiative)

offensive strategy or other specific strategy, justified "strategy set"

promoting growth in the number of target consumer groups or their loyalty

above average market awareness

knowledge of the most important strategic groups, the ability to protect against competitors

concentration on fast-growing market segments

lack of real competitive

constant attacks from key competitors (competitive position is deteriorating)

loss of competitive position, as a result.

below average growth rates

lack of some key skills to compete effectively

lack of financial resources, insufficient profitability

loss of reputation with consumers

"grazing the back" in product development, narrow specialization or unreasonable diversification

work in a strategic group losing its foundation, shortcomings in strategic activities

weakness in areas that have great market potential, insufficient attention to research and development

product differentiation, sound diversification

cost-cutting competition

higher average profit and

sufficient financial resources

above average marketing skills

above average technological and innovation skills

creative, entrepreneurial management

well-studied market, needs

the ability to realize the possibilities of competitive skills of personnel

image of a reliable partner

lack of action to mitigate competitive pressures

weak distribution system

high cost production, aging capacity

the size of production is too small to influence the market situation or too large - the "disease of large companies" begins

lack of real special skills in the field of management, lack of talent

"Newcomer" to the business whose reputation has yet to be proven

poorly chosen and insufficiently substantiated strategic actions (including moving in the market), lack of a clear understanding of the strategic directions of development

lack of a strong position to deal with threats

GENERAL EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS TO THE ENTERPRISE ARE USED IN THE SWOT ANALYSIS

To develop strategies, it is not enough to state the influence of certain environmental factors. In order to ensure the survival of the enterprise in the long-term trade union perspective, it is necessary to predict the development trends of chances and thunderstorms. The fact that analysis and forecasting of trends should be carried out simultaneously is confirmed by the list of stages for conducting a SWOT analysis (Table 2.15).

The need to process large amounts of information predetermines the use of various statistical methods for data analysis: one- and multi-factorial, descriptive and inductive methods, methods of dependency analysis and methods of analysis of relationships. In many enterprises, when applying SWOT analysis, regression, variation, discriminant, factor and cluster analysis are widely used. The application of one method or another depends on the level of scaling of dependent and independent variables, as well as the content of the phenomenon or problem that is the object of analysis. The quality of the performed analysis ensures the reliability of forecasts based on it (see Section 2.7).

MAIN STAGES OF SWOT ANALYSIS APPLICATION

Analysis of the current situation (diagnosis)

Future analysis (forecast)

1. Analysis of critical internal and external factors

2. Assessment of external factors (expertise)

5. Forecasting development trends for each (selected) external factor

3. Evaluation internal factors(expertise)

4. Who are we and what are our competitive advantages (disadvantages)?

76 925 0 Hello! In this article we want to tell you about the strengths and weaknesses of a person. After all, everyone has to face this question when compiling a resume or during an interview for employment.

Strengths and weaknesses of a person

The strengths and weaknesses of the personality are closely related and should not contradict each other. Each person has their own disadvantages and advantages. As a rule, about strengths ah, we are used to talking, but we often keep silent about the weak.

An independent, purposeful and self-critical person always recognizes that there are many weaknesses in his character. And there is nothing wrong with that. We are all humans. But every purposeful person can turn his shortcomings into virtues through painstaking work on himself.

So, what are human strengths and how to find them? To do this, first of all, pay attention to your talents and skills. Here you will find your strengths. When you find your strengths, work on them, develop them. This will allow you to fully open up.

If you cannot independently determine your strengths for the questionnaire, ask your acquaintances and friends for help. Thanks to their opinion, you can discover advantages in yourself that you didn’t know about before. And in some ways your opinion will converge with the opinion of your friends.

In addition to the strengths in the resume, there is often a question about your weak qualities. You shouldn't be ashamed of them. If you claim that you are missing negative traits character, this will become a sign of an unformed personality for the recruiter. Which in the future is unlikely to help you get the desired position.

