July 22, 2022
Figure 1: Screenshot of an Interview workshop slide
Today's webinar focused on interview skills.The famous strengths and weaknesses interview question! Eeek! I do love me a SWOT analysis, but it is incredibly difficult to discuss one in front of prospective employers. Especially considering how much I am not good at being put on the spot. Definitely a solid reason as to why I could not be a trial attorney. My one mock trial was phenomenal and it took hours of memorization and it was draining and all I could think of was- how do they speak from such confidence off the top of their heads? Can I be like that?
All this to say, I do not think that this is a weakness I would want to offer up to a prospective employer. If I do offer this up, I sandwich it with something along the lines of- I am much stronger researching and planning (a speech/a presentation/etc) and once I am comfortable, I can start winging it. But I'm not winging it off the bat. I have learned over the years that it is important to talk oneself up. Who else is going to be your advocate? I know my strengths and I know my weaknesses, and if I feel confident that I can master something I try to lean on that. But this is wholly dependent on the field again. I recently applied to volunteer for RAINN and this was an interview I was fairly comfortable with because I have worked in sexual assault for years. I know what my strengths and weaknesses are that pertain to this field, but that is also because I was able to review the questions ahead of time and plan my answers out. It is much more difficult for a new field. For example, I am not entirely sure what my strengths and weaknesses are in the field of law librarianship. An easy one would be that this is new territory for me and I am on a learning curve but I am fast learner and I am humble enough to ask questions and apply constructive feedback to further my skills.
These were good questions. They help me think, especially as I am exploring the job market right now and trying to cast a wide net to see what catches.
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