What is your biggest weakness?

Ah, the dreaded "weakness" question.  What is your biggest weakness?  I will tell you my honest opinion of this question: it's a horrible interview question.  Good interviewers will no longer use this question.  However, most people who conduct interviews for positions are not seasoned interviewers, and thus many are told to ask this question.  So how do you best answer it?

First, I will answer that question with how not to answer it:

Don't say you don't have a weakness.  I have heard this.  This just makes it sound like you are lying or really cocky.  Both are bad first impressions that will become a lasting negative impression on the interviewer.  We all have weaknesses - we are human. 

Don't spin a negative into a positive.  This is what many people have been told to do for years.  However, it sounds like you are either BSing the interviewer, or it just sounds super corny.  My favorite: the "My biggest weakness is that I'm a huge perfectionist.  [example of how this can be a weakness]  However, while this can be a bad thing, it's also great because I am detail-oriented and won't quit until the job is done correctly."  Blah blah blah.  They've all heard this before and it just sounds cheesy.  Be honest and genuine, not a fake broken record.

Don't be too honest and overshare or bring up something that's detrimental to the position.  On the opposite side of being fake and cheesy, you also don't want to be so honest that you dig yourself into a hole.  I once had a student that I was conducting a mock/practice interview with that answered this by giving me a list of at least 3 weaknesses and examples to boot!  Don't do that.  Also, if you know Excel is a required skill for the position, for example, don't tell me you are not strong at Excel.  It won't help you in convincing them that you are good fit for their position.

So, how should you answer this question?

Talk about something that is/was a weakness, but you are working to improve upon this weakness.  Give a specific example and talk about the steps you are taking specifically to improve this skill/quality, and maybe even an example of how it has improved. 

For example, "Something that I am working to improve are my public speaking skills.  A few years ago, I could barely stand in front of a classroom of students and give a speech.  However, recognizing this was a weakness, I decided to sign up for some Toastmasters groups.  In these groups, we were assigned to give a speech each week.  At first, I was really nervous, and was shaking, but I went through with it each week.  The rest of the group members provided feedback on how to improve, as well as things I did well.  This helped me feel more confident and allowed me to keep practicing.  In fact, just this past week, at work, I had to give an impromptu talk to a group of over 100 clients.  I barely flinched.  Aftewards, I received many compliments from both the clients and other staff members about how great of a speaker I am and that I am a natural.  While I definitely still have room to improve, this is something that I am proud to say I am working to overcome."

This example should be specific to you and not anything that would be completely detrimental to the position. 

(One thing I will discuss in a future post is how to appropriately give examples like the one above using the STAR(T) method.)

The key to answering any interview question, including this horrible one, is to think about the reason behind the question.  For this question, they want to know that you can recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, and work to improve any weaknesses that you have.  We all have weaknesses, especially when we first start in a new position, and they want to see that we won't just settle in knowing our weaknesses, but we also seek ways to improve ourselves.  In addition, it shows that you are human.  Be genuine and honest, but not too honest.  It will go a long way!

The Entry-Level Catch-22: Getting the "1-2 years of experience"

Here's the situation:  You have just graduated from college/grad school and are looking for your first full-time, entry-level position.  You are ready to apply the knowledge that you learned in the classroom to the real-world setting.  You have all of the skills necessary, are excited, and enthusiastic.  You start to search for jobs and what do you see?  The "Must have 1-2 years of experience in the field."  You double-check that this stated it was an "entry-level" position.  This begs the question:

How do you get experience if no one is willing to give you the opportunity to gain the experience?

