Hints to Cope as AI Moves Into the Job Application Process | News Radio 1200 WOAI


It may seem like artificial intelligence hasn't been around all that long, but it's making some aspects of business move so quickly that it's now possible to encounter AI when you're interviewing for a job, and some people are using AI to try to get that job.

The problem is it's turning the job market upside down in some instances, when you consider that job seekers' use of AI to write cover... letters has resulted in some employers getting wise to that, so they put less emphasis on cover letters and start emphasizing job interviews.

But then applicants find in their interviews that they're being interrogated by AI.

And the result is neither side is well-served by the use of AI, according to one recent survey.

Jobs and workplace expert Julie Jones says there are good ways to cope with these changes: just be flexible and keep your options open.

For instance, if you're interviewing with an AI program, don't treat it like a machine because the machine might be noting your attitude and perhaps even the very words you use.

In general, "the people who have the best people skills are really going to be the ones who survive this.," she says.

People skills will help in the long run because they'll help you get past the AI process and into an interview with a real live person.

And if you can't stand AI, think in wider terms.

"Be broadminded and think outside the box, for what other skill sets do I have or in what other ways can I serve, and look at some of the other jobs that are still needing human interaction."

And the rise of AI could be an opportunity.

It's only somewhat related to AI, but this year's Big Beautiful Bill will be helping small businesses by cutting paperwork and incentivizing efficiency, so going to work for, or creating your own, small business might be a good path.

And Ms. Jones says to remember the trades, such as electricians, plumbing and mechanics.

Or what about this: Continuing in your line of work but learning to specialize in working with AI; it'll make you more in demand in many cases and accepting AI will be a good cope because it's here to stay, Jones says.

"Those fields are opening up and they have jobs available right now, we can't fill them."
 
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  • A good employer would appreciate employees who continuously improve their skill set for personal development and better role performance. You can... agree with your boss on how to make good those 2 hours you will be taking off every week and strike a balance
     more

  • I agree with Joseph Kiryagana.
    A course that doesn't conflict with your work schedule would be perfect for you.

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  • Was an Azure badge or similar badge a required with the previous AWS job?

  • I totally get how frustrating this feels. I actually saw a story on Facebook about a recent grad who couldn’t get a job because he didn’t have... experience. Instead of waiting around, he started documenting his coding projects and skills online to stay relevant and fresh. When his current employer invited him to an interview, he even shared a write-up of how he solved a problem they gave him, and the interviewer was really impressed. He ended up landing a senior role because of it.

    Maybe you can try something similar showcasing your projects, AI app work, and problem-solving process could really make you stand out.
     more

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  • Dialogue is the best way to peace.
    Trying confronting the lady you and your co workers and have a peaceful dialogue with her.
    She shouldn't be the... reason why the management fired everyone  more

  • I understand the situation, but there is need to know the kind of job you guys does, also I want to ask if she had been given induction training has... she been oriented? In some organization it is not a right but a privilege. I advice you call her attention before the matter escalate. more

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  • Exactly @Hosain

  • It's literally your life, make your own decisions. Unless it would leave you homeless, you don't need to follow this advice from your parents. I... earned money as waitstaff for extra money, and one of the regulars offered me a job and I took it. It was a good job, and one which I did put on my resume (I didn't include the waitresses job, because it wasn't needed.) Not every job you have needs to go on your CV. However, putting a waitstaff job on your resume won't ruin it - employer's to want to know that you've had experience working with people, keeping track of money, and working hard. Good luck! more

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Inhuman Resources: The Double Standard of AI Use in Modern Recruiting


Getting laid off in 2025 comes with a new kind of exhaustion - not just from losing a job, but from knowing exactly what comes next: an instant rejection email and recruiter ghosting. 75% of resumes never even make it past ATS (Applicant Tracking System) gatekeepers.

Automation algorithms found a promised land in Recruiting. AI now writes job ads, screens applicants, schedules interviews, and... even predicts who's likely to accept an offer. Yet the moment a candidate is merely suspected of using AI, their application becomes untouchable. And this double standard is growing fast.

