Character weaknesses for resume. Personal qualities for a resume
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When applying for a job, your application form becomes the only link with your employer. Get Good work It’s difficult without the correct presentation of your own capabilities. However, many serious ones require filling out an insidious item - weak sides character.
In a resume, every word written is important. Do not fill out this line hastily!
Your weaknesses on your resume should be a mirror image of your strengths.
How to turn weaknesses into strengths on your resume
But you shouldn’t be too zealous in listing your shortcomings. And there is no need to reproach yourself for your personality weaknesses. Remember that what is good for one person is unacceptable for another. For example, for someone you are wasteful, someone will consider you generous; Some will see greed in you, others will say - economical.
Present your employer negative traits character, wrapped in a beautiful wrapper. For example, for an accountant, unsociability can even be useful in work, but a manager with this quality will have a hard time.
Expert opinion
Natalia Molchanova
HR manager
Find 2-3 traits of your character that will be considered a minus in ordinary life, but from the point of view of the chosen profession they turn into undeniable advantages.
What weaknesses should you include in your resume?
You should think carefully about this. Sometimes writing a few words about yourself is much more difficult than you thought. After all, what’s at stake is working in a reputable company, and the well-being of the whole family may depend on your ability to show your weaknesses in your application form.
Of course, there is no guarantee that the next employer will take you on to their team. There is no doubt that the future boss will not only not put him aside, but will show his interest and will certainly want to meet. So what trump cards will we have in store to beat our competitors?
Be truthful
The habit of exaggeration will come in handy here. If the employer does not require you to dwell on negative qualities, then there is no need to write anything. Then focus on your strengths as a specialist by mentioning your strengths. If your resume needs to be written in any form, then focus on your positive aspects as individuals and specialists in the field.
But what shortcomings should you include in your resume in order to become the first applicant for the long-awaited position?
- Firstly, as we have already said, so that the employer does not get the impression of you as a person with painfully inflated self-esteem, in no case do we ignore the point about shortcomings.
- Secondly, don't deviate from your resume writing style. When talking with an interlocutor live, it is much easier to convey information to the listener: you can use gestures, facial expressions, and focus on his reaction. In the case of a resume, a special approach is needed, because the manager sees only what is written.
- Thirdly, the boss will not be able to help but note the honesty of the resume, where you will briefly report your shortcomings, based on some important points.
Don't chase the standard
When reviewing a resume, each employer looks at the situation from its own angle. Sometimes the same character trait can be viewed in two ways. For some it will turn out to be the positive side medals, and some people can be blacklisted for having such character traits.
Expert opinion
Natalia Molchanova
HR manager
For every field of activity you need individual approach . In teamwork, leadership qualities will only hinder the team, and for a manager, the ability to accept own solutions will be quite useful.
Be intellectually mature
It is important that you are aware of your imperfections and do not take criticism with hostility. After all, only an intellectually mature person can calmly and fairly conduct a personal assessment of his positive and negative sides.
It is undoubtedly easier for an employer to give preference to a mature personality than to educate an unbalanced person.
Show your willingness to work on yourself
Having presented your negative qualities to the general court, be sure to indicate that you are actively fighting against the shortcoming you indicated. You can’t let your employer think that you live comfortably with this negativity.
It could be shyness or impulsiveness. You can point out their manifestation in accordance with the situation, and make it clear that you are waging a persistent struggle against the presence of these disadvantages: expanding your connections and striving to keep your ardor under control.
Let's look at a simple example in a resume, where the weaknesses of the applicant turned into a positive side from a professional point of view.
"IN Everyday life you are unable to refuse people, and because of this you do not have your own personal life. However, the boss may consider this quality more than beneficial for him. Having hired a reliable employee, the manager expects that he will always be able to rely on such an employee, no matter what issues the assignment concerns. This trait can be simply invaluable for personnel who work under someone’s direct supervision.
Present your strengths as weaknesses
Psychology is a very interesting science. Of course, it’s not worth filling out the field for shortcomings with the phrases “increased responsibility” or “workaholism.” The manager will immediately accuse you of dishonesty.
To take a highly paid position and, along with it, a future boss, you need to:
- gullibility - you will be perceived as a person capable of concluding agreements exclusively with trusted partners;
- self-confidence - they will see you as a leader inclined to move forward;
- hyperactivity - they will place bets on the speed of completing assigned tasks commensurate with other employees;
- slowness - they will find in you a scrupulous worker who can see mistakes and notice important nuances;
- increased anxiety - they will note a responsible approach to work and their responsibilities;
- straightforwardness - you will be considered a master of negotiations who will confidently insist on the terms and requirements of the company;
- demanding - they will think: if an employee is demanding of himself, then you will treat production processes with no less responsibility;
- pedantry - will determine the ability to bring initiatives to perfection through repeated checks;
- restlessness - they will see you as an employee who is ready to carry out new tasks and assignments regardless of external factors;
- modesty - will be included in the number of employees who weigh what is said, which helps prevent conflict situations and unnecessary misunderstandings.