It's the dreaded Catch-22 of job searching.  I was there once, and I was just as frustrated.  However, there are things that you can do to gain the experience to help you land the position:

• Volunteer.  Yes, volunteer in your field.  While it is not paid full-time experience, it's still related experience, and will also allow you to meet people in your field.
• Intern.  I don't care if you've already done one internship - do another one!  It's hard to find an internship for post-graduation, but they are out there.  If you are interested in a company, ask what unpaid or part-time opportunities are available to get your foot in the door.
• Find a part-time position in your field or at the company of interest.  Once you get your foot in the door, people will get to know you and also recognize your abilities.  They are more likely to hire people internally than externally.
• Network and join professional organizations.  Attend conferences and other meet-up groups.  (Meetup.com is a great resource for this.)  This won't necessarily give you the experience, but will keep you current in the field, and allow you to network with people at organizations of interest.
• Take classes or work toward a certification, license, whatever else is extra in your field.  For instance, if you are in the IT industry, work toward some certifications.  This again keeps you current and up-to-date on the latest trends.  And, it makes you more marketable.
• Apply anyway.  You never know.  You may think your experience and qualifications do not meet their standards, but let them decide.  It doesn't hurt to apply - you have 100% chance of not getting the job if you don't apply, and you have at least a chance of getting a call back if you do apply.
• Find an unrelated job that allows you to gain related skills or experience.  This is the "plan B" of sorts, but can help you talk about how while you have not worked directly in the field, you have gained similar or related experiences and skills.

All in all, stay active.  Don't just sit at your computer sulking and then apply to any job under the sun.  Keep yourself current and keep applying and networking!

For those of you who are still in school, keep all of this in mind.  Employers are looking for people with related experience, so do at least one internship before you graduate.  At least one!  Internships are a great way to learn about what you like or don't like, and also an even better way to network and get your foot in the door.  In addition, you'll have gained that experience that they are looking for. 

You may be able to find a company that is willing to train, and that is great.  Many do not have the resources now to do so, and thus, using the tips above can help you get the experience necessary to land that dream job!

Tip: A Positive Attitude Goes a Long Way...

"I'll never get a job." "There are no jobs out there." "No one will hire me." "I'm not getting any calls back." "The economy and job market stink."  I could go on and on with all of the negativity that I hear from job seekers, the media, and the like.  And while some (or all) of these things could be true at one point in time, letting the negativity take over and allowing it to show to others can be a huge detriment to your job search.

Think about this: would you rather talk to someone who was always down and complaining about something or someone who was upbeat, positive, and looking to new opportunities/the future?  Or how about this: are you more likely to approach someone (a stranger) to ask for help if they are smiling (not creepily) at you with a friendly face or someone who looks angry and upset about something?

While no one can or should judge a book by its cover, we do make assumptions about how a person might act or react by how they look and act, especially a person's facial expressions or attitudes.  This means that the awesome first impression that you are trying to make with an employer of interest could start with your attitude when you are applying for that job.  It really does make a difference.

Here are some tips for keeping a positive attitude throughout the job search:

1.  Allow yourself time to do something you like to do each day.  It could be to read, sleep in, watch your favorite show, listen to music, take a bath, go for a run, play with your dog, spend time with friends, go out to eat, and so on and so forth.  Do whatever it is that makes you happy.  This will re-energize you and get your mind off of the job search.

2.  Start catching yourself thinking negatively, and then switch it to a positive thought.  This is when it really helps to journal and make note of the positive things that have happened each day.  Take all of the negative experiences (e.g., a bad interview) and write down what you can learn or have learned from that experience.  Use it as an impetus to do well in the next interview or submit an even better resume.

3.  Vent.  Talk to people about your search.  If you are frustrated, let it out on a friend or relative.  Get it out before you apply to positions or before you go into the next interview.

4.  Exercise.  Yes, this is a great way to relieve stress, but it's also a good way to clear your mind and get refreshed.

5.  Surround yourself by positive people.  That means turning off the news, stopping reading negative news articles online, and not spending time with all of the negative people in your life that try to bring you down.  Surround yourself with people and things that are positive and good for your job search.

These are just 5 small tips for getting that positive attitude out there.  The final tip: fake it until you make it.  Smile more.  Talk positively.  The more you do this, the more you will start to believe these things and act this way naturally.  Above all, be yourself and look forward to the new opportunities that await you.  You can do it, you just have to believe in yourself!

So do I really need to submit a cover letter?

Ah, cover letters.  Do you really need them?  I get this question all the time from students and alumni alike.  No one wants to write them, because they are a pain in the behind.  Are they really necessary?