The result is a strange labor-market paradox: job seekers rely on AI tools to survive an increasingly AI-driven hiring process, yet the very systems meant to help recruiters often reject them for doing so. Here's a closer look at how the cycle works and why it's breaking down.

On the employer side, AI has become a practical necessity. With firms like Goldman Sachs receiving over 315,000 internship applications and Google surpassing three million, no recruiting team can manually process the volume. So AI makes the initial screening, filters applicants, runs assessments and engages candidates through chatbots. Recruiters often frame these tools as light automation - just a way to handle routine tasks. In reality, it defines which candidates ever make it to a human reviewer.

As a co-founder of a platform that helps job seekers make AI their go-to career assistant, I see that applicant tracking systems have become a barrier, allowing only about 2% of candidates to reach the interview stage, which is their first real chance to speak with a human.

While many candidates remain skeptical towards AI tools for job-search, according to the Global Work AI's survey, preferring to have everything under control, the market situation makes more people understand that they need AI to adapt to the recruiting practices.

So they turn to the tools like AI résumé tailoring, keyword optimization, LinkedIn profile rewrites, and interview simulations. Such tools don't fabricate experience; they are meant to help "speak the language" of the machines that are going to read them. And this works: optimized résumés dramatically increase callback rates, while AI-guided interview practice improves structure and confidence.

Yet the moment recruiters suspect that a candidate used AI, the tone shifts. On Reddit, stories circulate about immediate rejections triggered by nothing more than "pausing for 2-3 minutes during a technical assessment" or producing writing that seems "too polished." In one case, a hiring team admitted they planned to ghost a candidate because their video interview included brief gaps they interpreted as AI-assisted prompting, even though there was no evidence of cheating. Recruiters reject applicants for "AI vibes" while relying on opaque AI-scored assessments themselves. What counts as assistance for one side is misconduct for the other.

Sometimes, to get a competitive edge, applicants turn to more extreme tactics that can be viewed as unethical shortcuts. For example, a popular Tik Tok advice of embedding white-ink keywords to manipulate resume parsers. Some applicants admit it was the only way they could get noticed. While recruiters haven't made a common opinion on it, it definitely signals that excessive automation can backfire on recruiters.

Other practices,especially the use of deepfake tools during video screenings and browser plugins that help candidates answer recruiters' questions in real time, clearly cross ethical lines by undermining trust and distorting the hiring process.

But not all AI use is dishonest. Tools that polish grammar, tailor a resume to a job description, clarify achievements, or help candidates practice interview answers simply improve communication as a digital equivalent of a career coach or a skilled editor.

The real distinction is simple: ethical AI enhances your genuine experience; cheating tries to fabricate it. Until companies define these boundaries more transparently, candidates will continue navigating this grey zone on their own.

Whether people like it or not, AI is now a permanent element of hiring, and there's no sense denying it. What is worth discussing, though, are the acceptability of certain practices used by both candidates and recruiters.

Recruiting bias has always been a thorny issue, but algorithmic screening raises it to the next level. Models, trained on tons of biased historical data, quietly learn to sideline the same groups that have long been marginalized: women, older workers, candidates with disabilities, or anyone for whom English isn't a first language.

What looks like a neutral metric on the surface, for example an employment gap, can become a proxy for gender, age, disability, or linguistic background. This is where things get slippery: AI becomes a convenient mask for unethical behavior that's nearly impossible to prove or challenge, leaving job seekers confused, defeated, and shut out of opportunities they're fully qualified for.

It takes time for any major technology to find its place, and AI in hiring is no different. Right now, the tools are maturing faster than the norms around them, with both candidates and recruiters guessing about what's acceptable. And that uncertainty fuels mutual mistrust.

Of course, the rules, both official and unspoken, will eventually settle. The challenge is using this transition period wisely, giving space both to experiments, and not forgetting that AI should assist the human-to-human interaction, not break it. We can either let unclear rules harden into systems that amplify bias, or take the time to build transparent, fair, and human-centered hiring practices before the new status quo sets in.
 
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Opinion: AI could help companies find and hire truly creative people


Creativity is easy to praise and hard to recognize, though chief executives say they want to hire creative people.

