No matter how qualified you are for a job, the interview process can still be intimidating. In most cases, the interview is the one thing separating a good candidate from snagging the job! While we have tons of resources to help you set yourself apart from the competition, there’s one trick that never fails: honesty. We’ve all heard the phrase, “honesty is the best policy” and that still holds true for the interview process. Here are some tips to help you use honesty to your advantage in your next interview:
Play Up Your Strengths. This is the easy part! Don’t be afraid to brag a little about yourself (without going overboard, of course). If you know you’re really good at a certain skill the employer has an interest in, lay it out there! While it can be uncomfortable to highlight your own achievements it’s the best way to make sure the employer knows how capable you are.
Don’t Beat Around the Bush. When an interviewer asks about your weaknesses, don’t be afraid to come out and say what they are. At this point, the “perfectionist” answer doesn’t cut it. Be able to concisely describe to the interviewer any areas you genuinely feel you need improvement on. They understand that you’re a human being, and they don’t expect perfection from you! Asking about your weaknesses is just a quick way for them to see if you’ll actually be a good fit for the position.
Explain Yourself. When you do come clean about what you need to work on, inform your interviewer that you plan on doing just that–working on it. Never tell a potential employer that you’re bad at something and leave it at that; follow your response with ways you’ve been working to improve yourself. This lets them know that you’re not only honest about your faults, but willing to work on them.
For more interview tips and job search help, contact us today!