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The past few installments have addressed ways to answer key job questions. We finish up with one of the hardest ones which, when answered properly will help you know how to face an interview - "What are your weaknesses?" There are 1 or 2 alternative ways to respond to this question. The best way is to admit an earlier weakness but then show how you have dealt successfully with it. Maybe in the past there was part of your job that you were obviously very weak in. This could have resulted simply because you were promoted to a new position or because your other strengths were so good the business was willing go live with this inadequacy. You took a training course and got a high mark, so eliminating that weakness.

This is a brilliant answer for plenty of reasons. It demonstrates a high degree of honesty and the ability to critically look at your own performance - just as significantly it truly helps with how to face an interview successfully. Never underestimate the significance of this as many people are terrified of appearing very weak and instead of this try and make themselves look immaculate, which is simply not realistic. Getting help further reflects a willingness to become better the ability to take initiative and the need to increase your contribution to the company. Another sufficient way for many to respond to this is to give a characteristic that in one sense can be taken as negative but may also be viewed as positive. An example is "I often hand in projects right at the last minute because I would like to carefully check everything to make certain it is right". While regularly successful this method can come across as shallow if not said with the proper sincerity and tact.

A better one is to explain a scenario where you were working in a team and you brought in an additional person who was proficient in an area you were not and how this improved the overall output of the collective output. Just like the best answer above, it conveys truth, a scarcity of self-esteem, and the need to put the results and the company ahead of your own ego. Others teach you to state a weakness that has no bearing on the position at all. Perhaps your typing speed is slow - no problem because you have applied for a promotional position. This is a somewhat safe answer in the sense you've not announced anything too damaging, but if you recall that every interview question is "Why should I hire you?" you have not done that and risk appearing evasive.

Take a deep breath. The interview is over and it's time to completely relax. Whether you get the job or not, prepare yourself for the following interview by carefully learning as much as possible from this one. Many people bring a notepad or laptop computer on the interview and store it in their automobile or tote bag. After the interview they head to a cafe or another relaxing place and fully review their interview performance, asking themselves both the highlights and the lowlights of the interview. Many folks limit the full benefits of this process by only reviewing what went right.

Those who will succeed first look at what went wrong and then practice, practice and practice some more so they decrease that weakness as much as feasible. This is proving to be one of the clearest differences between the elite and the lackluster - their willingness to take on problems head on and to make them vanish, leaving them more prepared for how to face an interview. Take notes and review them on a regular basis. Practice with a pal who can give truthful feedback and watch that problem disappear.