This can be the most difficult question asked by the interviewer to evaluate your honesty and your confidence level. Such questions are fairly typical when applying for a job. The purpose of asking this question is firstly to see how you handle a stress question and secondly how you actually respond to it.

As with most things, it is all about preparation. You have to prepare an answer for this question for every job interview before you go. Think about such questions in advance and have your answers ready. If you fail to prepare then be prepared to fail. There are many 'standard' questions. There are no standard answers as most are asking about you personally. Because of that no one but yourself can answer many of the questions you will be asked.

Be positive; do not repeat what you have read in books or on the Internet. By all means read sample answers, but do not repeat them verbatim. The person interviewing you will have read all those answers too. An experienced interviewer would have heard every clichéd answer to this question and will know when you are feeding them a line.

First impressions count for far more than many realise. There is more to having a successful job interview than just answering the questions asked. Many would say much more. Listen to what is being said. Answer only the question asked. Don't ramble.

The most important thing about what you say is for it to be something resolvable, or an area in which you can improve and to show how you are trying to solve this or that issue.

Weaknesses do not exist, just challenges and solutions:

Try to tailor your responses to your specific job or task. You should always turn your weakness into a positive attribute. The trick is to talk about your weaknesses so that they can also appear to be a strength.

Focus on your strengths, but have an answer regarding a challenge you have met and overcome. Think of any trait or skill you have that pertains to the job you are applying for. Think of instances when you have shown a lot of skill in that area.

It is important to answer the question without making it look like you have a weakness that might prevent you from getting hired. At the same time, you don't want to mention a weakness that isn't really a weakness but confidently answer the question by telling how you want to improve yourself by constantly learning from your own self-analysis.

Create an honest list of what you think are your strengths or weaknesses and then select a few of them you can remember. Practice your responses so that they sound natural and you are prepared for the question.

Don't come up with statements such as I am a perfectionist or I have no weaknesses. Keep your answers career-related and precise. So, don't try to portray yourself as Mr/Miss perfect, as we all have some flaws. Just be careful, and state your weak point by adding that you are working towards overcoming it.

The best way to answer would be to choose something that can be turned around to look like a strength. The key is to turn the weakness - a negative character trait - into something positive.

Examples:

"One of my weaknesses is that I do not quit until I get the job done. I want to make sure that everything I do is my best and in the right order".

"My computer skills were lacking a little, but I got trained and got my skills up-to-date."

Or, you can say that your written communication skills are not amazing, but you are currently (or planning to register) for a course in creative writing, or business communication, or professional writing, etc...

Weaknesses that can also be strengths:

Tell about your weaknesses that are also strengths.

• I am a hard-worker and sometimes I work too hard
• I am a perfectionist and want everything to be done right the first time
• I'm too helpful. A good helper towards those who need it. Tend to go to any limits while helping someone in trouble.
• I do not care for paperwork, so you try to get it all done by 10AM so I can go on to other things.

Strengths:

• Your communication skills- you communicate well with others: "One of my biggest strengths is my communication skills. I work very well with all kinds of people, and understand that everyone has different perspectives about projects and work tasks - so when I work with others I realize that everyone comes to the table with different priorities and objectives. I keep this in mind when I communicate tasks that need to be accomplished with positive reinforcement and awareness of what others are working on".

• You are a people person. "I like to work in team and have been an active participant and organizer at several places".

• You are a quick learner and love to learn new things. "I have the ability to cope with failures and try to learn from my mistakes". "I am a quick learner. I have great problem-solving skills and am willing to learn new things to get the job done".

• You are always punctual

• You are a team player. "I am a team player and work well with others. My strength is my flexibility to handle change. As customer service manager at my last job, I was able to turn around a negative working environment and develop a very supportive team".

• Good attitude is expected of every employee. You should back up what you say with an example. For example, don't just say you have good customer service skills, you have to prove it by also telling how you won a company award or received positive customer comment letters for your good service.

• Determined

• Able to prioritize

• Self-confidence, "I believe in myself"

• One of my greatest strengths I've acquired during my education is good analytical and planning skills. This has always benefited me to set goals and try to achieve them. But at the same time, I'm driven by the thoughts of success.