Table 1 - Strengths and weaknesses

What are your strengths if you: Your weaknesses may show up in:
Focused on resultsInability to keep silent
PersistentExcessive emotionality
hardworkingLack of willpower
Strong-willed personality
Self-confidentInability to speak in public
SociableExcessive irritability and aggressiveness
Organized and independent person
Take in information wellFormalism
You learn quicklyHyperactivity
Responsible for their actions and actions of subordinatesFear of traveling by air and sea
DisciplinedInability to lie
Love your profession and workprinciples
Active and energetic personLack of flexibility
patientmodesty
Honest and do not like to lieExcessive self-criticism
Have organizational skillsStraightness
love for formalism
PunctualPedantry
Are you a good performerpride
scrupulousImpulsiveness

Exceptions to the rules

When applying for a job, indicate in your resume those strengths that will help you get the desired position. After all, some of your strengths for some position may turn out to be shortcomings that the applicant should not have.

Here are the most common examples. For a device to the position of a manager, you should not talk about the ability to sing. This is unlikely to help you get a job. But if you tell the recruiting manager that you cook well, this will indicate your discipline, creativity, perseverance and accuracy. After all, to prepare a new dish, you need to spend a lot of time and effort on the choice of products and on the direct cooking process. In addition, a good cook is always creative in creating a new masterpiece, but always follows exactly in accordance with the culinary recipe.

Below we will give a few examples of what qualities you need to specify when applying for a particular position.

Table 2 - Strengths and weaknesses by specialty: examples

Strengths Weak sides

If you are applying for the position of an accountant, then you:

diligentYou don't know how to lie
Attentive to detailsAlways straight forward
Disciplinedscrupulous
PunctualFundamental
hardworkingdistrustful
Honest and decent personModest

If you are applying for a leadership position, you:

InitiativeHyperactive
ActiveA person with high demands
Focused on achieving goalsscrupulous
assertiveFundamental
Possess leadership qualitiesPedantic
Love to grow and learn new things
Self-confident

If you are an applicant for creative vacancies, you:

Have a creative mindHyperactive
Know how to work for resultsModest
Know how to evaluate your workemotional
Initiative

If you are applying for a manager or office worker position, you:

SociableAre you afraid of flights
Focused on resultsYou don't know how to lie
know how to listenFundamental
Self-confidentHyperactive
Speak wisely
Punctual
Know how to find a way out of difficult situations
Attentive and polite
Responsive
Have a creative mind

The table shows that not all positive sides it is worth indicating in the resume, as some are simply not needed to get the desired position or can “harm”. For the employment questionnaire, we recommend that you select such weaknesses that will help characterize you as a responsible and worthy person to occupy this position. The negative qualities of your character should help you fulfill the functions assigned to you.

What else should be paid attention to in the questionnaire or resume

  • Be sure to indicate on your resume that you always set goals for yourself and achieve them, that is, you are a goal-oriented person. At the same time, be persistent and always follow a pre-planned plan.
  • It is also worth pointing out that in the event of unforeseen circumstances, you can find a way out of this situation - you have a creative mind.
  • Another important component of any successful applicant is self confidence. This will characterize you as a confident person who is not afraid to take a step forward. You are not inclined to panic due to unforeseen circumstances, you are calm and confident in your abilities.
  • It is also very important the ability to communicate with people. Let it be customers, colleagues, subordinates, suppliers. You just need to be able to find with them " mutual language”, accept their point of view and correctly present their opinion.
  • Another positive character trait that must be indicated in the employment questionnaire is a responsibility. No matter what position you apply for, you must always be responsible for your actions. Otherwise, you will become a burden on the company, which will eventually lead to you being fired.

Also, when taking new position indicate that you are well trained. You can give examples from past work or university practice. When you come to new company, the first time you will need to study: learn about the company, about the features of its activities and learn how to fulfill your direct duties.

