It is the rare candidate who can participate in an interview and not be posed the standard questions about their strengths and weaknesses. Even an inexperienced or poorly trained interviewer will manage to get this question onto the table – it’s a classic. Surprisingly, many well-educated and accomplished professionals neglect to prepare for this.

Why are the strengths/weakness questions so important to the interviewer? Of course, the interviewer wants to learn as much about you as possible in the relatively brief time you have together. He or she will also be interested in your self-perception. Beyond confirming what the interviewer may have observed about you, the “strengths” and weakness” questions are designed to be an indicator of how well you now yourself, as well as determining your self-confidence level.

When asked about your strengths, you need to articulate the response without sounding either self-effacing or boastful. This requires some forethought. If you are uncomfortable saying, “I excel at writing and editing…” then consider approaching your answer this way: “In my performance appraisals I was noted for…” or, “My manager frequently complimented me on my ability to…” This will provide external validation about you while helping you feel less self-conscious about discussing your positive traits.

Avoid trite phrases and generalities such as “I’m a real people person.” The strength you choose should ideally be one required for the position you are interviewing for. It should be stated specifically, and, whenever possible, followed up with a specific example.

“I’ve been told that I am good at coaching others, especially new employees. I have the patience it takes when someone is learning a new way of doing things. For this reason my manager frequently assigned student interns to my department. She knew that I would take the time needed for them to have a successful work experience.”

Before your interview, think through at least three traits or qualities that you possess that make you stand out from the crowd. Then prepare some situational examples like the one listed above. Answering the strengths questions is a great opportunity to “sell” you.

Now, having passed the relatively “easy” part, your strengths, what about the flip side? How do you answer the “weaknesses” question? This inquiry can come in a number of different forms, including, “If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?” Or, “What aspects of your working style have been liabilities to you in the past?” Or, “What are your personal and professional development goals?”

They all point to the same theme: weaknesses, or areas in need of improvement. Almost everyone feels vulnerable during this portion of the interview. We all have areas that need improvement, and it’s uncomfortable to admit or discuss them, especially with a stranger who is evaluating your candidacy for a desired position.

There are several options to answering the weakness question. One is to choose an aspect of yourself that you have already identified and taken action upon to improve. “I sometimes let the stress of work get to me. However, I have been learning about the benefits of meditation. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I take a five minute meditation break and regroup. It gives me renewed perspective and energy to tackle the job.”

Another approach is to focus on a technical rather than personal weakness: “I’m knowledgeable with computers, but my keyboarding skills are slower than I would like. I’ve recently signed up for a BOCES keyboarding class to become more efficient.”

A third way to respond to this question is to discuss a strength taken to extreme that may have an opposite or negative effect. For instance, “I tend to be a perfectionist regarding both myself and those who work for me. Imposing my own personal standards on others may be unrealistic or create stress for them. I have learned to take time to consider what is reasonable and realistic given the circumstances.”

When the strengths and weaknesses questions emerge in your interview, don’t be caught off guard. This is not a time for true confessions. Being overly honest can cost you the job. On the other hand, being prepared with a thoughtful response may elevate your standing.