• Full commitment to my work

• Highly energetic

• Having good interpersonal skills

• I'm well organized and like to be neat with all of my work

• I have great communication skills.

Weaknesses:

• You are answering the dreaded question without looking like an egotistical maniac, and showing the interviewer that you see yourself as a work in progress, trying to better all of your qualities. You should answer with things you "are improving upon," e.g., "I believe I should always be improving upon myself."
• Just pick one weakness that is not going to disqualify you from the job, and then follow up with - this is what really matters - the examples of what you are doing (or have done) to fix your weakness. The most important point here is to show that you learn from your mistakes and your weakness, and you are taking the corrective action to fix the situation - and stress that! For example, if the job does not require public speaking, you can say that your weakness is you are afraid of speaking in front of the public. Then tell the interviewers that you have joined a Toastmaster club or public speech course to overcome the problem. Remind them that when you identify a problem, you actively take actions to correct it, and that is how you do things.
• Don't try to use a cliché or try to present a strength as a weakness by saying your weakness is that you are a workaholic. No one will believe that answer. Being too emotional will make the recruiter wonder if your interpersonal skills are lacking. Give a true weakness but one of modest size. Shows that you have taken steps to correct the weakness. For example you want to improve your MS Excel skills so you are taking a course on that now.
• I used to have trouble with procrastinating, now I have learned to write down a list of things that I need to do, and keep a calendar to keep track of deadlines. I have found that this not only helps me to finish things on time, but it has also helped me to be more organized.
• For my weakness, some people say I'm over-friendly. You can't go wrong with that one. Usually, the person interviewing is like "Oh, that's not a bad thing at all."
• I'm a little egoistic when it comes to winning things and get a little ruthless too.
• I lose patience sometimes when I am not in a position to complete the assigned job in time.
• I have to work on having more patience and giving myself a break, because I always want everything done at once.
• I am too focused on my work and I need to find more time to relax.
• I'm too focused on work and need to develop some after-hours hobbies.
• Never actually choose something that will be seen as a liability. Try to think of a weakness that can actually be seen in some sort of positive light.

• I'm a workaholic person and love to dedicate myself to the work I'm doing. But at the same time I forget to keep a balance between other things which I'm trying to improve on.
• Take whatever is your best quality and also describe it as your worst. It often is, as we are all made up like two sides of a coin. Try it out with different qualities and accomplishments and see how it works.

• "My strength is my ability to be flexible; I've seen companies go through changes in structure and management philosophy. I've had to adjust my style to the new environment several times. My weakness is my tendency to over-work so I pace myself now."
• Similarly… "My strength is my flexibility to handle change. As a software developer at my last job, I was able to turn around a negative working environment and develop a very supportive team" If you lack experience or skills, state this but also tell that you are willing to learn, or that it is an area which you would like to improve on.

"I do not have much experience with customer service, but I would like to gain experience in this area. I get along well with people, I am able to listen and am a good communicator so I feel that I would get on well in a customer based environment."

Example 2:

"I am not too experienced with computers, but I am always willing to learn new skills. I have used computers a little in the past and this is one area which I would like to improve on. I am usually very quick at picking up new skills especially when it is something that I need to learn.

Notes on interviewing

• This question unfortunately has become a staple in the interview process and is an easy way out for an interviewer who can't think of any other questions. The reason this is a bad question is simply this: If someone has a weakness that could jeopardize his chance of getting the job, he will never reveal it. So the only answers that this question receives are false answers intended to placate the interviewer. A good interviewer won't ask this question. I'm always tempted to answer this way: "Mr. Interviewer, I always have a hard time with that question. What would your answer be to the question?"
• A good interviewer wouldn't dream of asking someone this question. As the interviewer, you will not get truthful answers from the weakness part of the question, and as the interviewee, you can end up coming across as egotistical and boastful when answering about your strengths. A good interviewer shouldn't want to make you uncomfortable.

Honesty is the best policy

No Trick: Honesty is the best policy. Whatever you do, tell the truth. While there are certainly answers that interviewers prefer to hear, it has to match reality. Why? First, it's generally not good to get hired for a job that you're not matched well for. If you like new, exciting, dynamic situations but you're looking for a job on an assembly line, you're not going to be happy; saying that you like repetitive work doesn't make sense. Second, any good interviewer will check your references. If your answers don't match what they hear, you're almost certain to lose the chance for job.