Exercises to identify strengths and weaknesses

Sometimes it is very difficult to determine your personal qualities on your own. Especially if you are nervous or writing a resume for the first time. To eliminate worries and unpleasant moments, make a list of your qualities before the interview. And how to do this, we will help you. So:

  1. Analyze your character. To do this, remember what you are good at and what is bad. And also what qualities are needed to perform these tasks. Write everything down so you don't forget.
  2. If you cannot independently assess your qualities, ask your loved ones and acquaintances whom you trust about it. They will help you find your strengths and point out your weaknesses.
  3. Assess your surroundings. Determine what positive and negative character traits your acquaintances have. Compare with yourself what you have and what you don't have. Write it down.
  4. Next, evaluate the qualities that you indicated. You need to select what from this list is your strengths and what is your weaknesses. Let's say that at the university you could not make a presentation in front of an audience. So your weakness is the fear of the public. But you made this report, which means that you are an assiduous, attentive, responsible and hardworking person.
  5. Next, from the selected qualities, you need to choose your personal and professional qualities.
  6. Determine what qualities a candidate for your job should have. Write them down.
  7. Now make a selection from your personal and professional qualities in accordance with the qualities that the applicant for the desired position should possess. Write it down.
  8. After the work done, identify your shortcomings and how you can deal with them.

Useful articles:

Character is a set of distinctive qualities of a person. A person is born with a set of properties that determine his individuality. Some qualities are stable throughout life (this includes temperament), while others are formed in the process of activity and can change.

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Character has positive and negative features, strengths and weaknesses, which are reflected in behavior and actions. Which of the sides will manifest itself more depends on external factors and the attitude of a person towards them, his reactions.

Types and traits

Character traits are formed from childhood. An important role is played by the conditions and environment, upbringing and communication.

In structure interpersonal relationships distinguish four groups of traits:

In psychology, there is another classification of character types, dividing traits by properties:

Individual differences between people are more pronounced in emotional sphere and are related to the peculiarities of human feelings: on what object or phenomenon attention is focused, how a person expresses his attitude. Volitional qualities help to achieve goals, not be afraid of difficulties and be successful. Morality regulates the behavior and consciousness of people in all areas of life. Intellectual traits characterize the mental activity of a person.

Character and temperament

Temperament, being an innate personality trait, affects the formation of character traits. The development and manifestation of strengths and weaknesses depends on temperament. The social environment has a significant impact on the emergence of new qualities, leaving the properties of temperament unchanged.

Character is expressed in the behavior and actions of a person, the totality of his traits is divided into negative and positive. Temperament manifests itself in manners and style and is not judged as "good" or "bad", it counteracts or contributes to the formation of certain character traits.

Advantages and disadvantages

Every personality has strengths and weaknesses. It depends on the self-esteem of a person, his attitude to people and work, which of them will be most pronounced. Weak traits character hinder growth and development, strong ones help to cope with difficulties, move forward and achieve goals.

Examples of Weaknesses:

  • Excessive emotionality, irascibility. It interferes with communication both in the family and in the team. The feeling of irritation, turning into anger, often splashes out on loved ones. A person allows himself to yell at the interlocutor, even insult. There are conflicts.
  • Pettiness. Giving of great importance trifles does not allow a person to focus on the main thing. Attention is scattered on separate, insignificant details, people are worried over trifles, picky about others.
  • superiority over others. Arises from a desire to gain more respect. People who put themselves above others are unrealistic about themselves.
  • Sloppiness. It reflects a person's attitude to himself and to the world, this is a manifestation of disrespect for others.
  • Touchiness. Unjustified expectations about the actions of other people lead to resentment and give rise to a desire for others to feel guilty. Resentment can turn into anger.
  • Distracted attention. Inability to focus on certain form activities, common mistakes, inattention, which causes irritation in others.
  • Lack of discipline. Frivolity entails non-compliance with certain requirements. In psychology, indiscipline is defined as a negative moral and ethical quality of a person, expressed as a violation of accepted rules of conduct.
  • Fussiness. Loss of self-control breeds erratic actions. Fussy people are constantly in a hurry somewhere, grab onto several things at once and often do not finish what they started.

