Nobody is perfect; as such, many of us have something that could potentially cast us in a negative light during a job interview. These include a pattern of ‘job-hopping’ (holding six or more jobs in a ten-year period), gaps in employment history, weaknesses and/or character flaws.
However, the beauty of the interview process is that it gives you a chance to explain your situation and spin those potential negatives into positives. Using the three examples given above, I will outline ways in which each can be reframed to cast you in the best light possible.
Job-Hopping
Job-hopping is not as frowned upon as it used to be, particularly among the younger generations. However, a long resume filled with different employers may send a red flag to the company you are interested in working for. For this reason, it is a good idea to explain during the interview why you have held so many positions and why this is a positive thing for their company.
One reason you can give for your varied work history is that you are passionate about developing and learning new things. You may have a particular career that you are interested in pursuing, and each successive position has led you closer to that goal. Or, you may have been unsure of which field you want to work in, and so have tried a variety of different roles to learn which type of work you are best suited for. Your history of ‘job-hopping’, particularly in the early stages of your work life, may also simply be because you develop quickly and have been working your way into more specialised roles. It is important to stress during your interview that you are passionate about the position you have applied for, and that your previous jobs have been the building blocks to get to this point.
Furthermore, by having held a number of positions, you have had the opportunity to develop new skills. By highlighting all that you have learned in your career thus far and outlining how this can be applied to the new role, you will turn that potential negative into a positive.
Gaps in Employment History
People have gaps in employment history for all sorts of reasons, including taking time-off to study or having difficulties in finding employment.
If the gap is due to study, for example, make sure to mention this and include why your time studying is relevant to the role you have applied for. You do not necessarily have to had studied something specifically related to the role – instead, you can discuss how studying provided you with a variety of work-related skills, including the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and organise your own workload.
Lastly, if you have experienced difficulties in finding employment and have a gap in your resume because of this, there are ways to spin this into a positive. For example, you could let the potential employer know that you have been waiting for a position to open in a field you are passionate about, bringing the conversation back to your suitability for the role you are interviewing for. You could also use this time to discuss all the things you did during your employment gap – for example, maybe you completed some online courses and developed new skills, took up a new hobby, or engaged in volunteer work. Let the employer know that you used the time to develop personally and professionally; this shows that you are proactive and a problem solver.
Weaknesses and/or Character Flaws
Many interviewers often ask about your weaknesses, and it is important to be honest in your answer. Keep in mind, however, that saying ‘I work way too hard’ or ‘I am a perfectionist’, even if true, can come across as insincere. Furthermore, it is also important to be mindful of what the role is when outlining one of your weaknesses. For example, you do not want to say ‘I hate talking to people’ if you have applied for a customer service role.
My own weakness, which I have brought up in interviews before, is that I am not very good at public speaking. However, I also make sure to mention that I have taken the initiative to work on this, through training courses and practicing (a lot!) at home whenever I am asked to give a presentation. While I will never be a natural at speaking in front of crowds, I am aware of my weakness and willing to work on it. This is one way of turning that negative into a positive, as it shows self-awareness and a desire for growth.
These are just a few examples of how easy it can be to spin potential negatives into positives during a job interview. If you have a few suggestions of your own, please feel free to share them in the comments below.
Kaylia Payne