Don't ever list as a weakness the following: "I take on too many things and work too hard, and just don't know where to stop." It's a cliché, completely transparent, and I can tell you that it rarely makes the desired impression.

One interviewer's perspective

I ask this question and whenever I get an answer like "I work too hard" I know I'm dealing with somebody that I can't really trust, and that I'm going to have a hard time developing an open and honest working relationship with. And I know that I still don't know the person's other weaknesses.

At least with me, an interviewee has a much better chance if I think he or she is honestly telling me about a weakness. And then I can decide whether or not I can work around that weakness. One person told me that he needs fixed deadlines because otherwise he keeps finding additional things to add and it's hard for him to finish the project. I decided this was something I could live with and I hired him. We all have weaknesses. And if you think you're going to outsmart me with nonsense or evasion, you're hurting your chances with me.

Strengths are a combination of talent and behaviour that a person is born with and cultivates over a period of time, they should not be confused with skills. Skills are something that you can develop over time. For example, if you don't know a computer language, you can possibly learn it but you cannot learn strengths.

The interviewer is probably not really interested in your weaknesses, but is just testing your ability to deal with a difficult and unexpected situation.

As with most things, it is all about preparation. If you fail to prepare then be prepared to fail. There are many 'standard' questions. There are no standard answers as most are asking about you personally. Because of that no one but yourself can answer many of the questions you will be asked. Think about such questions in advance and have your answers ready. There are many sources of the type of questions you may be presented with. The internet and your local library being the main ones. Be positive; do not repeat what you have read in books or on the Internet. By all means read sample answers but do not repeat them verbatim. The person interviewing you will have read all those answers too.

The best approach is to:

• First decide on how you want to position yourself. Ideally, you should also understand what the interviewer is looking for.
• Then calmly and sincerely admit the weakness and what you're doing about it.

You want to be careful here. You never want to sound:

• Phony and self-serving
• Egotistic, as if you don't think you have any real weaknesses
• Defensive

Of course, you also don't want to admit a weakness that's too big to get you hired, like "I always miss my deadlines." So play carefully, but try to admit a real weakness that's related to a strength, and that won't sound too bad.

When asked what your weaknesses are during an interview always try to make the end of your description a positive.

For example, you can say that one of your weaknesses is that you sometimes get easily frustrated with yourself or others if a job isn't done perfectly.

However, this is simply caused by your passion for your career and your desire to do everything as well as it can be done. This way, while you admit to becoming frustrated, you show that it's only because you care so much about your job.

Here are some guidelines for responding when an interviewer asks what about your biggest weakness:

The question demands personal/subjective answer depending on the reality of my own trait and personality type.

For instance mixing business with pleasure:

"I spend both time and money on books, internet, technology and hardware on my free time for fun even though it is job related because I am so interested in these topics"

Simple. Light-heartedly say handmade milk chocolates, fast cars and more handmade milk chocolates. When asked my dislikes I usually say smoking (unless it is the tax man on fire) and then it would be someone running up with a bucket of water to put him out. I have never been asked to give a serious answer.

• First of all, don't specify them as your weaknesses... just tell them you don't consider them as strong and they could use some work

• The question "What would you say is your greatest weakness" in a job interview is a way to find out many things about you, Try to make it a positive reply. As a property manager I say "I care too much about my communities" this equates to my spending additional time on site at no cost to the company.

Be honest but stay positive.

First and foremost, you should always address every interview question with honesty.

• Of course, your answer should be based on the real reason you left, but put a positive spin on it. That means, you should try to frame your honest answer in the most positive way possible.
• Do not lie, be truthful and honest but do not be harsh on a previous employer.

• More info on why you left a job would help to give applicable suggestions.
• You TELL them why you left! It depends on why you left your last job. If it was particularly unpleasant, remember that they can always check references. Make it sound as positive as possible though. Put the reason you are no longer at your last job in your question.
• Unless you were laid off or the company had relocated you too far, just say "it's a career move." It's better not to go into the specifics.