People with strong character more energetic and successful due to an optimistic attitude. The list of strengths includes:

  • Purposefulness. This quality helps to achieve what you want, especially if you have self-confidence and perseverance.
  • A responsibility. The ability to analyze the situation and predict the consequences of your choice in advance. Decision making, readiness for any outcome of events and correction of possible errors.
  • Punctuality. It implies accuracy and systematic adherence to the rules. Punctual people are disciplined, they complete the tasks assigned to them on time.
  • Politeness. Ability to communicate tactfully and respectfully with others.
  • Fast learner. It greatly facilitates the process of self-development and improvement of one's professional qualities.
  • Organizational skills. Include: a tendency to leadership, prudence, initiative, exactingness, determination. Allow a person to form leadership skills to manage a team well.
  • Strength of will. This is an internal energy that is consciously activated and directed to achieve a result. Helps to overcome difficulties and achieve success.
  • Sociability. The ability to easily establish contacts, sociability, positive interaction with others.
  • Self-criticism. The ability to adequately assess their actions and admit mistakes, identify shortcomings in their own behavior.

Developing strengths

Each person is unique and knows what he does best. This is the talent that must be developed in order for the activity to be enjoyable. It is important to find the path of self-realization and do what brings joy.

When attention is paid to personal growth, then the assessment of opportunities will be a significant point. Psychologists advise:

  1. 1. Analyze your strengths and weaknesses and make a list.
  2. 2. Choose what to work on, focusing on strengths.
  3. 3. Attend a seminar or training on a relevant topic.
  4. 4. Engage in self-development through creativity or another hobby.

Constantly expanding their skills, a person strengthens the strengths of the character, and corrects the weak.

How to deal with character weaknesses

Weaknesses are not negative personality traits, but traits that should be improved by constantly working on yourself. Daily planning will help with this. Actions according to the plan will relieve fussiness and teach discipline. The plan for the day can be changed, but always highlight three main points in it that must be completed. This will develop the skill to distinguish the main from the secondary and not waste time on trifles.

Being aware of your strengths and weaknesses will help you improve your personal life and develop professional communication skills. Self-knowledge is an excellent tool that, due to difficulties or discomfort, many people neglect. What you consider to be your strength may not be so in the eyes of other people, which makes it difficult to attribute some character traits person to one of the categories. Although you will mostly have to rely on personal experience, there are exercises to help you identify your professional and personal strengths and weaknesses. Below are also tips for applying these techniques in real life situations to get the most benefit, such as interviews.

Steps

Part 1

Awareness of one's capabilities

    Appreciate your efforts. The very readiness to understand what you are strong in, and what should be given more attention, makes you strong man. For this lesson, you will need inner endurance. Don't forget to cheer yourself up and remember what a wonderful person you are.

    Write down everything you do. To identify your strengths and weaknesses, think about the activities you often participate in or enjoy the most. For a week, write down all the activities that you do during each day, rate them from 1 to 5 on a scale of enjoyment.

    Move on to reevaluate your values. It is sometimes quite difficult to recognize your strengths and weaknesses without first identifying your main life values. “Values” refers to the beliefs that shape your thoughts about yourself, other people, and the world around you. They form the basis of your approach to life. Spend some time reassessing your values ​​so that you have a better idea of ​​what aspects of your life are good and bad, regardless of the opinions of others.

    • Think about the people you respect. What attracts you to them? What traits of their character do you appreciate? Do you own them yourself?
    • Imagine that you have the opportunity to change one thing in your society. What will you change and why? What does this say about your values?
    • Think about the last time you felt satisfied or happy. When it was? What happened? Who was next to you then? Why did you feel this way?
    • Imagine that your house is on fire (but all pets and people are already safe) and you can only save 3 items. What will you save and why?
  1. Examine your responses for the presence of a particular pattern. After reassessing your values, look for similarities in your answers. For example, you admire Bill Gates and Richard Branson for their entrepreneurial spirit and creativity. This suggests that you value ambition, competitiveness, and ingenuity. Perhaps you want to do something about poverty in your society so that everyone has a house over their heads and food on the table. This suggests that you value people, social activities and work for the benefit of humanity. You may have several core values.

