Excerpted from From
Here to There by Larry Stuenkel
These questions
are similar to what you can expect during a real interview. Being
prepared will enable you to think on your feet.
The suggested replies, excerpted from From Here to There
by Larry Stuenkel, aren't intended to give you one correct answer.
Rather, the answers should reflect your personal frame of reference,
based on your motives, goals, work skills and aspirations. The replies
are meant to stimulate your thinking, not to be memorized.
Q. What is your biggest strength? Weakness?
When stating your biggest strengths, you should refer to your resume
and reiterate one or more of your most current significant accomplishments.
Discussing areas of weakness can lead an applicant to talk too much
and give information that could be devastating to their campaign.
It is suggested that in the area of weakness, you should state that
sometimes you are "too hardworking," pay "too much attention to
detail," or are "too critical" of your work. Who would not want
to hire someone who is hard working, pays attention to detail, or
who is critical of his or her work?
Choose positive qualities and attach the word "too." Avoid using
words like "workaholic." A workaholic is not looked upon positively.
Try saying, "Sometimes, I am too demanding upon myself. Sometimes,
I am too quality-oriented. Sometimes I am too concerned with broad-based
concepts."
