The requirement of a potential employer to indicate their shortcomings in the resume is not a simple formality. This is a thoughtful psychological move that allows you to determine the level of self-esteem and the degree of self-criticism of the applicant. The most interesting thing is that everything here depends on the profession or the specifics of the work, as well as the correct presentation of information.
If a person believes that he does not have negative qualities - the probable boss has cause for concern. therefore to write in a resume that they are not, or simply to put a dash is strongly discouraged. In order to show your best side and dispel doubts about the veracity of the information presented, you need to know how to properly present their weaknesses. How exactly to do this, this article will tell.
How to identify your weaknesses?
Absolutely all people have certain personal flaws. These are behavioral features in different situations of life, habits developed over the years and established principles. The problem is that for one type of activity, some character traits look like flaws, and for another they are an advantage. Which of them are strong and which are weak is not difficult to determine independently, taking into account the specifics of the profession.
For example, for a sales assistant, failure to establish contact with strangers can be a reason for refusing a job, while for an accountant or programmer this is not a problem.
Negative traits of a person, from the first minutes spoiling the opinion of the applicant:
- selfishness;
- greed;
- negligence;
- inability to concentrate;
- a tendency to discuss colleagues and spread gossip;
- slowness;
- pathological self-criticism;
- excessive self-confidence, unwillingness to take into account advice;
- lack of healthy ambition;
- too pronounced loving;
- uncontrolled outbursts of anger or aggression;
- poorly concealed envy;
- the use of profanity;
- the habit of going to bed late and getting up late;
- gambling addiction;
- smoking, alcohol addiction.
Various phobias, such as fear of heights, water, spiders, snakes, enclosed spaces, etc., are also referred to neutral weaknesses, which almost everyone who wrote a resume at least once writes about. They also often inform the employer about excess weight or uncontrolled eating sweets, considering it professional shortcomings. But some negative qualities of the character of the personality in individual situations can be interpreted as advantages. When pointing out your weaknesses, you need to contrast their strengths.
What to indicate in the resume?
Very often, most of the resumes sent to the employer in the paragraph on the personal qualities of the applicant are similar to each other, like twins. And this, to put it mildly, is not impressive. When drawing up, it is important to remember these rules:
- The resume should be written in understandable human language, without abstruse terms and general blurry phrases;
- grammatical errors reduce the likelihood of a positive outcome;
- honesty and sincerity are welcome.
A potential boss should feel that a person applying for a place in the company or at the factory is ready to change his habits or the established daily routine. This must be written. Phrases that are undoubtedly suitable for resumes for a specific vacancy:
- there is no work experience, but there is a desire to develop and work for the result;
- there is no specialized education, but there is a craving for training;
- insufficient knowledge of a narrow specialization or a foreign language, but a huge desire to comprehend this science.
Due to its pathological shyness or modesty, which is already a weak point, you can write about your willingness to talk about the shortcomings only in person at an interview.
Girls
Representatives of the weaker sex when applying for a job are faced with the question of marital status. The employer will not be delighted if after working for several months, the employee goes on maternity leave. The presence of young children is also a cause for doubt in employment. For the boss to approve the resume without hesitation, it’s worth writing that in the case of a child’s illness, there are relatives whom you can trust him.
It is unmarried girls who most often turn out to be “owls.” Hide it is not worth it. On the one hand, this fact can cause systematic lateness, but on the other, there will be an occasion to stay overtime and do more work.
You can write about such shortcomings:
- excessive credulity;
- inability to objectively evaluate their own work;
- difficulties in building relationships with colleagues and voicing thoughts;
- reliability;
- inability to defend one’s opinion and respond with rudeness to rudeness;
- pathological pedantry and scrupulousness;
- inability to concentrate on work due to hyperactivity.
To men
Men least of all want to talk about their weaknesses to the employer. But if you still have to do this, then they try to find advantages even in disadvantages. And this is the right strategy. Due to the natural selfishness in men, a commonplace inability to work in a team is very common. But in this you can see an advantage. Such employees cope well with individual tasks, develop and conduct their own projects.
Some men are unfamiliar with such a thing as stress resistance. Any abnormal situation unsettle them, and performance drops to zero. If such a feature is in the arsenal of qualities, then the employer just needs to specify in detail all the details of the project in order to avoid force majeure.
Weaknesses that can be indicated in the resume for men:
- abnormal pedantry;
- too soft character;
- inability to focus on one process;
- inability to lie;
- Inconsistency of professional skills or work experience with existing education;
- lack of physical fitness;
- dependence on public opinion;
- passive life position.
What is not worth mentioning?
There are aspects of character that should not be indicated in any case. These include:
- laziness;
- ignoring the advice of superiors;
- non-punctuality;
- conflict, temper;
- use of false information;
- unwillingness to take responsibility for their actions.
These are the weaknesses that can ruin even the most wonderful resume. To prevent this from happening, you need to present your flaws in the right light. In this case, the features of the profession should be taken into account. For example, if the applicant is applying for some kind of sedentary job, then it’s not worth reporting your hyperactivity. For a vacancy involving communication with clients, it is undesirable to write about excessive shyness and inability to communicate information to others.
Employers or human resources personnel accurately determine when an applicant tries to pass off weak traits of character as an advantage. therefore It is very important to do it correctly and competently.
The main thing is to realize that it is not weaknesses or behavioral characteristics that are evaluated, but the ability to live and develop professionally with this, listening to criticism and advice.
How many qualities to write?
This question interests many. If an employer reading a resume sees a whole list of negative qualities, then he is unlikely to have a good impression of the applicant. Some decide not to report them at all. But this is also not an option - there are doubts about adequate self-esteem. A man without flaws is a mystery to the boss, and the bosses, as you know, loves to know everything about everyone. The best option is to write 5 points in this section. In an extreme case, an indication of 2 or 3 of its weaknesses is allowed.
An important point is to convey to the employer information about the readiness to adequately assess constructive criticism.
We need to make it clear that a timely indication of behavior or character traits that negatively affect the process of work will be perceived positively.
Examples
When a resume is sent to seek a specific position, it is beneficial to indicate your weaknesses much easier. It takes into account the requirements of the specifics of the profession. In order to present their own shortcomings in the most profitable way, it is necessary to contrast them with the needs of work.
For a salesperson or a vacancy specialist whose activities involve communicating with customers, such resume items are suitable:
- restlessness and excessive activity;
- desire to achieve the goal by any means;
- unceremoniousness;
- talkativeness;
- exorbitant sense of responsibility.
To apply for a job in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a resume should be based on responsibility and high productivity of professional activity. Weaknesses include:
- maximalism;
- stubbornness;
- pedantry;
- incredulity;
- self-confidence.
Application form for job seeker in the service sector should consist of many advantages. Among them, undoubtedly, there must be complaisance and non-conflict. And as disadvantages fit:
- pickiness to trifles;
- taciturnity;
- lack of ambition;
- low self-esteem;
- perseverance.
It is not difficult for a professional to create a resume that the employer will read with rapture and enthusiasm. The main thing is that its content is as true as possible, and negative character traits are not always able to spoil the reputation.