Unfortunately, traditional recruiting filters out anyone who doesn't fit the mold -- the artist who taught themselves to code, the former teacher who became a data analyst, the entrepreneur who failed twice before finding a niche. These are precisely the kinds of unconventional... thinkers who drive transformation, yet they rarely make it past the first algorithmic screen.

They prize résumés filled with brand-name schools, familiar employers, and linear career paths. The result is a workforce that looks great on paper but too often lacks the imagination and boldness needed to navigate a rapidly changing world.

That may be about to change.

Artificial intelligence -- the very technology disrupting nearly every industry -- is beginning to reshape how companies identify and recruit talent. Used thoughtfully, AI can help organizations look beyond traditional credentials and uncover qualities that predict creative potential: curiosity, adaptability, and the ability to connect ideas across disciplines.

New AI-driven assessment tools can analyze language patterns, problem-solving styles, and even how candidates respond to ambiguity. Instead of relying solely on keywords or job titles, these systems can detect evidence of open-mindedness, experimentation and insight -- traits that correlate more closely with creativity than GPA or years of experience.

Some companies are already experimenting with this approach. Rather than asking for resumes, they present candidates with real-world challenges and use AI to evaluate how they think through problems. Others are analyzing internal communication data -- emails, chat threads and project notes -- to identify teams that demonstrate the kind of creative collaboration that drives innovation.

But there's a catch: AI can reflect the same biases it promises to fix, and if algorithms are trained on historical hiring data, they may simply reproduce old habits -- favoring candidates who look and sound like those already in the system. Creativity, especially from underrepresented groups or unconventional backgrounds, risks being filtered out yet again.

That's why the human element still matters. The goal shouldn't be to let machines make hiring decisions, but to use them as lenses that broaden our understanding of talent. When guided by human judgment and ethical oversight, AI can help recruiters see potential that traditional systems overlook.

In fact, this is where AI could make its most meaningful contribution to the future of work: not by replacing human creativity, but by helping us recognize it. The companies that thrive in the coming decade will be those that hire people who can adapt, invent and reimagine what's possible. Machines can analyze data, but only people can dream.

If business leaders are serious about innovation, they'll need to challenge their own comfort zones -- and the systems that reward conformity. AI, for all its risks, offers a rare opportunity to reset the equation. It can help us find the outliers, the boundary crossers, the restless minds who refuse to color inside the lines.

It is fashionable to claim to use AI in hiring, but the depth and sophistication vary widely -- much still depends on how the tool is designed and integrated, and whether human judgment remains central.

John M. Eger is professor emeritus in the School of Journalism and Media Studies at San Diego State University. He previously served as telecommunications advisor to President Gerald R. Ford, legal assistant to FCC Chairman Dean Burch, and senior vice president of CBS.
 
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  • Yeah, unfortunately this happens more than you’d think. Companies often check social media to get a sense of how someone might represent them, even if... it feels unfair. It’s frustrating because your personal life is your own, but sometimes they see it differently. Definitely not a reflection of your professionalism it’s just their policy or perception. more

  • Just for your own edification. look up the people who are principals at the company and the HR person and look at their linked in and social media... posts and see how they tow their own line. today's world is very superficial and full of people who say one thing but do the opposite. more

'Little Leaders' program helps St. Agnes students build confidence, connections


The group launched with a formal application process that required students to submit a short résumé outlining their skills and why they wanted to lead.

MOOSE JAW -- A student-led leadership program at St. Agnes School is helping younger students find their voice while strengthening community connections, including regular visits to residents at Pioneer Lodge.

The "Little Leaders" group,... spearheaded last year by St. Agnes teacher Kaelyn Turberfield alongside colleagues Holly Crompton and Diana Osiowy, was created after staff identified a gap in extracurricular leadership opportunities for students in Grades 3 to 6.

"I work with that age group, and I've always said that these kids are just so eager and imaginative. They just want a meaningful voice in their school, and they don't have as many opportunities (as older students)," Turberfield said.

"So we launched the program ... and the buzz that went through their classrooms was just really cool -- they were so excited to be a part of something."

