Should You Address Weaknesses on Your Resume or Cover Letter?

Honesty is always the best policy when applying for jobs. But in some cases, sharing too much information upfront could come back to bite you—especially if you disclose weaknesses that you don’t yet have to share on your resume or cover letter. It’s great to be an open book—but not when it could negatively affect how an employer will view your eligibility.

Why It’s Good to Avoid Disclosing Weaknesses

Every human being is weak at something. Some people may not be organized, while others aren’t great at managing groups of people. The good news is, hiring managers understand this when seeking an employee. But just because they understand this doesn’t mean that you should outright address those issues in lieu of focusing on your strengths.

Companies are looking for the strongest candidates they can find to fill their open positions; so the likelihood of them choosing a person who states in his or her cover letter, “I’ve always struggled at organization, but I’m trying to improve” over one who gives examples of how great she already is at organizing is pretty low.

How to Handle Your Weaknesses On Your Resume

So what should you do if you are weak in specific areas in which the employer is hoping to find strengths? A good way is to simply play up your strengths on your resume and cover letter. For instance, if you’re applying for a job that seeks a highly organized person—and you’re really bad at organizing—focus on strengths you have that correlate with qualifications on the employer’s wish list.

For instance, the employer might want a team leader, which just happens to be one of your greatest strengths. Instead of focusing on organization, spend your time coming up with examples of how you’ve successfully organized team projects.

If you are weak in certain areas, those weaknesses are likely to come out in the interview. So although you may not have addressed them in your cover letter or resume, it’s a good idea to work on ways at becoming stronger before being called in for an interview (e.g., enroll in classes, work with a mentor).

This way, if you’re asked about contributions you can make in your weaker areas, you could explain that although you haven’t always been strong, you’ve already taken your own steps toward improving your skills so that you can become the well-rounded employee the company is seeking.

Author:

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez is an expert resume writer, career and personal branding strategist, author, speaker and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast. She creates high-impact, best-in-class resumes and cover letters that transform job searches into interviews and ultimately job offers. For more information about professional resume writing or to read more career and job search related articles visit http://www.greatresumesfast.com or call 1.800.991.5187.

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Jessica Holbrook Hernandez

Jessica Holbrook Hernandez, global resume authority and President/CEO of Great Resumes Fast, is a former HR Manager who partners with professional- and executive-level candidates to create authentic, branded resumes and cover letters. An international resume columnist and resume expert for JobTalkAmerica radio, her work opens doors to lucrative positions at Fortune 500 companies.

Comments

Hill says:
May 3, 2011 at 5:03 pm
Then the next question becomes “Why are you interested in a job that you may not be suited for?”
stephen q shannon says:
May 4, 2011 at 9:31 am
A weakness in private life (at home, for example) may not be replicated in the workplace. To my knowledge and belief a friend of mine procrastinates at home to the distraction of his family. At work he prides himself as being proactive. Hence this quote for your next interview, “Based upon what I hear you saying about this opportunity, I can think of nothing that would prevent me from doing a great job here.” Wordsmithing your way around alleged weakness, in my view, invites “next.”