How To Communicate Your Strengths in a Job Interview

Now correlate each skill to the current opening. Think hard about how all of your abilities can be put to use at the position you want.

Prepare for difficult questions. If you quit your last job to follow a band on tour, be ready to put a positive spin on it—maybe you were considering writing a book about the experience rather than just goofing off?

Get out the thesaurus and look for words to describe your attributes that aren’t as clichéd as “hard-working,” “dedicated,” and “team player.” Or else you might as well say, “I work hard, yadda yadda.”

Come up with concrete examples of your attributes. For example, if you plan to say, “I’m a good manager,” be ready to follow it up with proof of how you spurred people into action.

Turn negatives into positives. If you’re asked why you only stayed at your last job for six months, say it was a bad fit and you didn’t want to remain where you felt you couldn’t do your best.

If, despite all your preparation, a weakness is revealed during the interview, don’t panic. Owning your weaknesses can be a strength. Acknowledge them and say how you plan to overcome them.