' Peter Urs Bender's Guide to Strengths and Weaknesses of Personality Types

Each personality type has different strengths & weaknesses. Here are some things to watch for in yourself, and in the people you work with. Type Analytical Strengths Thinking Thorough Disciplined Amiable Supportive Patient Diplomatic Driver Independent Decisive Determined Expressive Good communicator Enthusiastic Imaginitive Potential Weaknesses Excludes feelings from decisions Goes too far; perfectionist Too rigid or demanding of self/others Tends to conform to wishes of others No time boundaries; things do not get done Not assertive or directive Has trouble operating with others Does not take time to consider other perspectives Domineering; too focused on doing it "my way" Talks too much Comes on too strong Dreamer; unrealistic

The Analytical
The Analytical is polite but reserved, logical, fact- and task-oriented. This persons focus is on precision and perfection. Other strengths include persistence, diligence, caution, and a systematic approach. Weaknesses involve being withdrawn, boring, quiet, reclusive, and even sullen at times. If he or she seems indecisive, its because of a need to assess all the data. Perfectionism can be a fault if the Analytical pushes it too far.

This person is definitely not a risk-taker. The Analytical needs to be right, and wont openly discuss ideas until confident in a decision. His or her pleasure is accuracy. Pain is to be wrong and criticized. When communicating with an Analytical
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Be systematic, thorough, deliberate, and precise Focus on the task Be prepared to answer many how questions Provide analysis and facts Dont get too personal Recognize and acknowledge the need to be accurate and logical Dont rush unnecessarily Expect to repeat yourself Allow time for evaluation Use lots of evidence Compliment the precision and accuracy of the completed work. Portrait of an Analyticals office

The first thing you notice will probably be the glasses. The Analytical will have worn out his or her eyes from constantly reading everything. On the wall you may see a framed degree, but the chief decoration will be charts, figures, and graphs of every kind. The analytical is not very friendly, will often greet you skeptically, and doesnt want to share much especially anything personal. There will be no flowers or plant; for the Analytical, they belong in greenhouses. On the desk will be only business-related information, and that will be carefully arranged. Its not a power office, but it definitely will be functional. As for color, black and white will do nicely. Symbol: Owl.

The Amiable
Devoted, consistent, dependable, and loyal, the Amiable is a hard worker and will persevere long after others have given up. He or she is a team player, cooperative and easy to get along with, trustful, sensitive and a good listener. Working in groups with cooperative individuals, the Amiable tries to avoid confrontation. He or she enjoys company, performs best in a stable

environment, and often has a stabilizing effect on others. Weaknesses include indecision and an inability to take risks. Amiables are often too focused on others, conforming, quiet, and passive. They often wont speak up for themselves, are too compliant and nice, and often painstakingly slow to make decisions. The Amiables pleasure is stability and cooperation. His or her pain is change and chaos. When communication with an Amiable
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Be relaxed and agreeable Maintain the status quo Be logical and systematic Create a plan with written guidelines Be prepared to answer why questions Be predictable Agree clearly and often Use the word we Dont push Dont rush Compliment him or her as a team player Be a good listener Portrait of an Amiables office

The first thing you will notice will be pictures of loved ones on the desk: husband, wife, family, favorite pets. Theyll be in a candid style, and the Amiable loves to talk about them. On the walls will be colorful photos of landscapes, waterfalls, birds, and sunsets. Youll find flowers or plants that are growing well and office colors that are harmonious and restful. The person will almost certainly be dressed in colors that match. Furniture will be fashionable, but not overwhelming. Files are present, but usually kept out of the way. If youre a little late, the Amiable wont mind. If you have the Amiable in your company, he or she will stay with you. The Amiable likes company, newsletters, picnics, gatherings, and retirement parties. Symbol: Dove.

The Driver

The Driver is a high achiever a mover and shaker who is definitely not averse to risk. The individual is extroverted, strong-willed, direct, practical, organized, forceful, and decisive. Look for someone who tells it the way it is and is very persuasive. Watch out or youll be worn down and bowled over. A driver is task- rather than relationship-oriented and wants immediate results. This individual is not concerned with how something is done, but what is being done, and what results can be expected. What is his or her battle cry. Whats going on? Whats being done about it? What you should do is ! The Driver can be stubborn, domineering, impatient, insensitive, and shorttempered, with little time for formalities or niceties. He or she can also be demanding, opinionated, controlling, and uncompromising or even overbearing, cold, and harsh. The Drivers pleasure is power, control, and respect. His or her pain is loss of respect, lack of results, and the feeling that he or she is being taken advantage of. When communicating with a Driver
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Focus on the task Talk about expected results Be businesslike and factual Provide concise, precise, and organized information Discuss and answer what questions Argue facts, not feelings Dont waste time Dont argue details Provide options. Portrait of a Drivers office

Of course, it must be the corner office with two windows, but the Driver never looks at the view. Pictures on the wall are of battlefields, maps, and boats. The Driver is a multi-tasked person and can sign letters, hold interviews, and talk on the phone simultaneously. Office furniture contributes to the impression of power and control, and is the most expensive and incredible available.

