Saying What You Are Good At

Scene: You are practicing for an interview with your friend Lin. Lin: So, what are you good at? You: Um. I am a hard worker. I am a fast learner. And I am good with people. Lin: Everyone says that. I still do not know what you can do.

Lin: Try this instead. Name a task, not a personality. What task do people come to you for? You: Hmm. My team asks me to fix the spreadsheets when the numbers do not add up. Lin: Good. That is a real skill. Say that.

You: I am good at finding mistakes in spreadsheets. Lin: Better. Now add one example. When did you do it? You: Last month I found a mistake in our budget file. It was off by twelve thousand yuan. I caught it before we sent it out.

Lin: Now you sound real. Put the two parts together. Skill first, then the example. Keep it under twenty seconds. You: I am good at finding mistakes in spreadsheets. Last month I caught a twelve thousand yuan error in our budget, before it went out.

Lin: One more thing. Do not say you are good at everything. Pick two strengths and stop. If you list eight, the interviewer believes none of them. You: So two skills, each with one example. Lin: Yes. Write them tonight. Practice them tomorrow.