• No potential employer wants to hear your gripe about a prior boss or talk poorly about a previous employer. She or he wants to hear about your potential as a superstar at the position you are seeking.

If you felt under-appreciated and underpaid at your last job, instead of ranting about your overbearing boss and under-appreciative corporation, you might say that your prior work didn't allow you to grow professionally or intellectually and didn't offer advancement opportunity.

Example 2:

"After working for two years at my prior job, I realized that I really wanted to work with X and my prior job didn't have any X." (X is something that your interview company has.)

• This is a good answer because it shows that there was a valid reason for your leaving, that you think ahead, and that you are not just interviewing at their company because you want a job, but that the new company has something you want and you will be a motivated worker.

Example 3:

"That's the hardest decision I ever had, I will forever be thankful for the opportunity my previous employer gave me but right now this decision will be beneficial for me and for my previous employer as I want to have career advancement and I am on the process of realizing my other potentials".

Example 4:

'Current Project will be over and I am looking for a new challenge. I have been with my current company for two and half years and don't find the work as interesting as I once did. I am looking for a company where I can take on new challenges and learn new things with a possible career path".

Example 5:

"There was no room for growth and self-fulfilment. My work has become stagnant, I am looking for more challenging assignments where I can apply my skills and experience more effectively."

Example 6:

You typically leave a job because you are unsatisfied with some aspect of your job. Most of the times, it is salary or opportunities. So how do you word it better for the interviewer? You need to study up about the company and look into challenges you can solve for the new company. "I was looking for something more challenging. And I see better opportunities in your company because of the XYZ reasons."

An interviewer's perspective:

As someone that interviews many people for different positions, I would have to say that the truth is definitely the best route to go.

• What you can say is that your previous position no longer challenged you and therefore was no longer enjoyable. That the company was not allowing you to grow within the company and that that was something you hoped for.

• Stay positive regardless of the circumstances. Please be sure not to criticize your last company.

• Never refer to a major problem with management and never speak ill of supervisors, co-workers or the organization. If you do, you will be the one looking bad. Keep smiling and talk about leaving for a positive reason such as an opportunity, a chance to do something special or other forward-looking reasons.

• If you couldn't get along with your old boss, don't say negative things about him/her; say that, unfortunately, you and your old boss had some disagreements. You may still need a recommendation from them. It is also a reflection on yourself and the company will want an employee that has a positive outlook.

• You could always say: It was time to learn something new (no advancement) - Challenging role - High learning atmosphere - More money / good package - Better benefits - Location closer to home - Seeking a job that's a better fit (no isolation if you love people) - Seeking a job that more closely relates to your career goals.

You should relish this question and be eager to answer it! If you are not, then you are completely unprepared for the interview.

This is one of those questions people find tricky at interviews. The right approach for this question is to use it to highlight the 2 or 3 key strengths you have which match the requirements of the job. The job requirements will either be that have been mentioned in the advert, a person specification sent to you, or they would have told you during the interview.

Basically, to answer the question effectively, you have to do some research about the company and the position before you go to the interview.

However, you can answer such a question by telling the interviewer, point-by-point, about your qualifications, skills and experience that make you the best candidate for the position. So use it as a selling pitch.

Carefully consider this question before applying for a job interview. You want your answer to show that you know what skills they want (from their job ad, job description or information you've gathered) and state what experience or knowledge you have that makes you a good fit. You don't have to lie; you just want to match their expectations. Tell them that you are really interested in the job.

Prior to any interview, you should have a list mentally prepared of your greatest strengths. You should also have, a specific example or two, which illustrates each of your strengths, an example chosen from your most recent and most impressive achievements. You should have this list of your greatest strengths and corresponding examples from your achievements very well committed to memory.

Then, once you uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs, you can choose those achievements from your list that best match up with them.

As a general guideline, the 10 most desirable traits that all employers love to see in their employees are:

1. A proven track record as an achiever, especially if your achievements match up with the employer's greatest wants and needs.
2. Intelligence...management "savvy".
3. Honesty...integrity...a decent human being.
4. Good fit with corporate culture, someone to feel comfortable with, a team player that meshes well with interviewer's team.
5. Like-ability, positive attitude and sense of humor.
6. Good communication skills.
7. Dedication - willingness to walk the extra mile to achieve excellence.
8. Definiteness of purpose, and clear goals.
9. Enthusiasm with high level of motivation.
10. Confident and healthy leadership.