For the resume of a future accountant, the following can be used as an example of weaknesses:
- suspicion;
- excessive pedantry;
- increased anxiety;
- straightforwardness;
- scrupulousness;
- modesty;
- inability to lie;
- pride;
- lack of agreement in work situations;
- scrupulousness;
- an inflated sense of responsibility;
- inability to negotiate.
But for specialties that require direct communication with a wide audience, this list of qualities is extremely unsuitable.
For example, a manager can indicate in his resume:
- restlessness;
- hyperactivity;
- demandingness;
- impudence;
- stubbornness;
- self-confidence;
- straightforwardness;
- impulsiveness.
Why does a manager want to know about your shortcomings?
If the future boss decides to include a “character weaknesses” column in his resume, then he cannot ignore it.
Be yourself, believe in yourself and you will succeed, and finally, video
The recruiter makes the first opinion about the applicant, and, as you know, the second chance to produce good first there will be no impression. Therefore, the point about character weaknesses often confuses the candidate.
Do I need to indicate my shortcomings in a custom resume? There is no definite answer to this question, but for most vacancies this is not necessary and will not be a significant disadvantage when considering your response. However, if such a question is in the questionnaire, then ignoring it would be a big mistake.
If you are filling out a resume on a job search site and there is this item, you should not skip it. You can limit yourself to writing the standard 2-3 characteristics and move on to the next point. But if you really want to make an impression, it's better to be thorough in filling out every item on your resume. If in a dialogue we can paraphrase a phrase, focusing on the behavior of the HR manager, then in a resume every sentence should speak only in your favor.
By including a question about weaknesses in the questionnaire, the employer certainly does not expect your absolute honesty. Rather, he wants to test the candidate’s ability to answer complex questions, not ignore the manager’s instructions, simply his adequacy. After all, if a person has nothing to tell about himself, then is he such a good worker and is it worth wasting time on an interview.
What answers should you avoid?
So how to answer tricky question about your shortcomings? First, let's look at what is better not to write:
- You should not put a dash or completely ignore this item. For a recruiter, such an act is a signal of the candidate’s inattention, lack of desire to carry out complex or unpleasant instructions from his superiors, and inability to correctly evaluate himself.
- Write a list of 10 or more shortcomings. For most companies, it is enough to indicate 2-3 qualities.
- Describe those aspects of character that can really interfere with the chosen job. For example, laziness, conflict, unpunctuality, etc. will definitely not brighten your appearance in the eyes of your future boss.
- Lie outright. Even if the quality you specified in the point about weaknesses will be perceived positively when evaluating the questionnaire, but in reality you do not possess it, the truth will quickly become clear and there will definitely not be any praise for deception.
17 Jan 2018 Recruiters often ask candidates to list their weaknesses. Target this issue is for the HR specialist to understand how potential employee is self-critical, whether he evaluates himself correctly and whether he is able to perceive criticism. The applicant can independently indicate his negative sides in your resume, however, do not forget to emphasize your skills and abilities. In this article we will tell you how to correctly present your negative qualities in your resume and give illustrative examples, But first things first. First, consider the basic rules for filling out the section on shortcomings.