The office may also contain flowers and plants, even exotic ones like orchids (carefully chose to contribute to the impression of power), but the Driver never looks after them. Theres an assistant to do that. On the desk are often family portraits, but never candid shots. They are formal portraits showing everyone in his or her proper role, frozen forever as the Driver sees them. The office will probably be decorated by an interior designer to create the feeling of power, and the colors of the office will be strong power colors. Curt and tough, straight to business. Thats the Driver at work in his or her den. Dont waste time. Get straight to the point! Symbol: Eagle.

The Expressive
The Expressive, a verbally adept personality, is engaging, accommodating, supportive of others, persuasive, socially adept, and relationship- rather than task-oriented. He or she loves to be one of the gang, and is always ready for something new and exciting, especially if the gang is ready to participate. Additional strengths include enthusiasm, diplomatic skills, and the ability to inspire others. Weaknesses involve impatience, a tendency to generalize, verbal assaults, and sometimes irrational behavior. The Expressive can also be egotistical, manipulative, undisciplined, reactive, unorganized, and abrasive. The Expressive readily exchanges information and life experiences. His or her main need is to be appreciated and accepted. The Expressives pleasure is recognition and approval. His or her pain is isolation and lack of attention. When communicating with an Expressive
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Focus on developing a relationship Try to show how your ideas will improve his or her image Be enthusiastic, open, and responsive Relate to the need to share information, stories, and experience Be forthcoming and willing to talk Ask and answer who questions Remember to be warm and approachable at all times Work to minimize his or her direct involvement with details or

personal conflicts. Portrait of an Expressives office In short, its a mess. The Expressive loves favorite sayings and has them plastered on the wall or sitting on the desk. Files are never in a filing cabinet. Rather, theyre piled all over the office in stacks. But dont be misled. The Expressive knows exactly where everything is and can find virtually anything by its location. Office colors will probably be loud and lively. If there are flowers or plants, theyre likely dead either talked to death or lacking water. The Expressives greatest reward is personal acknowledgment from others, and examples of this will be displayed. The Expressive is an excitable dreamer, with lots of ideas and projects, but without the time to follow them up. Symbol: Peacock

What are your strengths and weaknesses' in an interview?

Explaining Strengths and Weaknesses in an Interview Nobody is perfect!! You must remember that nobody is perfect and that this possible employer knows that. A really great way of telling someone about a flaw is to always add a suggestion of improving that flaw. For example you could say, "I'm always told that I am a bit too slow... but that's only because I want to do the best job I can. I guess you could say I'm a bit anal when it comes to perfection." An employer can only look at that as being a great characteristic, and in no way a negative quality to possess. Talking about your strengths is a tricky one; you do not want to come across as egotistical. From my interviewee, an excellent answer I like to get is this: "I am very headstrong. I really like to be challenged in my job, and I just want to learn as much as I can in my position. At the end of the day I need to be able to look back on my day and feel good about the job that I've done. I guess you could call it sense of self worth. That's why I always put my all into everything I do."

Here is more input and examples people have given for strengths:
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Your strengths should already be noted in your resume and cover letter. Go over them (i.e., the strengths) again with the interviewer. One of my biggest strengths is my communication skills. I work very well with all kinds of people, and understand that everyone has different perspectives about projects and work tasks - so when I work with others I realize that everyone comes to the table with different priorities and objectives. I keep this in mind when I communicate tasks that need to be accomplished with positive reinforcement and awareness of what others are working on. A positive attitude will not differentiate you from the crowd. A good attitude is expected of every employee. Also you should back up what you say with an example. For example, don't just say you have good customer service skills prove it by also telling them how you won a company award or received positive customer comment letters for your good service. My strength is my flexibility to handle change. As customer service manager at my last job, I was able to turn around a negative working environment and develop a very supportive team. Hard worker Punctual Determined Able to prioritize Believe in myself; self-confidence I have the ability to cope with failures and try to learn from my mistakes. I like to work in team and have been an active participant and organizer at several places.

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One of my greatest strengths I've acquired during my education is good analytical and planning skills. This has always benefited me to set goals and try to achieve them. But at the same time, I'm driven by the thoughts of success. Full commitment to my work Highly energetic Love to learn new things. Having good interpersonal skills Well organized and like to be neat with all of my work A good helper towards those who need it I am a team player and work well with others. I have great communication skills. I am a quick learner. I have great problem-solving skills and am willing to learn new things to get the job done.