You want to provide simple, clear, and concise reasons. This shows that you have considered how your skills apply to their needs. Many people have only considered this from their own point of view. This question encourages you to see things from the employer's point of view. Why are you valuable? Because you have specific experience in their problem areas? During the interview, you should be asking questions to determine how you can help. After doing this, you should be able to say something that the interviewer will appreciate.

Consider these suggestions in preparing yourself for the answer:

• Your key strategy is to first uncover your interviewer's greatest wants and needs before you answer questions. You might say: "I have a number of accomplishments I'd like to tell you about, but I want to make the best use of our time together and talk directly to your needs. To help me do that, could you tell me more about the most important priorities of this position? All I know is what I (heard from the recruiter, read in the classified ad, etc.)"

• List some qualities that you have which you think will be useful to them. You could also say: "I am dependable, adaptable, teachable and honest."

• The answer to this question should generally display your self-confidence, that you are the right fit for the company, that you are imaginative and clear in thinking. Be confident enough to say, "Our shared mutual benefits will complement one another".

• You know yourself better than anyone else does. Explain why you are essential to their team. Be honest in presenting yourself.

• This is one of the types of questions that is intended to get the person who is being interviewed to talk about themselves in a fairly informal manner. Such questions are usually about some aspect of your own life so that it is not possible for anyone else to answer them for you. You should think carefully about these questions before attending the interview.

• If the person by whom you are being interviewed has a sense of humor, you can try to make them laugh without losing your track of answering it with care and relevance.

• Say, "I meet or exceed the requirement you detailed in the job description. I have done the same work (or similar) in the past. My previous employers have rated my ability to do the same/similar work highly. Along with direct experience I have the skills and experience". Be prepared to provide examples and evidence for your claims.

• You could say: "I have been trained to accomplish the task for the job you are offering. I am a positive person who performs well under pressure. I have a good work ethic and have always been interested in (list what the company does). I know that I can be an asset to your company and would love the opportunity to show you this."

• Another way of answering this question: "I feel that I am definitely the right person for this post. Based on what I have been told and read about this position, I believe I am an outstanding match and have the qualifications and willingness to achieve excellence with this company."

• Another way of answering is by saying, "I am a sincere, hard-working person with a strong desire to achieve goals. I strongly believe in myself. I am fully confident, optimistic, co-operative and a very sensible person. I believe in hard work because our tomorrow completely depends on today. I would love to share my abilities an learn here".

• "I work great with others. I have awesome people skills and can adapt to changing schedules. I have knowledge with computers and would be an asset to your team. I will complete required tasks in a fashionable manner and get them done correctly the first time. I am organized and will keep my work area clutter-free so that anyone who is looking for something can find it quickly and easily. If you require more information concerning my abilities I would be more than happy to answer them."

• When you are being interviewed, stress your virtues: punctuality, reliability, organizational skills, follow directions well, team player, flexibility, good people skills, enthusiasm, intentions in the field, hard worker. These are the kinds of things employers want to hear. Be sure to stick as close to the truth as possible or you will be found out and could be terminated from the position upon attaining it.

• You could also say: "I have no basis for comparing myself with the other applicants. However, what I can tell you is about myself and why I deserve to be here. Firstly, I believe in myself, my abilities and my skills. Secondly, I have the passion and desire to excel in this position...."

• Or say, "You should offer me this job because this role correlates well with my skills, experience and current knowledge. I believe that my past experience and skills, combined with my passion and commitment for (say the role you are interviewed for) are a great asset to offer (say the company name that interview you).

• Narrate your strengths, and explain how these will enable you to fulfil your job function efficiently and effectively. Explain your talents and skills, and relate these to the objectives of the company that you are applying to. Then say, "You should hire me because I have excellent people skills, I complete any task that is put before me and I will go beyond and above my daily duties as a co-worker and/or employee".