If an employer sends you an email or asks you to fill out a resume form from the company before a meeting, then most likely there will be a question about your weaknesses. Under no circumstances should you put a dash. If this section is present in the application form, then the employer is definitely interested in this item. Dash in in this case will be regarded as an inability to soberly evaluate oneself and inflated self-esteem. Also, do not get too carried away when filling out this section. Remember that disadvantages can become your advantages. For example, being unsociable for an accountant is undoubtedly a plus. But for a sales manager it is obviously a minus. Remember that your adequacy, self-criticism and truthfulness are being assessed, and not how many shortcomings you have. Examples of undesirable personal qualities in a resume - shortcomings that are definitely not worth mentioning I am often late;I am fond of gambling;Availability bad habits(alcohol, smoking, etc.); I am often distracted; I work only for the sake of a salary; I like to have office romances; I am lazy; I am greedy; I am hot-tempered; I am passive; I am envious; I am careless; I often feel indifference to what is happening around me, I like to live in my own world. Disadvantages that may not work in your favor: Pedantry; Individualism; Self-criticism; Self-esteem; Hyper-reactivity; Modesty; Mistrust; Conceit; Straightforwardness; Vanity; Self-confidence; Excessive exactingness; Painstaking. Before pointing out certain shortcomings, read the requirements in the vacancy and draw up an approximate portrait of an ideal employee. After that, highlight character traits that will not hinder you or will help you in your future work. Good weaknesses for a resume: Inability to respond to rudeness with rudeness; Increased demands on others; Tendency to make decisions based on one’s own opinion; Reluctance to act to please others; I can’t always accurately express my thoughts; Prone to reflection; I trust people, sometimes too much; I spend a lot of time assessing of my actions and actions; I can get carried away with work and forget about a break; I let all situations pass through me; I don’t know how to swear; I don’t know how to lie. Neutral qualities: Fear of insects, snakes, mice and other living creatures; Fear of airplanes; Lack of work experience (for those starting a career or changing field of activity); Age (for people over 40 years old); Love of shopping. A list of negative qualities of a person should not be included in a resume contradict your line of work or call into question your professionalism. So, for example, to get a job as a sales consultant, you can indicate: reliability (is a plus when working with clients); excessive scrupulousness (will be a plus when working with money); an inflated sense of responsibility (usually sellers are financially responsible for the product, and this “flaw” is simply necessary for a good salesperson; excessive love of communication ( important point in working with clients, which is also a positive “disadvantage” for retail.) Negative qualities for an accountant can be the following: Distrust of people and love of facts (or rather, numbers); Discharge from disorder (everything should be in its place and only so);Slowness (when working with large sums There’s definitely no point in rushing); Excessive attention to detail or pedantry.
“What are your strengths and weaknesses?” - this is a question you will most likely be asked at any interview. And the column “Strengths and Weaknesses” is simply missing. But if you’ve already decided to write about it, then let’s “put everything in at its best». Universal Rule– even your weaknesses in your resume should be attractive to the employer. For clarity, let's look at a few examples.
Weaknesses in a resume (relative to the requirements of a specific vacancy):
- There is no work experience at all (but there is specialized education and a willingness to gain experience with “0”)
- No specialized education (but have work experience and a desire to develop in this profession)
- No knowledge special programs(but there is a desire and readiness to master them as soon as possible)
- There is a small child (but there will be no more maternity leave, grandparents help with the child)
- Insufficient level of proficiency foreign language(but there is a desire and readiness to “pull it up” in the shortest possible time)
It’s definitely not worth writing about character weaknesses on your resume.
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Strengths in your resume
Strengths on a resume are essentially your experience, education, knowledge and skills. There is no need to highlight any of this in your resume. It is better to emphasize during the interview that thanks to experience, education, knowledge, skills and your personal qualities you are a suitable candidate for the vacancy.
Character strengths can be mentioned in a resume. More often than not, these are all your personal qualities. Try to get away from the hackneyed “communication skills”, “punctuality”, “responsibility”, “dutifulness”, “high performance”. Describe your qualities in simple phrases. For example, “I find it easily mutual language With strangers“,” “I take a responsible approach to solving the tasks assigned to me,” “I always complete the work efficiently and on time.”
Examples of undesirable flaws in a resume
There are shortcomings that are not advisable to point out, as they can scare away the recruiter. Examples of such shortcomings:
- habit of being late;
- love of gambling;
- bad habits (cigarettes).
There are also disadvantages that in themselves are not so bad, but mentioning them may also not work in your favor. The undesirable list of shortcomings may include:
- excessive demands (you are not loyal and can provoke a scandal);
- habit of expressing your opinion (you do not know how to listen to the opinions of others);
- painstakingness, the desire to complete the work, despite the late hour (you do not know how to plan time).
To understand what shortcomings can be included in a resume, study all the requirements specified in the vacancy and try to imagine psychological picture the person the employer wants to see in this position.
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What shortcomings to include in your resume: list of examples
Psychologists and experienced recruiters advise that when listing shortcomings, select those weaknesses that may turn out to be strengths for future work. Examples of your shortcomings in your resume include the following:
- hyperactivity;
- pedantry;
- scrupulousness.
Pointing own shortcomings, try to turn them into advantages. Here are the shortcomings you can indicate in a manager’s resume:
- demanding of oneself and others;
- perfectionism;
- emotionality.
All these qualities can be used to your advantage, because all of them, ultimately, indicate that you are responsible for your work.
You can do things differently and reformulate your shortcomings, softening their meaning. For example, the same pedantry can be disguised with the words: “I like to get to the bottom of things and bring the work to perfection.”
Finally, you can list shortcomings in your resume that will have virtually no impact on your future job. You can report your fear of airplanes and spiders. If your job does not involve frequent flights, and you are not going to get a job as a manager, for example, in a pet store, then all these shortcomings will not compromise you in any way. This means that you can safely indicate them.
