Interview Skills

How to Construct a Response

• If it feels daunting to generate an answer from scratch, you
can rely on a simple formula to construct your answer.
The “present-past-future” formula is a way to share key
background points while ending on a high note.
• Begin with a brief overview of where you are now (which
could include your current job along with a reference to a
personal hobby or passion)
• Reference how you got to where you are (here you could
mention education, or an important experience such as a
past job, internship or volunteer experience) and
• Finish by touching on a goal for the future.
 What Not to Say
• Don’t share too much or too little information. The interviewer
doesn't want to know everything about you, but disclosing too little
can make him or her wonder why you aren't more open.
• Avoid potentially contentious subjects such as political or religious
leanings, unless you are absolutely positive that your opinions would
be well-received by your interviewer.
• Don’t talk about a hobby that might seem to be more important to
you than your career. No employer wants to take a chance on hiring
someone who will miss a lot of work or ask for extensive vacation time
to pursue their passions outside of work.
• Avoid sharing personal information about your family. There is no
need to discuss spouses, partners, children, or any other strictly
personal information.
 Key Takeaways
• BE HONEST: Don’t claim hobbies and interests that
aren’t your passions.
• TIE YOUR ANSWER TO THE JOB: Use your response
to demonstrate skills and qualities that are valuable
in the role.
• AVOID CONTROVERSY: Don’t talk about politics,
religion, or anything that could cause offense.
• DON’T GET TOO PERSONAL : You don’t need to
share information about your family or personal life.
 Possible Follow-Up Questions
• What is your greatest strength?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• What motivates you?
• What are your goals for the future?
• Why do you want this job?
 "What is Your Greatest Strength?"
How to Answer
• How should you answer questions about your
strengths? The best way to respond is to describe
the skills and experience you have that directly
correlate with the job you are applying for.
• Be prepared to answer by making a list of the
criteria mentioned in the job posting and then:
• List your skills that match those the employer is
seeking. This list can include education or training, soft
skills, hard skills, or past work experiences.
 "What is Your Greatest Strength?"
• Narrow down your list of skills to three to five
particularly strong skills.
• Next to each skill, note an example of how you
have applied that strength in the past.
• This will prepare you for when the employer
asks you to elaborate on a particular strength,
and you'll be able to share examples with the
interviewer.
 Tips for Giving the Best Response
• Prepare a response: Creating a list of your strengths (as
they relate to the job) will help you to answer this
question with confidence.
• Discuss your key strengths: Stay focused on a couple of
key strengths that relate directly to the position and the
company. A focused, relevant answer with one or two
examples will impress your interviewer. 
• Share what you have to offer: Keep your answer to-the-
point and focused on the attributes you will bring to the
job and the company. Your goal is to sell the company on
why you're the person they should hire.
 What Not to Say
• This is not the time to be humble. While you don't want to
exaggerate your strengths, you should be comfortable
articulating  what makes you an ideal candidate. On the other
hand, you do not want to answer this question with a laundry
list of vague strengths. And neither do you want to seem
boastful or arrogant.
• As with any interview answer, it's best not to ramble or speak for
an eternity. Here are examples of answers that you shouldn't
give:
• I am probably the most gifted applicant you will
ever meet. Everyone says that I am extremely intelligent, hard-
working, and a fabulous communicator.
 What Not to Say
• My greatest strengths are writing, project management,
quantitative research, event planning, budget development, and
social media.
• I'm a talented musician, the life of the party, and a great joke
teller. I roll with the punches and don't take defeats too seriously.
• I should tell you about the time when our fraternity was under
pressure. The president had mismanaged some money, and a lot
of the brothers had gotten into trouble for hazing and partying
too much. The dean called all the officers into her office, and they
had a hearing about all our transgressions. I took over the
leadership and turned things around, and we are now a well-
respected fraternity with no problems.
 Key Takeaways
• WRITE A RESPONSE: You don’t need to memorize an
answer, but if you write out a few ideas of what you want
to say, it will make it easier to answer the question during
the interview.
• FOCUS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS: Focus your response on
which of your accomplishments most closely match the
employer’s requirements.
• PITCH YOUR CREDENTIALS: The interview is an
opportunity to sell your credentials to the hiring manager.
When you respond, be prepared to show why you’re the
best fit
Interview Question: "What Is Your Greatest
Weakness?"
 Option 1: Discuss Non-Essential Skills
• One approach to answering this question is to analyze the key skills and
strengths required for the position you are interviewing for and then come up
with an honest shortcoming that is not essential for success in that job.

• For example, if you are applying for a nursing job, you might share that you are
not particularly adept at conducting group presentations. In this case, it would
be critical to underscore your strength in one-on-one communication with
patients while providing an example of your difficulty with presentations to
large groups.
• Likewise, if you’re applying for a position as a writer, you could focus on a skill
that isn’t required for the job, as in the example below.
• Why It Works: This response features a weakness that isn't critical for success
at this job. It also shows how the candidate has improved and upgraded her
skills.
Option 2: Mention Skills You Have Improved

• Another option is to discuss skills that you have improved

upon during your previous job or that you are actively
working on improving. This shows the interviewer that
you’re committed to self-improvement.
• If you use this strategy, be sure not to mention anything
that you improved upon that would be critical to the
position for which you are interviewing, as you don't want
your qualifications for the job to be questioned.
• Why It Works: This response works well because it clearly
shows how the candidate has improved upon the skills
needed to do the job effectively.
Option 3: Turn a Negative Into a Positive
• Another option for answering is to turn a negative into a positive.
For example, a sense of urgency to complete projects can be
turned into a positive; e.g., you are a candidate who will make
sure a project is done on time. Or perhaps you find yourself with
an attention to detail that leads you to triple-check every item on
a spreadsheet and proofread every email you send twice.
• Regardless of what you say, it is critical to indicate that you are
mindful of this trait and capable of preventing it from interfering
with your productivity.
• Why It Works: The candidate is showing the interviewer that she
has the time management skills to focus on a detail-oriented
project.
 More Examples of the Best Answers

• Review more examples of answers to help you

frame your own response.
• Why It Works: The candidate is mentioning a
weakness and showing how he solved the
problem.
 Tips for Giving the Best Answer

• Prepare a response. It can be easier to respond when you have

an idea of what you want to say.
• If you’re coming up blank, reviewing  examples of weaknesses
 may help get your wheels turning.
• Be honest. It’s important that your answer be authentic and
tailored to your own circumstances. Of all the questions that you
are likely to be asked in an interview, this is not one where you
want to risk coming across as disingenuous.
• Turn a negative into a positive. Frame your response in a positive
manner so that whatever you portrayed as needing improvement
is seen as an accomplishment rather than a weakness.
 What Not to Say

• Don’t go overboard. It’s important not to talk too much

about your weaknesses or what you need to improve.
You don’t want the interviewer to perceive you as a
candidate who isn’t qualified.
• Don’t say that you’re perfect. It’s important not to
come across as arrogant or dishonest by claiming that
you don’t have any weaknesses.
• Keep it positive. You may have noticed that the term
"weakness" isn't used in the sample answers. You
always want to focus on the positive when interviewing.
Interview Question: "What Motivates You?"
Interview Questions About Your Goals for the
Future
Want This Job?"