The group launched with a formal application process that required students to submit a short résumé outlining their skills and why they wanted to lead. While all applicants were accepted, Turberfield said the process itself helped generate excitement and ownership among students.

Since then, the Little Leaders have met during lunch hours and taken on school-wide initiatives. Last year's projects included planning Valentine's Day and Earth Day activities. This year, the group organized a large-scale National Child Day celebration.

"They planned the entire day," she said. "They did an assembly that was completely student-led. They troubleshot everything. They created all the documents, all the slide shows, and all the speaking MC parts.

"They hosted families for a picnic and had play stations circulating throughout the school that all the kids could be a part of. Our teaching staff helped with the execution as well, but the kids were the big organizers of the day ... they handled it with so much confidence and we were so proud of them."

This year also marked an expansion beyond the school itself, as the group began visiting Pioneer Lodge once a month to connect with residents and build relationships through crafts, games, and conversation. Around seven to 10 students typically attend each visit, drawn from a core group of 10 to 15 members.

Ahead of the Christmas break this month, students shared songs from their school concert and joined residents in carolling.

"During the first couple of visits there was an apprehensiveness between the kids and the residents who live there, just because a lot of (the students) maybe don't have grandparents or they're not around that sort of setting very often," Turberfield recalled.

"But this visit, I think just because Christmas is naturally such a meaningful and exciting time, it was just so much more comfortable. The kids brought little booklets with all of the songs, they were using the microphones, and they were helping the residents find the songs in the book," she continued.

"Then they shared hot chocolate and cookies afterward and you could just see the connection they had built."

She said students also asked thoughtful questions about what the holidays look like for those living at the lodge.

"Some of the things students were curious about were 'What are they going to do for Christmas?' 'Is anyone else going to come visit them?' and 'Do they have Christmas dinner here?'" Turberfield said. "You could see that there was a light bulb (in their mind) -- this is a really special time (of year)."

For Turberfield, those moments are at the heart of leadership development. "I'm personally just very passionate about giving kids child-led opportunities, and I think that kids need a voice and some choice in their learning. They need to be active members in the school community," she said.

The Little Leaders program remains open to new partnerships, and Turberfield is inviting community organizations to connect with St. Agnes School to explore future collaborations. To learn more, contact the school at 306-694-1767.
 
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Gen Z could wave goodbye to résumés because most companies have turned to skills-based recruitment -- and find it more effective, research shows | Fortune


Trying to summarize every job you've ever had and then distill that onto a two-page résumé has been the bane of job hunter's existence since around the 1950s. Fortunately, for Gen Z, it's something they might never have to bore themselves with.

That's because research shows many companies are moving away from relying on the traditional job application requirement.

In fact, almost three-quarters... of companies now use skills-based assessments throughout their hiring process, according to TestGorilla's The State of Skills-Based Hiring 2023 report which surveyed 3,000 employees and employers around the world. This is up from 56% in the previous year.

Although many of those employers are still also using CVs, it might not be long until they're a thing of the past because most bosses are already favoring the new hiring practice and reporting big results.

The employers surveyed who use skills-based hiring -- which includes role-specific skills assessments, instead of simply scanning someone's listed career experience -- reported massive gains.

According to TestGorilla's research, it reduced the number of mis-hires by 88%, total time spent searching for the perfect candidate by 82%, and hiring-related costs by 74%.

Overall, 92% of the employers surveyed reported that skills-based hiring is more effective at identifying talented candidates than a traditional CV. Meanwhile, over 80% said it's more predictive of on-job success and leads to new hires staying longer in their roles.

By testing candidates on how they would handle the actual day-to-day responsibilities of a role, employers are more likely to hire the best person for the job instead of being drawn by big names and snazzy titles.

As Khyati Sundaram, CEO of the skill-based recruitment platform Applied, previously told Fortune, just because someone has listed on their résumé that they've worked with the SEO team at somewhere alluring like Google, it doesn't actually mean they know the ins and outs of search engine optimization to the extent that's required for a role.

"We are trying to make sure the test or the question is as relevant to the job as possible," Sundaram said, adding, "That's the reason that candidates love it too."