• You could say something like "I think with my past and present experience in (whatever field you are applying), I have gained experience in conditions of service, employees relations and management. I believe that this position requires the candidate to have insight in this field and the issues which they could face."

• They are trying to decide, based on just a little bit of information, whether or not they should hire you. So help them decide! Highlight any parts of the job or job description that sound like you but add positive comments to each description. Tell the interviewer how closely you match the job description ("I'm an excellent writer." or "My great personality and helpfulness are perfect for customer service." or "I know many of the required software programs and I'm also a quick learner!") Are they looking for someone who has a lot of computer skills? Do you have these skills? Or do they need the type of management experience that you have? Then go on and on about them! This is your chance to convince them to hire you!

• Tell them what you can DO for their company that makes you better than the other applicants. If possible, list specific instances in which you made a positive contribution to your past jobs.

Remember: Maintain good eye contact, have good posture dress neat and clean. Men, check your fingernails and hair. Ladies, dress appropriately, no cleavage, little make-up and light scent. Sit with both feet on the floor and your hands relaxed in your lap.

See the related links for more information

A resume objective statement is a brief paragraph that states your career plan in relation to what an employer is looking for. The objective statement is placed just below the name, address, and contact information on the resume. The statement is an opportunity to show that the qualifications and experience listed below are a good match for the employers' description of their opening for which you are applying.

Answer

A resume objective statement is optional. When used, it goes directly below your contact information and concisely describes what kind of job you are seeking. For example, "Seeking a marketing executive position."

Linked on the right is a page with more advice on resume objective statements.

Answer

Never, ever, ever include an objective statement. What's your objective? Mine? Anyone's? To get a satisfying, good paying job. That's why you're applying!

Your objective goes unsaid. Save room on the paper for listing actual experience.

Answer

Don't bother with an objective statement unless you can differentiate yourself with one. Everybody says they want to "add value to a dynamic organization" or some such bull. If you are a great writer who can grab attention, it can be a good way to get an interview, but a watered down objective statement wastes space.

Further to that, nobody cares about your objective. They care what you can do for their company.

Answer

It is what you want to do with the rest of your life as a job. Ex: as Teacher for the rest of your life. YOUR GOAL!

Answer

Sorry people, I'm going to disagree with the above. I was a hiring manager for seven years and there were times that I've had fifty resumes for one opening. The job market at this time is very competitive, and when you have fifty, many with similar backgrounds, what do you think is the deciding factor to call someone?

If you have word processing, I recommend that you leave the objective blank because you're going to tailor it to each openings that you're applying for. I always like to see an objective that not only reflects applicant's goal but their awareness of the goal of the organization or business to which they're applying. You can usually find something to use on their website, what they say the public should know about them or from their employment page, what their goals for their employees are.

For example, I looked up the Barnes and Noble recruitment site and see that they consider themselves the best in the business. So to translate that to a goal: "I love books and my goal is to learn the retail business and how to excel in customer service while advancing my career by learning from the best in the business." I'm not suggesting that you apply at this store, it's just an illustration of how to pull the info that they believe in into your own words.

Answer

I personally feel that objective is really important in a resume. This one statement can actually decide your fate because most of the employers just go through the objective that take their decision.

Answer

You clearly should know what do you want, which position and put it on the top of your resume that everyone can see it from the first look!

• Never speak poorly about your current (previous) employer. This question is an opportunity to sell yourself, not air your dirty laundry.

• Put your reason for leaving in the best light possible. For example, if your company has looked over you for a promotion, or you don't think you make enough money, you might say "I seek to work in a meritocracy" or "I want to work in a more entrepreneurial environment."

• Always consider what the job requires, and think about an answer that contrasts what your previous company didn't have but this current job does. If you are looking to move from a large company to a small company, you might say you've had a wonderful experience seeing how a large company does business, and you are looking to apply that knowledge you've gained in a setting where you'd have greater responsibility and more accountability for your decisions.

• If an interviewer asks you why you are wanting to leave your current position, you could tell them the real reason which is probably the pay or you really don't like your boss. or you could say something like "I don't feel like in my current position I am able to show my full potential. I am looking for a challenge in a company that will recognize my abilities as a ... (whatever position you are applying for)."

