Characteristics weaknesses. Examples of strengths to mention

Competently writing a resume will serve a person well when applying for a job.. This document should be written in such a way that it intrigues a potential employer. In addition to education and work experience, personal qualities are very important in a resume. Examples and life experience show that it is this information that is of serious interest to managers and personnel officers.

Before indicating personal qualities in your resume, you must carefully study the samples and examples in order to fill out the required section according to all the rules:

  • The information must be truthful and reliable, since the deception will still be revealed sooner or later, so there is no need to “philosophize with the crafty.”
  • Personal qualities should be stated clearly and briefly, but you should not use only general, hackneyed phrases that will not give a potential employer complete information about your strengths and weaknesses.
  • This section must be written correctly, without colloquial vocabulary or errors.
  • As a rule, you need to indicate the most important personal qualities (5 options), so you should not be too zealous in indicating everything. It is necessary to analyze everything and enter only those character traits that will really be useful for a vacant position or profession. For example, the seller will need the ability to resolve conflict situations, but this is not at all necessary for an economist.

Groups and Templates

Personal qualities for a resume can be divided into several groups, which have their own specific templates.

First job

If work activity just starting and the resume is being compiled for the first time, then the section on personal qualities can be filled out as follows:

  • Desire to work fruitfully in a team.
  • Creative approach to business and creativity.
  • Activity.
  • Good memory.
  • Easy to learn.
  • Desire to improve and learn.

For a specific vacancy, you need to determine your priority options for personal qualities - depending on the proposed position and profession.

It is not always necessary to indicate your weaknesses. But if, nevertheless, you need to indicate character weaknesses in your resume, examples of them may not be so fatal. Therefore, you should not be afraid to describe them.

Everyone has their own shortcomings, but it is important for the employer to see how adequately you evaluate yourself. Therefore, try to choose traits of your character that in everyday life can be considered a disadvantage, but for performing the proposed work these qualities will be an advantage, for example:

  • Fear of air travel.
  • Hyperactivity.
  • Slowness.
  • Restlessness.
  • Love of formalism.
  • Excessive emotionality, hot temper.
  • Increased anxiety.
  • Reliability.
  • Inability to show flexibility.
  • Excessive directness.

All these weaknesses can be looked at from a different angle, and then they can turn into strengths for the employer. For example, restlessness for an active manager or sales representative is more of a plus than a minus. Or reliability, which will give the manager a reason to think that you can always be trusted to work overtime.

Weaknesses and professional qualities

Each applicant must correctly focus his weaknesses on the profession in which he wants to work. For example, a design engineer or future accountant might write the following:

Although such a list is not at all suitable for a person who must constantly communicate with people in the process of work. For example, a future sales manager can provide the following: negative qualities for resume:

  • Excessive sociability.
  • Workaholism.
  • Straightforwardness.
  • Mistrust.
  • The need for external motivation.
  • Impulsiveness.
  • Restlessness.
  • Self-confidence.
  • Hyperactivity.

An applicant for a leadership position needs to prepare more thoroughly before filling out the column that will indicate his weaknesses. He can write about the following character traits:

Little tricks

To prevent an employer from immediately trashing your resume after reading about your shortcomings, don't be too open. Neutral qualities that cannot in any way affect future job. The following are suitable for almost any vacancy: personal qualities(flaws):

  • Fear of airplanes.
  • Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes).
  • Vespertiliophobia (fear of bats).
  • Arachnophobia (fear of spiders).
  • Love for sweets.
  • Lack of experience.
  • Love for shopping.
  • Excess weight.

This information is quite transparent and will not pose any “danger” to the applicant during the employment process.

You can also write:

  • I am overly interested in analyzing past mistakes.
  • Prone to reflection.
  • Too trusting.
  • I can’t always express my thoughts exactly.

These are negative qualities for a resume, but they very rarely affect the work process.

You can specify the following:

  • When I have to lie, I get noticeably worried.
  • I can't swear.
  • I take everything to heart.
  • I don't like gossip.
  • I’m an overly addicted person, so I forget to take breaks.

Some nuances

There are points that it is better not to include in your resume. For example, you should not write:

  • I love office romances.
  • I get distracted often.
  • Unpunctual.
  • I don't like making independent decisions.
  • I'm afraid of responsibility.
  • I don't like getting up early.
  • Sometimes laziness overcomes.

For example, after reading about laziness, the employer will decide that you are not eager to work.

Strengths in your resume

To get a decent job, you need to provide an excellent reference and profile. Indicating your positive aspects, you need to adequately evaluate yourself professionally and enter only the most best qualities, which, without a doubt, will be appreciated by the employer. Sample list strengths looks like this:

You should also indicate your business characteristics, which should be described in one sentence, for example: “Seven years of work as a chief accountant.” It is important to ensure that personal and business qualities do not conflict with each other.