Intuitively people may assume that taking multiple skills-based tests would feel like more of a nuisance for job seekers than simply blasting their CV at hundreds of roles -- but the data shows otherwise.

Most of the workers that TestGorilla surveyed think that skills-based hiring levels the playing field and improves their chances of bagging their dream jobs.

This is especially true for candidates who are often overlooked. In fact, around three-quarters of the Black, Asian, and Arab employees that TestGorilla surveyed have already reportedly gained access to new employment opportunities through skills-based assessments.

The uptick in skills-based hiring comes as degrees have slidden down the priority list for employers.

Google, Microsoft, IBM, and Apple previously eliminated their long-held degree requirements to remove barriers to entry and recruit more diverse talent. Meanwhile, recruiters globally are five times more likely to search for new hires by skills over higher education.

A former Cisco top executive in the U.K. also said young aspiring workers would be better off skipping out on college to join the world of work straight away.

"In university, you come out with whatever degree you may get, but it's almost certainly saddled with debt," David Meads, former Cisco's U.K. and Ireland CEO, told Fortune. "Is that better than on-the-job experience where you're rotating through different parts of our organization, and living the reality and not just the theory?"

"For me, attitude and aptitude are more important than whatever letters you have after your name, or whatever qualifications you've got on a sheet," he added.

But research has shown that skeptical Gen Z remain unconvinced: They're shunning apprenticeship schemes in favor of going down the traditional route of college. So perhaps they will still go through the bore of writing a résumé -- even if, like a college degree, it's no longer needed.
 
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Dark web attracts laid-off workers, teenagers, and elite talent - DefenceWeb


There was a two-fold increase in the number of résumés and jobs posted on underground dark web forums in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023, and this number remained on the same level in Q1 2025, according to new research from Kaspersky.

Overall, in 2025, résumés outnumber vacancies 55% to 45%, driven by global layoffs and an influx of younger candidates. Age distribution among the candidates shows a... median seeker age of just 24, with a marked teenager presence.

Jobs found on the dark web are predominantly related to cybercrime or other illegal activities, although some legitimate positions are present as well. Kaspersky findings show a shadow economy where 69% of job seekers did not specify a preferred field, openly signaling they'd take any paid opportunity - from programming to running scams or high-stakes cyber operations. The most in-demand IT roles posted by employers on the dark web reflect a mature criminal ecosystem:

Developers (accounted for 17% of vacancies) create attack tools;

Penetration testers (12%) probe networks for weaknesses;

Money launderers (11%) clean illicit funds through layered transactions;

Carders (6%) steal and monetise payment data;

Traffers (5%) drive victims to phishing sites or infected downloads.

Gender-specific patterns emerged in specialised applications. Female applicants predominantly sought interpersonal roles, including support, call-centre, and technical-assistance positions. Male applicants, by contrast, more frequently targeted technical and financial-crime roles - developers, money mules, or mule handlers.

Salary expectations varied sharply by specialisation. Reverse engineers commanded the highest compensation, averaging over $5,000 monthly, followed by penetration testers at $4,000 monthly and developers at $2,000. Fraudsters tended to receive a fixed percentage of a team's income. Money launderers average 20%, while carders and traffers earn approximately 30% and 50% of the full income, respectively. These figures reflect a premium on scarce, high-impact skills within the shadow ecosystem.

"The shadow job market is no longer peripheral; it's absorbing the unemployed, the underage, and the overqualified. Many arrive thinking that the dark web and the legal market are fundamentally alike, rewarding proven skills over diplomas, with the dark web even offering some benefits - like offers landing within 48 hours and no HR interviews. However, not many realise that working on the dark web can lead to prison," comments Alexandra Fedosimova, Digital Footprint Analyst at Kaspersky.

Young individuals contemplating dark web employment must recognise that short-term earnings carry irreversible legal and reputational consequences. Parents, educators, and the community are urged to report suspicious online solicitations immediately. Children should be shown that there are multiple skill-building and career pathways in legitimate technology sectors, such as cybersecurity, Kaspersky said.

The Kaspersky analysis was based on 2,225 job-related posts - vacancies and resumes - published on dark web forums between January 2023 and June 2025. Some of the forums and resources reviewed may no longer be accessible at the time of publication.
 
