“Should I volunteer a weakness?” one of my clients asked me.   “Something tells me I shouldn’t.”

Your best tool in writing a good resume’, is your common sense, or Emotional Intelligence.

Don not talk about your “weaknesses” unless you’re asked as such statements are always open to gross misinterpretation.   

When I took my first job, I announced “I’m horrible at math.”  To MY horror, all work demanding “math” was removed from my desk, severely limiting my chances for advancement, and leaving me to puzzle how to counter without appearing to “protest too much”.   

Later I made it through graduate statistics just fine.  I had MEANT “my math is lower in relation to my other skills and also that I don’t wake up in the morning hoping to balance someone’s books.” 

When you won't have a chance to “explain,” be conservative. Focus on what you're good at.  Unless you’re in a field with such high demand you can apply with a bone in your nose avoid leading with the “bone in your nose.”

Avoid things that could elicit a possibly negative reaction from the hirer.  Why say "president of the young republicans” when you could say “president of a political organization".
  
Talk to your broadest audience.  For hobbies, put “working out” not “Chi Gong,” and “music” not “rap music”.

If you’re asked what your weaknesses are, here are some suggestions:

“My love of variety, though in a job like this that might come in handy.”

“One weakness I have is that I tend to take a position and stay there.”

Present a weakness as “in process,” i.e., “In moving into management, I’ve realized it's a lifelong proposition, and I’m always eager to strengthen my skills.” 

Other suggestions:

          • Cold calls.  Do you have training in this?
          • Computer skills.  There’s always something new I want to learn.
          • Trade shows.  Will I get a chance to learn this?

There’s no reason to serve up your weakness without a little whipped cream on top!

Avoid giving other people's opinions, such as "I've been told I'm weak at managing people."

You can also use phrases such as

          • Like most people who work for nonprofits, I’m sometimes too soft-hearted.
          • Because of my military career, I’ll need to learn some new vocabulary.  

Put some things easily remediable, such as:

          • PowerPoint.  Never had access to it. 
          • Public speaking.  Have only given about 10 speeches.  
          • Grant management, financial.  The bookkeeper did that. 

In an interview to become a Development Officer, I was asked why they should consider me when I hadn’t done it before.  I said, “This job would put me on my growing edge.  That’s why I want it.”  I got the job.

Employers value people who are willing and eager to learn new things, welcome challenges and are resilient.    

If you're not willing to do something, say so, but if it's something like not wanting to work for a woman/man/star-bellied snatch again, look at it this way.  If you put this on your resume, it flags you as someone too picky, too opinionated.  And why eliminate yourself out the starting gate?  You could be offered a job meeting your requirements.  You’re always free to refuse a job that’s offered, but never free to accept one that isn’t.

Don’t lie about anything.  It’s not the right thing to do, and it can damage you in your field, because people talk.   

Emotional Intelligence is about Intentionality, Personal Power, thinking ahead, putting yourself in the other person’s place, and not shooting yourself in the foot.

Susan Dunn

Susan Dunn, MA, Relationship & EQ Coach, susandunn Coaching, Internet courses and ebooks for your personal and professional development Susan is the author of "Midlife Dating Survival Manual" for women. Mailto: sdunn@susandunn.cc for more information and free ezine.

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