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Here are notes and examples of weaknesses:

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You should answer with things you "are improving upon," e.g., "I believe I should always be improving upon myself, good or bad." You are answering the dreaded question without looking like an egotistical maniac, and showing the interviewer that you see yourself as a work in progress, trying to better all of your qualities. For your weakness, just pick one that is not going to disqualify you from the job, and then follow up with - this is what really matters - the examples of what you are doing (or have done) to fix your weakness. The most important point here is to show that you learn from your mistakes and your weakness, and you are taking the corrective action to fix the situation - and stress that! For example, if the job does not require public speaking, you can say that your weakness is you are afraid of speaking in front of the public. Then tell

the interviewers that you have joined a Toastmaster club or public speech course to overcome the problem. Remind them that when you identify a problem, you actively take actions to correct it, and that is how you do things.
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Don't try to use a cliche or try to present a strength as a weakness by saying your weakness is that you are a workaholic. No one will believe that answer. Being too emotional will make the recruiter wonder if your interpersonal skills are lacking. Give a true weakness but one of modest size. Shows that you have taken steps to correct the weakness. For example you want to improve your MS Excel skills so you are taking a course on that now. I used to have trouble with procrastinating, now I have learned to write down a list of things that I need to do, and keep a calender to keep track of deadlines. I have found that this not only helps me to finish things on time, but it has also helped me to be more organized. For my weakness, I always say that some people say I'm over-friendly. You can't go wrong with that one. Usually, the person interviewing is like "Oh, that's not a bad thing at all." I'm a little egoistic when it comes to winning things and get a little ruthless too. I lose patience sometimes when I am not in a position to complete the assigned job in time. I have to work on having more patience and giving myself a break, because I always want everything done at once. Tend to go to any limits while helping my friends. I am too focused on my work and I need to find more time to relax. I'm too focused on work and need to develop some after-hours hobbies.

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And examples of combination strength-weakness answers:

I'm a workaholic person and love to dedicate myself to the work I'm doing. But at the same time I forget to keep a balance between other things which I'm trying to improve on. Take whatever is your best quality and also describe it as your worst. It often is, as we are all made up like two sides of a coin. Try it out with different qualities and accomplishments and see how it works. For example: The best thing about me is that I am able to see the big picture in a situation. The worst thing about me is that I can see the big picture in a situation. This is the best thing because I can remove myself from the emotion of a decision that needs to be made and act accordingly. It is a bad thing because I often can see the conclusion quicker than the other participants in a project and that can cause frustration sometimes amongst them. My strength is my flexibility to handle change. As a software developer at my last job, I was able to turn around a negative working environment and develop a very supportive team. Always turn weakness into a positive. If you lack experience or skills for example state this but also state that you are willing to learn, or that it is an area which you would like to improve on. Example 1: "I do not have much experience with customer service, but I would like to gain experience in this area. I get along well with people, I am able to listen and am a good communicator so I feel that I would get on well in a customer based environment." Example 2: "I am not too experienced with computers, but I am always willing to learn new skills. I have used computers a little in the past and this is one area which I would like to improve on. I am usually very quick at picking up new skills especially when it is something that I need to learn."

Notes on interviewing
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This question unfortunately has become a staple in the interview process and is an easy way out for an interviewer who can't think of any other questions. The reason this is a bad question is simply this: If someone has a weakness that could jeopardize his chance of getting the job, he will never reveal it. So the only answers that this question receives are false answers intended to

placate the interviewer. A good interviewer won't ask this question. I'm always tempted to answer this way: "Mr. Interviewer, I always have a hard time with that question. What would your answer be to the question?"
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A good interviewer wouldn't dream of asking someone this question. As the interviewer, you will not get truthful answers from the weakness part of the question, and as the interviewee, you can end up coming across as egotistical and boastful when answering about your strengths. A good interviewer shouldn't want to make you uncomfortable.

Answer Sample "My strengths are my ability to be flexible; I've seen companies go through changes in structure and management philosophy. I've had to adjust my style to the new environment several times. My weakness is my tendency to over-work so I pace myself now." The key is to turn the weakness - a negative character trait - into something positive.

No Trick: Honesty is the best policy Whatever you do, tell the truth. While there are certainly answers that interviewers prefer to hear, it has to match reality. Why? First, it's generally not good to get hired for a job that you're not matched well for. If you like new, exciting, dynamic situations but you're looking for a job on an assembly line, you're not going to be happy; saying that you like repetitive work doesn't make sense. Second, any good interviewer will check your references. If your answers don't match what they hear, you're almost certain to lose the chance for job. Don't ever list as a weakness the following: "I take on too many things and work to hard, and just don't know where to stop." It's a cliche, completely transparent, and I can tell you that it rarely makes the desired impression.