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  • Sometimes things happen to us so we can open our eyes an out wings....and fly.
    When your efforts are rewarded with pain,start looking elsewhere. Maybe... it's high time you did! more

  • As a Retired Head Hunter, It Appears That They Have Already Extended An Offer To The New Eager Beaver. That What I Interpreted By The Wording You Gave... Us. He More Than Likely Will Be At A Lower Paygrade As Well.
    You Mentioned "Hope" & As A Mover & Shaker In My Own Career, Hope Was Never Considered In My Climb. I Consistantly Fixed & Refined My Plan. What Was Your Plan? It Cant Be Hope. When You Have A Viable Plan, Then You Have Faith In That Plan & You Make It Work. Never Hope It Works. Time Is To Short. So You Fall, But Will You Fall Forward? Will You Go To Work, Pay Your Bills, While Developing Your Plan? Your Plan Does Not Need To Be At The Same Company? Stick To The Plan & Do Not Share It With Anyone. Start Searching For Other Opportunities.

     more

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  • As a senior actively involved in involved in several aspects of a startup business, there are two ways to go in life. To "go" or to "grow. To just go... on daily or to "grow", to learn new things, explore new avenues new pathways. I want to "grow" and "squeeze everything " out of life. Life's to short to just "go" daily through life. And I might add, God has a purpose foe each of us! Really!! more

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Why Orange Cassidy Is Quietly Creating New Wrestling Fans


Since arriving in All Elite Wrestling in 2019, Orange Cassidy has carved out a role few modern wrestlers occupy: a gateway into wrestling for people who never cared about it before. While his in-ring résumé continues to grow, Cassidy says his proudest accomplishment has nothing to do with titles or match ratings; it's the audience he's helped bring along with him.

Appearing on the Casuals with... Katie Nolan podcast, Cassidy reflected on how often fans tell him he's become the bridge between wrestling fans and non-fans. Through meet-and-greets and casual conversations, he's repeatedly heard stories about parents, partners, and friends who never watched wrestling until Cassidy caught their attention. One moment in particular stayed with him: a father explaining that wrestling had never connected with his daughters until Cassidy appeared on screen. Standing behind him were three young girls dressed just like Cassidy, a sight he described as both surreal and deeply meaningful.

Despite his carefree on-screen demeanor, Cassidy made it clear that his philosophy comes from intention, not indifference. Growing up as the only wrestling fan among his friends gave him an outsider's perspective on the industry, shaping his belief that wrestling should be welcoming rather than intimidating. His goal, he explained, is simple: let people enjoy the show without feeling like they need to understand every nuance. That mindset stands in sharp contrast to his personal approach to the craft, which he admitted he studies obsessively behind the scenes.

While his character preaches relaxation, Cassidy himself is anything but complacent. He acknowledged that he overanalyzes his work and constantly looks for ways to improve, even if the final product appears effortless. With momentum to regain after his recent elimination from the Continental Classic on AEW Collision, Cassidy enters 2026 focused on getting back into the championship picture, still doing the hard work so fans don't have to think too hard at all.

Orange Cassidy's importance to AEW isn't best measured by win-loss records or title reigns. His real value lies in pattern recognition: again and again, wrestlers who break traditional molds end up expanding the audience rather than shrinking it. Historically, performers like The Rock, Rey Mysterio, and even Mick Foley brought in viewers who didn't see themselves reflected in "standard" wrestling archetypes. Cassidy fits that lineage. His presentation lowers the intimidation factor of wrestling while still rewarding longtime fans with smart match structure and deliberate pacing.

For fans, the takeaway is simple but significant. Cassidy represents how wrestling grows, not just how it sustains itself. In a landscape where many discussions revolve around ratings, gates, and social media reactions, his impact is felt in quieter ways: families watching together, casual viewers sticking around, and non-fans finally "getting it." That's not accidental, and it's not easily replaceable. Understanding that context helps explain why Cassidy remains a priority on AEW television, regardless of where he sits in the title picture at any given moment.
 