    Determine if your life is in conflict with your beliefs. Sometimes people discover their flaws when, for some reason, their lives don't align with their core values. Living in alignment with your values ​​will make you a congruent person, which in turn will increase your sense of satisfaction and success.

    • For example, you value ambition and a spirit of competition, but are stuck in a hopeless monotonous job with no opportunity to prove yourself. You may consider this a disadvantage, because such a life does not correspond to your idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhat is really important.
    • Or maybe you are a young mother who values ​​learning and wants to return to teaching. Due to the fact that one value (achievement of education) contradicts another ( family life), you may think that the status of a "good mother" is a disadvantage. In this case, you need to learn how to balance your values. Wanting to go back to work doesn't mean you don't want to spend time with your child.
  2. Consider the situational meanings of values. Determine what advantages and disadvantages are characteristic of social conventions or customs in a given situation. Social conventions are established in a certain geographic area or ethnic group, a set of rules governing interpersonal interactions in the hope of maintaining social boundaries. Having an idea of ​​accepted conventions will help you determine what is considered a strength or weakness in a particular geographic area.

    Practice answering questions before the interview. To gain experience, conduct a trial interview with someone you know. Ask a friend to ask you questions and try to describe yourself to him. Repeat this as many times as needed and the maximum number people until you feel comfortable describing your strengths and weaknesses. At first it will seem to you that you are reading from a piece of paper, but over time you will begin to feel more and more at ease.

    • Overcriticality
    • Suspicion (in relation to superiors, colleagues)
    • Excessive exactingness
    • slowness
    • Excessive talkativeness
    • Oversensitivity
    • Lack of confidence
    • Lack of tact

  3. Recognize the harmfulness of your shortcomings. They may affect your work. Talking about how your weaknesses have affected or could potentially affect your work can be impressive. This will demonstrate your insight and honesty, however, you should still be tactful in what you say.

    • You can, for example, tell them the following: “At the moment I am slow. I understand that this affects the amount of work I can get done and also potentially affects the amount of work that my colleagues can get done. In college, I was able to fix it because I knew the system, figured out how to deal with it, and got everything done on time. I understand that in the professional world this will not work, as this is the wrong approach to work, achieve my goals and achieve my goals. ”
  4. Give examples when you talk about your strengths. It's one thing to communicate that you have amazing communication skills, but it's quite another to show them off. Illustrate your strengths with real, supporting examples from your personal or work life. For example:

    • "I am very sociable person. I choose my words carefully, avoid using ambiguous words when communicating. I am not afraid to ask additional questions in communication with people of a higher position, if something is not clear to me. I try to imagine how various people can interpret my questions or statements.”
    • You can also show off your strengths and skills by sharing past accomplishments and success after your hard work.
    • If you have achieved any award or recognition, you can talk about them.
  • Be careful when defining desires not to include "false desires" in the list. These are desires fueled by the mistaken belief that you are destined to work at the Foreign Office because you will then have to live in Paris, London and Rio, or that you want to become a movie star so you can go to glamorous parties and find a rich spouse. These are not desires, because they lack the feeling that your actions give meaning to your life, they are just fantasies. You must understand the difference, otherwise you may make the biggest mistake of building a career around fantasy instead of using your innate strength and sense of purpose.
  • Weaknesses take time to correct, so take a break if you are unable to immediately come to a solution. Also, don't waste your time trying to turn a weakness into a strength. First, look for a workaround by developing your skills that you are able to change. Then think of ways further development your abilities, which will become yours hallmark because they are given to you by nature.

Warnings

  • During an interview, never brag about your strengths or whine about your weaknesses. Be direct and offer a way to overcome your shortcomings. As for the strengths, they must be real and at the same time modestly filed.
  • Try not to fall into the trap of thinking that you are doomed if you have weaknesses in addition to your strengths. No one is perfect and everyone has something to be ashamed of. Imagine yourself in the role of an interviewer and think about how you would react to a person who would not stop boasting that he had no flaws.