Another opinion This question is usually asked by prospective employers from candidates applying to them for employment. To answer this question the following procedure should be helpful: 1. Find out what nature of work "the team" in question does. 2. Assuming you are interested in that type of work, list what formal training courses you have taken and qualifications acquired in that field or a related field. Next, mention whatever practical experience you in the field. List any relevant worthwhile achievements you have made. Such specifics will carry lot of weight. 3. As a general plus point, say that you are a team worker and get on well with others, if you feel this is true.

An interviewer's perspective I ask this question and whenever I get an answer like "I work too hard" I know I'm dealing with somebody that I can't really trust, and that I'm going to have a hard time developing an open and honest working relationship with. And I know that I still don't know the person's other weaknesses. At least with me, an interviewee has a much better chance if I think he or she is honestly telling me about a weakness. And then I can decide whether or not I can work around that weakness. One person told me that he needs fixed deadlines because otherwise he keeps finding additional things to add and it's hard for him to finish the project. I decided this was something I could live with and I hired him. We all have weaknesses. And if you think you're going to outsmart me with nonsense or evasion, you're hurting your chances with me.

Strength Examples List of Strengths

Here are some aspects (with detailed explanation) that you may put forward as being your strengths:

Learning agility and effective personal communication skills Most researches show that the single best predictor for who will perform well and succeed in a new job is the one who possesses learning agility(a quick learner) and the one who can adjust himself/herself to changes and new situations, such as a new workplace. Also, effective interpersonal communication skill is one of the best personal traits. Past performance or even experience, skills and intelligence are not as important as learning agility and communications skills. HR and recruiters are aware to these facts Self Motivated and Determined To achieve success, one needs to be self motivated and determined to succeed. Without self motivation, it is quite possible that even the best of employees will languish in the company without achieving any success. Success Oriented and Natural Leader All companies search for an individual who has the drive within himself or herself. Frankly, the company would not have time to actually sit back and look out which of their employees has that next big idea, or which of the employees is not working according to their talents and resources. Therefore, it is best that a company have a self appointed mentor who keeps these things in mind and speaks about them at the appropriate time. This characteristic is necessary for team leaders, supervisors, executive managers and project managers. Team Player No man is an island. And in todays world, like never before, a person requires a group of people with whom to succeed. Therefore, being a team player in todays world is almost as important as any academic degree. Hardworking This is one of the most common traits found in a successful boss as well as a successful employee. It is said that success is ninety percent hard work and ten percent thinking/brain activity. Any company would like to have a hard working employee. Therefore, you can speak about hard-work, dedication and commitment as your strengths. Intelligence and Self Confidence Being intelligent does not mean being the only person in the room who can drive a plane, but a person who has the simple logic and practical knowledge that goes with running a proper team.

Job Interview: What Are Your Weaknesses Examples & List of Weaknesses
Several interviewers will also ask whether you have any weaknesses. When it comes to weaknesses, make sure that you describe the weaknesses that are ambiguous enough to be converted into strengths. Here are some of the weaknesses that are generally discussed.

Getting Nervous around people Today, with the advent of the new work culture where a person seldom meets another and where the only time people speak to each other is during coffee breaks, there are some people who have become introverts. This causes some people to become nervous about giving presentations and speeches. Being a Debater Some individuals are too passionate about work and require a reason for any change that is introduced in the company. Though this is good for the project and the product, it might rub some people the wrong way. Going out of ones Way There are several people in organizations all over the world who take all kinds of work from their colleagues, whether it is their work or not. While these people are an asset to the company, they may create antagonism. Lack of some skills No person has all the requisite skills for the job profile. This is one of the greatest disadvantages that one has, because once a person starts earning, they find it difficult to go back to their learning ways. Remember that these are just concepts and you should back up each of these strengths and weaknesses with an example.

Some other strengths & weaknesses (per job title) to consider:

Here is an additional strengths and weaknesses list Strengths Leaders and managers: Ability to prioritize, planning skills, well organized, multitasking and assuming responsibilities and duties. Possessing the capacity to cope with failures and trying to learn from past mistakes. Customer care, Call center and sales: Communication skills, patience, having good interpersonal skills.
Programmers and R&D: A quick learner who enjoys learning new things. A team player who shares knowledge and ideas with colleagues.

Weakness Sensitive person: Taking things to heart and getting too disappointed when things are done in the wrong way. Too helpful: Crossing limits while helping teammates.

Summary

An interview is the short span of time spent with each other, in which a person has to decide whether the employee is perfect for the job or not. To establish this, the interviewer asks several questions. Some of the questions are quite simple and can be answered immediately, while some are not as simple and require some thought before the answer is given. One good example of this is the question regarding strengths and weaknesses