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Mastering Your Strengths: A Guide to Impress in Job Interviews


When preparing for a job interview, you'll likely encounter a question about your strengths. Knowing how to answer "what are your strengths" effectively can set you apart from other candidates. This guide will help you craft insightful and compelling responses that demonstrate your value to potential employers.

Understanding How to Answer "What Are Your Strengths"

Answering the question about... your strengths isn't just about listing your skills. It's an opportunity to showcase your self-awareness, align your strengths with the job you're applying for, and give concrete examples of how these strengths have benefitted previous roles.

Identify Your Relevant Strengths

Start by reflecting on your skills and experiences. Which strengths have consistently helped you succeed? Choose attributes that are pertinent to the position you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for a managerial role, strengths like leadership and communication are crucial.

Provide Real-Life Examples

Concrete examples can make your strengths more convincing. For instance, if you claim to have excellent organizational skills, recount a specific project where this trait was instrumental in your success. This approach not only substantiates your claim but also makes your narrative more engaging.

Align Strengths with Job Requirements

Review the job description carefully to align your strengths with the employer's requirements. This not only shows that you are well-suited for the job but also that you understand what the role entails. Employers appreciate candidates who can draw direct correlations between their strengths and the company's needs.

For a broader understanding of aligning your capabilities with career goals, consider reading about crafting the perfect personal statement for scholarship success.

Practice Makes Perfect

Rehearse your response to ensure you communicate clearly and confidently. Practicing in front of a mirror or recording your answer can help you refine your delivery. Consider seeking feedback from a mentor or friend who can provide constructive criticism.

Examples of Strong Answers

There are several ways to effectively answer the question "what are your strengths." Below are some examples:

Example 1: Leadership and Initiative

"One of my greatest strengths is my ability to lead teams effectively. In my previous role, I led a project team that improved departmental efficiency by 20%. By fostering open communication and motivating team members, we met our goals two weeks ahead of schedule."

Example 2: Problem Solving

"I excel at analyzing situations and coming up with creative solutions under pressure. For instance, during a critical systems failure at my last job, I spearheaded a problem-solving session that restored full functionality within hours, minimizing downtime."

Example 3: Adaptability

"Adaptability is one of my strong suits. During a company merger at my former workplace, I quickly adjusted to new systems and protocols, which helped maintain continuity of service and ease the transition for my team."

Why Answering this Question Well is Important

A well-thought-out answer can demonstrate your suitability for the role and how you might fit into the company culture. Employers are not just evaluating your skills, but also your ability to self-reflect and grow. Demonstrating these abilities suggests potential for long-term development within their organization.

What Not to Do

Avoid generalities like "I'm a hard worker" without specific examples. Also, don't undersell your strengths or apologize for qualities you believe might not align with the role. Stick to strengths that genuinely represent you and are relevant to the job.

For more educational resources on job preparation, visit this comprehensive guide on education practices.

Conclusion: How to Answer "What Are Your Strengths" in a Job Interview

Knowing how to answer "what are your strengths" is a critical part of interview preparation. By identifying relevant strengths, providing concrete examples, and aligning these with the job requirements, you can give compelling answers that resonate with interviewers.

* Identify and understand your unique strengths.

* Provide real-life examples to substantiate your claims.

* Align your strengths with job requirements.

* Practice your delivery for a confident presentation.

* A well-structured answer showcases both your skills and self-awareness.

FAQ

How do I identify my strengths?

Reflect on past experiences and seek feedback from colleagues to discover your core strengths. Look for patterns in tasks or challenges you handle exceptionally well.

Should I mention weaknesses when asked about strengths?

Generally, focus on your strengths during this question. If asked about weaknesses separately, be honest but frame them as areas for growth and learning.

Can I prepare a script for my answer?

While it's helpful to have key points planned, avoid sounding rehearsed. Aim for a natural and conversational delivery that can adjust to the flow of the interview.

How many strengths should I mention in my response?

Limit your answer to two or three strengths. This keeps your response focused and allows you to provide detailed examples.

What if my strengths don't fully align with the job description?

In such cases, focus on transferable skills and demonstrate how you've applied these successfully in different contexts.
 
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