Several examples of job descriptions

Accountant

Mandatory qualities: responsibility, learning ability, attentiveness.

Will be well appreciated: scrupulousness, non-conflict, stress resistance.

Sales Manager

Required qualities: result orientation, activity, communication skills.

Well appreciated: competent speech, out-of-the-box thinking, stress resistance.

Secretary

Required qualities: diligence, accuracy, stress resistance, competent speech.

Will be well appreciated: neatness, well-groomed, pleasant appearance.

Universal positive qualities

  • No bad habits.
  • Stress resistance.
  • Initiative.
  • Honesty.
  • Fast learner.

Don't forget to include the personal qualities that your future employer wants to see. To do this, put yourself in his place and think about who you would like to take on your team.

Checking the veracity of what is written

Most job seekers tend to embellish their resumes, so employers invite applicants for interviews and ask additional questions that help reveal a person better.

For example, they will want to know your opinion on a specific conflict, and based on the answers received, they will conclude how truthful the answers in your resume are regarding squabbles and scandals.

There are a number of things to remember simple rules points to be observed during the interview:

Focusing on the following advice from professional personnel officers, you can quite easily please your future bosses:

  1. The resume should be written in a discreet manner, and humor is inappropriate here. However, creative and creative positions may involve this.
  2. Copied, template resumes will not bring success, since personnel officers see such tricks right away.
  3. Five professional characteristics will be enough. Among them, stress resistance is always highly valued.
  4. You should indicate only the necessary qualities for the desired position.
  5. You need to answer questions only to the point. It won’t be possible to chat up the HR officer, but the impression of the applicant will be ruined.

In order to attract the attention of the employer, it is very important to think through all the points of the resume that relate to the personal qualities of the applicant. Correct completion of this document will guarantee your employment.

Attention, TODAY only!

A person's weaknesses in a resume show how objective he is in relation to himself. Rarely does anyone include such a clause on their own initiative. But if the employer himself provides a questionnaire to fill out, such a question may well appear there. We will tell you what weaknesses to indicate in your resume in order to both fulfill the requirement and not spoil your impression of yourself. We will also teach you how to turn them into advantages.

What shortcomings should be included in a resume: example

You shouldn’t write that they don’t exist at all. Ideal people do not exist, and people who are overly narcissistic are reluctant to be hired. But also list everything weak qualities a person is not necessary at all. Your job is to demonstrate that you are critical of yourself, not to reveal your vulnerability.

Win-win negative character traits for a resume:

  • excessive demands on oneself and others;
  • increased responsibility;
  • pedantry;
  • hyperactivity;
  • shyness;
  • incredulity.

All this is not very good for everyday life, but for work it gives significant advantages.

Sample

Weaknesses in a resume: examples of transformation into strengths

Identifying your weaknesses is half the battle. Next you need to use them to your advantage. If there are free spaces where you can fill in the details, do so. Indicate why your shortcomings are good in your resume: for example, a distrustful person will not cooperate with dubious suppliers.

If the questionnaire is concise, then these questions will be discussed at the interview. It is better to prepare for it properly. And our cheat sheet (table) will help you with this. But even if you don’t plan to give explanations, it’s useful to know how your manager will perceive your shortcomings.

My weaknesses

Shy

I maintain subordination.

I will not conflict with colleagues.

I won't fool the boss.

I can't be rude to a client.

Hyperactivity

I won't sit idle.

I will manage to do everything and even more.

I can’t sit on the sidelines when I need to take the initiative.

Slowness

I won’t miss important details in a hurry.

I won’t bring chaos into the work process.

I will not tire my clients and colleagues.

Demandingness

I will not allow myself to work half-heartedly.

I can organize a team.

I will negotiate effectively.

I will make every effort to achieve results.

Reticence

I won't spend working hours to chat.

I won’t talk about company affairs where I shouldn’t.

I talk less, I do more.

Obvious shortcomings in a resume: examples

Some disadvantages are better left unmentioned. Especially if they are detrimental to professional duties. For example, the mentioned laconicism is good for an accountant or programmer. But a sales manager or teacher cannot be silent, otherwise the effectiveness of his work will decrease.

Therefore, strengths and weaknesses must be compared with the specifics of the profession.

Inappropriate Character Weaknesses on a Resume (Examples)

Profession

Unacceptable cons

Supervisor

  • gullibility;
  • emotionality;
  • lack of activity;
  • shyness;
  • frivolity.

Customer service specialist

  • reticence;
  • hot temper;
  • slowness;
  • penchant for formalism;
  • straightforwardness.