• Example: "As I succeeded in financial analysis, I became increasingly interested in broader issues of managing money. I wanted to understand how legal regulations and individuals' goals affect decisions about how to manage money. When I gained entrance to my top choice in law school, I seized the opportunity to infuse my financial training with legal knowledge."

• "No room to advance" or "I want to move up in my career"

• Never talk negative about the current organization. Don't say you are unhappy with the systems and processes there. If the reason you are leaving for pay, say that. Talk about the challenges that you have faced and how you have been able to solve them. Talk to the prospective employer saying that you are looking for a more challenging and more responsible position. Talk about your accomplishments and tell him how you can contribute to the new employer.

• Don't say you want to leave your current job because you're not earning enough. More $$$ is NOT THE ANSWER they want to hear. "Oh Look, someone who is leaving for more money! Welcome aboard!" There are really only 3 reasons: Location (commute way too long); Family Matter (new kid, etc.)' Opportunity. That's it.

• "In my current job there are no more challenges to face or potential to show my talent."

• Really the best practice is always be honest, such as, "This job really didn't have advancement opportunities that I was seeking."

• It's not that they really care about this answer. It's more of a "will this person trip over themselves, badmouth his former employer, or give out too much information" to screen themselves out. So don't do any of that. Many questions are meant to be handled and not answered in a job interview.
• "I feel that I have reached a plateau at my current job so I am looking for alternatives and new challenges."
• Don't mention the Glass Ceiling; that seems to have a negative conotation, it's been tried and receives mixed results.

• Someone I hired once told me he was tired of working for criminals. This is not the answer you usually get, so I asked him to expand his remarks. He reeled off an astounding string of OSHA, labor, environmental and copyright law violations. His former employer was known in my community for his wonderful habit of giving employees paychecks that bounced, so I could believe the rest of the stuff the applicant named. Once I brought him in, he was a good employee.

I think there's a world of difference between "I want to leave my current job because my boss is an idiot" and "I am going to get killed if I don't get out of that place."

I am really looking for a new challenge at an innovative company.

In my discussions with manager I get the impression that you are really looking to create a foundation for your {program} I also get the impression that you are willing to try out new technologies and methods like {name technologies or methods}.

While {My Current Company} does promote innovation, I think that {Your Company} really takes it seriously and that's the type of firm that I want to partner with.

Keep it positive and make the reason for a leaving a constructive one such as a new challenge, exciting opportunity, increased responsibility or learning possibility.

Be truthful but positive, if your goal is to keep the job and be stable say: To be a good employee with a stable long term employment.

If you wish to be promoted: To excel and gain promotion through hard work.

Change and paraphrase to suit your situation.
A long term goal in one's career would be, getting a raise, retirement, vacation. Short term goals could be, getting one's pay check or a date with some one else in the work area.

A good CV will never be generalized like an all-purpose application. Rather, it would be very target specific, written specially with that organization in mind, matching your best talents and qualification with the particular job's requirement. In other words, the CV should make it obvious to the prospective employer that you are the right candidate for the job. Remember that your CV is actually a key to the interview. Unless the reader feels interested enough from reading your CV, your key will not work; and unless you reach the interview stage, you cannot hope to get the job.

Hence, the CV should be written from the point of view of the reader. Also, be aware that the prospective employer may get hundreds of applications, hence the ones which are best organized and brief will hold his/her attention. Keep the following guidelines in your mind when you write your CV:

• The CV should be accurate and correct
• Your contact information should be clearly visible on the first page of the CV
• Your CV should be typed in an easy-to-follow format, i.e. the headlines should be indented and highlighted so as to catch the attention of the reader easily (this is very helpful when a person wants to take a quick look at your CV)
• The best way to write about your experience, is to write it backwards, i.e. the last job you had first and then the rest backwards chronologically
• Though sometimes your achievements need to be elaborated on to bring out the best fit, preferably they should be listed in a bullet point format. The bullet points should act as headlines in case you need expansion
• Have a 'why do I feel I am suitable and the right candidate for the job' headline on the very first page, where you can summarize the relevant information for the benefit of the employer
• If you have had any skills development training, or additional hands-on experience be sure to include it in your CV
• Your qualifications should be presented clearly and concisely starting with the highest degree and working backwards
• Give two unrelated references (make sure you do inform the person thus named so they would be prepared if the prospective employer contacts them) or mention that references would be provided if required
• Do not forget to write your areas of personal interest, such as hobbies
• In case you know other languages, and/or have additional skills which do not fall in the purview of the job your are applying for, write them under 'other information'; the more knowledge you have, the more valuable you will look - even if it does not have direct bearing on the present job

A CV should be written in several sections.

