The Job Interview – How to Handle Your Shortcomings in an Interview
Job interviews are the end of the line. If you have made it to the interview stage, it is your job to lose. Most, if not all of the time, getting to the interview stage means you have the qualifications and skills to do the work. The question now is how well you are able to communicate and how well you fit within the culture of the organization.
The biggest problem people run into with interviews is simply lack of preparation. Most people spend more time getting ready for a first date than they do a job interview…and it shows. So, my best advice to you is prepare, prepare, and then prepare some more.
The part of the interview I am going to focus on today is handling shortcomings. Some of the most common shortcomings include: long time at the same company, frequent job hopping, career hopping (probably considered a more significant shortcoming), termination, age (too old), age (too young), career/industry change, no experience in target industry, no degree, or unrelated degree.
Expect to be asked about whatever shortcomings that could be pulled from your resume and be well prepared to answer to any of them. One of the best ways to do this is set up a mock interview you do with either a friend, colleague, or coach. Or, taping yourself answering the questions is a great tool too. Then make a list of all of the items you think an employee might consider a shortcoming and ask about them. For example, “I see that you have had 4 jobs with different companies in the past 6 years – please tell me more about that and why we should be confident that this is the place for you.”
In this instance, make sure you give a succinct answer that does not include anything about “trying to figure out what you wanted”. That will not give them assurance that you are not “trying them on” either. Focus on the skill differentiation or industry expertise that you gained and how you were making moves that were advancing your career and contributing (give specific results) to each company. This is a good time to throw in some unique information you know about their company and how all of the research you have done has convinced you that this is the place you would like to contribute and grow your career. State why you are committed to a more permanent path with this company. Also, you can use these changes to your advantage by showing how this pattern has allowed you to handle frequent changes in a business climate that demands it.
Be direct and forthcoming about your shortcomings but turn them into positives and show how they will be an asset to the company you work for next…theirs. Do not get too wordy or sound defensive. They want someone who can articulate the issue and why it will not be a problem for them.
Bottom line in an interview is to always focus on what you have to contribute to them – when someone brings up a shortcoming, acknowledge and then redirect it back to how it will allow you to contribute positively to them.
