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How Do I Discuss Gaps or Weaknesses in My Background? Don't dodge questions or get defensive. The key is to give a brief answer if it's a negative point
and then move the conversation on to a positive aspect of the same issue. Tell the truth. Don't offer negative information
if the subject doesn't come up, but don't lie -- it will come back to haunt you. If you have changed jobs a number of times (your choice or not), talk about what you moved toward
rather than what you were getting away from. For example, "I wanted to work for a company that cross-trains the employees
for a variety of positions and skills, and that's what I found when I had the chance to interview with..." or perhaps,
"I was hired to lead the organization through a major transition in its product lines. When we accomplished that, I was
ready to move on to my next challenge..." You don't want to come across as someone who is always disgruntled or dissatisfied.
Focus on what you did to try to improve work relationships and situations. If the problem was unsolvable, then you had a good
reason to move on. If you were fired and the interviewer
asks you a direct question, admit it and then focus on what you learned from the situation. "A new boss was brought in
to change everything over to a new product line with high-volume sales, and my skills in long-term customer relationships
didn't seem to be important anymore. I should have realized that I need to be working with a different kind of product..." If you lack a degree, you may feel intimidated or defensive as you
approach the job market. Sometimes the requirement is warranted, but usually it's just an easy way to shorten the list of
candidates. You want to come across as someone who keeps up with technology and industry changes. Perhaps you've continued
your education through in-house training or industry seminars or professional associations. Talk about how you do
learn. "When my company changed the software to a different system, I came in early for a few days to play around with
it and get through the transition as quickly as possible. Then I found that other employees were coming to me with their
questions..."
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