I guess the question you want to ask yourself is "do you really want the job?"  If the answer to that is "yes" then yes, you need to write a cover letter.

Don't start moaning and groaning on me.  They are not that bad to write.  Once you've written one, they are a lot easier to write, tweak, and send out to the next employer.  However, please, please, please - do not send the same cover letter to every employer, only changing the contact information.

Yes, you need to tailor your cover letter to each employer/position to which you are applying.  Yes, that takes time.  However, if you spend two seconds just changing the contact information and such, you may 1 - accidentally forget to change something and 2 - will more than likely never receive a call back.  Instead, if you spend the 10 minutes it takes to really tailor the cover letter to the position, you will be sure that you are sending a great product AND you will probably get more interest from employers.

Here are some quick tips on cover letters:

1.  They should be one page (or less).  I have seen some that are longer, and really, just like with resumes, it may depend on the position, but no one really wants to read a 5-page cover letter.  Keep it concise, but interesting.

2.  Use the job description for the position to which you are applying for "clues" on what to put in your cover letter.  What are the requirements for the position?  What makes you think you are a good fit for that position?  Emphasize how you have the qualifications, skills, and experience needed and how you demonstrated those skills.

3.  Give a specific example without repeating your resume.  Think of the cover letter as a "teaser" for your resume.  They should be reading this first, and so you want them to read this and think "I NEED to look at this person's resume!"  Include a specific example from an experience that talks about how you demonstrated whatever skill set that you are referring to.  For instance, "Your position requires experience in working with international students.  I have over 3 years of experience working with international students gained from my position at University of Illinois.  For instance, while serving as an advisor, I worked with international students from China and Japan and assisted them in obtaining internships, along with CPT."  (You get the idea.)  Don't just talk generally about the skills and experiences that you have, give an example! Everyone can say they have the experiences, but show them that you have them!

4.  Use "confident" language.  Avoid saying "I feel" or "I believe" or "I think."  This makes it sound like you aren't 100% sure if you are a good fit for the position.  Yes, you want to be humble, but you also want to come across as confident.  If you aren't sure if you are a good fit, how can they be sure?  TIP:  I have a habit of saying "I feel" a lot in cover letters.  I often just let myself write like that, without paying too much attention.  I then go back and look for these phrases and replace them with "I am confident that" or just take out the "feel" and instead of saying "I feel like I am a good fit" I say "I am a good fit for this position because...."  Make sense?

5.  Keep it concise!  Again, while you want to give examples, you don't need to write a novel.  Your resume will provide more details on those examples.  You want them to want to read your resume and also talk to you in person.

Those are just some quick tips.  As far as the format of a cover letter:

1.  Include your contact information first.  You can left justify this or you can use your same header from your resume.

2.  Include the date next, a couple of spaces down.

3.  Include their contact information.  This includes the name of the person you are sending it to.  If you don't have a specific name, try to get it.  If you can't find it, then use the position title at least.  Never say "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam."

4.  Start out with Dear Mr./Ms. [last name]:

5.  The first paragraph should tell them what position you are applying for and where/how you heard about the position.

6.  The second/third paragraphs (can be 1 or 2 paragraphs) should be the part where you really detail why you are a good fit for the position, using the tips mentioned above.

7.  The third/last paragraph should refer them to your enclosed resume, as well as thank them for their consideration and tell them you are looking forward to speaking with them soon.

8.  Sign it.

If you are e-mailing your documents, you can copy this into the body of the e-mail and then also attach a hard copy to the e-mail, along with your resume.

Cover letters are also a sample of your writing, so be sure to have someone else look over it to make sure you didn't have any typographical or grammatical errors, or any spelling errors.  Also double check your contact information and the person's contact information to which you are sending it!

There you have it.  Cover letters can be a pain, but once you get the hang of them, they are really not that bad.  In fact, if you don't have a ton of related experience that is evident from your resume, this is a great time to explain why you are making a switch to a different field.  Use cover letters to your advantage, even if they are only "optional."