Low level workers

  • ambition;
  • self-confidence;
  • stubbornness.

Representatives creative professions

  • inability to show flexibility;
  • penchant for formalism;
  • self-doubt;
  • pedantry.

Examples of undesirable flaws in a resume

There are shortcomings that are not advisable to point out, as they can scare off 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 indicated in a resume, study all the requirements specified in the vacancy and try to imagine a psychological portrait of the person whom the employer wants to see in this position.

Would you like to create a resume that shows you in the best possible light?

We know how to place accents correctly so that the employer's attention is focused only on your strengths.

With our help, you can get a unique resume prepared by experienced specialists. We recommend in Russian or English.

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.

When pointing out your 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 act 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 communicate 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.

Hello, dear blog readers! It doesn’t matter whether you are on its pages for the first time, or are regular visitors - in any case, you are welcome. Today, our topics related to earnings and employment will be supplemented with another interesting problem - how to indicate a person’s strengths and weaknesses in a resume. An example of how NOT to do this is quite simple.

Some applicants, having read Western literature, which encourages them to be extremely sincere with the employer, do not hesitate to dump all their ins and outs in front of him, and then naively wonder why they were “pushed forward” with the vacancy. Ideally, of course, you shouldn’t do this, but you shouldn’t describe yourself as an impeccable person and worker either - in any case, the truth will become clear as soon as you begin your immediate responsibilities.

From this article you will learn:

When a person writes a resume, he rarely puts himself in the employer’s shoes and in most cases does not understand that texts containing entirely positive characteristics have become quite boring, and the understanding has come that in 90 percent of cases they are not true. This is easy to understand, because the applicant’s task is to make a good impression on potential superiors, and the strengths listed in the text help to do this in the best possible way.

However, there is a little secret: when you write about weaknesses, it seems to involuntarily set the employer up to the fact that you are a sincere person, so they can do business with you.

Read below about how to find the “golden mean” between a resume that only lists the pros and one that will scare off the employer because of the cons.

Tell the truth

When writing a resume, do not try to exaggerate too much and make something up. Just tell the truth. There are numerous examples of how a beautiful legend, invented when applying for a job, crumbled after a couple of clarifying questions or a check by the company's security service, so it is better to be sincere with the employer. Everything you want to write on your resume must be supported, otherwise it will greatly discredit you. Before you do, check again whether you have attributed to yourself, carried away by your fantasies, the third higher education or experience working in a foreign corporation abroad.

Answer the questions asked

Often, many employers provide a ready-made resume form, offering to answer a question about their negative qualities. Leaving this field empty is, at a minimum, impolite, so write something there that can hardly be called a serious flaw. In doing so, it is best to focus on those personality traits and character traits that you can work on and improve.

For example, write that you are shy - for a person who works in the field of communication this is a critical, but surmountable disadvantage.

By the way, if you are thinking, it is better to use standard “template expressions” in it and do not write anything about your disadvantages! In order to describe them briefly, a small column in the resume is enough.

Don't forget to praise yourself

Each of us has achievements, and in a resume it is very important to highlight exactly what interests the employer. If you know how to make cool presentations or are a master of graphic editors, or speak fluent English, be sure to mention this, especially if the vacancy suggests something similar.

Make advantages out of disadvantages

When describing your negative traits, try to present them in such a way that the employer perceives them as positive.

For example:

self-confidence can be presented as leadership qualities;

restless character– as readiness to perform new tasks;

straightforwardness– as the self-confidence necessary to conduct important negotiations.

Do not confuse personal with professional!

When deciding on your employment, do not forget: first of all, employers are interested in your work achievements, and that is what they should focus on. That is, if you still intend to indicate the negative aspects, let them not be personal traits, but something related exclusively to the work process (excessive meticulousness, difficulties with the team due to a dislike for “freeloaders”, inability to deceive, lack of experience work, etc.).

The same goes for your advantages - list only those that are directly related to the job, because it is unlikely that your excellent culinary skills can become a decisive argument in your favor if you apply for the position of purchasing manager.

The main thing is moderation

Try not to write a “sheet” that is not too easy to understand. The best option– indicate 4-5 of your characteristics, which are the main ones. By the way, if your resume successfully passed the first stage, and you were called for a personal interview, you shouldn’t get too carried away there either and lay out all your ins and outs to the personnel officer - answer strictly the questions posed, it’s unlikely that your interlocutor is interested in anything else.

So, we figured out how best to tell about your positive and negative aspects, now all you have to do is try it out in practice. If the material is of interest to you and is useful, share it on social networks with your friends - let them also know how to make the employment process easier for themselves! Don't forget to subscribe to blog updates so you don't miss new publications. And now I say goodbye to you for a moment.



Related publications