Section 1 - Personal Details (Name , address, age, etc)

Section 2 - Education Details (schools, colleges, certificate, degrees etc)

Section 3 - Work Experience (Job details latest first. Wages/Salaries, reasons for leaving)

Section 4 - Hobbies and Interests (Clubs etc)

See related link.

For more info and examples of curriculum vitae, see "how to write a curriculum vitae" in the links to the right.

Although there are templates for formatting a resume, you should not just plug in the information, as this can make your resume look the same as all the others. A resume lists your job history and accomplishments in the field, illustrating your qualifications for a position.

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Resume writing is one of those tasks that most of us at one time or another must face in the working world. To create an effective resume, a person must give a strong and powerful accounting of their skills and experience as well as their previous work history and education. There are three standard formats of resumes that employers are used to reviewing. These are the chronological, functional and "combination" formats. Depending on your current career situation, you can review each format and select which is best.

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A resume may also suggest the salary that you expect - while writing a resume, you should keep in mind the position that you are applying for and the expected salary.

When you write your resume you need to be aware that most recruiters make their decision on it around 2/3 of the way down page 1. This means you should make sure that you clearly state how your skills and experience match the job you are applying for quickly on the CV. To do this you should follow your contact details with a Profile - 4 or 5 lines saying who you, what you offer and what you want. This should be followed by a key skills section - 5 of your key skills with examples.

Write your name and contact info on the paper. Then, start writing previous work you've done. If you don't have previous work, you can skip this part and write about the education you had and awards and certificates you've received. then write what skills or training you had. Training that you had on your own or training you had in school for a sport or something else. Include the different languages you might know, as well.

There are sites on the Internet that allow you to create a resume but some of them want you to pay to do it. At others, you can quickly and easily create a resume for free and you don't have to create an account.

Start with your personal information, then move onto your professional experience, after that list your education/certifications/honors, etc, then lastly list your core skills. It's been my experience that an Objective Statement is unnecessary especially when using a cover letter. Remember to be consistent in your writing, for example, if you started out abbreviating the state you live in, abbreviate all other states in your resume. Your resume should only be one page in length. Make sure your resume contains little white space but is not crowded.

According to the Federal Citizen Information Center:

• Every cover letter should fit on one page.
• Send your letter to a specific person rather than to an office whenever possible.
• The first few sentences tell which job you are applying for.
• Briefly explain your qualifications without simply repeating your resume. More of their advice on writing cover letters is linked to the right.

And for more detailed recommendations, see this article published by Resume Edge, an online consulting company that optimizes resumes and cover letters for job seekers: how to write a cover letter. Resume Edge also has advice on choosing the paper and letterhead for your resume and cover letter, and how to mail them. Finally, you might want to check out the sample cover letters on the links below.

Additional advice from a former hiring manager:

• The purpose of a resume cover letter is to encourage the recipient to look at your resume. That is all, so be concise and don't repeat your whole background. Your background and history over and above what is on the resume is appropriate for the interview.
• The cover letter should be targeted to having the prospective employer review you resume; your resume should have the information that convinces the prospective employer that they should contact you for an interview.
• Remember, especially in today's job market, a personnel manager may get 50 or more resumes for one job opening. I know, this has happened to me. If the cover letter is too long, contains inappropriate information, or even too much effusive wording, the manager will readily set it aside for the next one in the pile rather than plow through a mess of words.
• As a hiring manager, the ones that I most readily slid to the bottom of the pile were those that were so extremely generalized and filled with 'buzz words' that you can tell that they were done by a resume service of pulled directly from the internet, often relating information that had nothing to do with the specific opening for which they were applying. So, even if you're using a service or an internet sample, be sure to change the terminology into words that you would actually say and remove what is not to specific to the opening.