Many candidates try to sound self-aware by saying things like:

💬 “I’m a perfectionist.”

💬 “I care too much.”

💬 “I work too hard.”

But here’s the problem:

Characteristics are subjective.

What you see as a strength, a recruiter might view as a red flag. Say you're “very detail-oriented” to the wrong person, and you might come across as a micromanager.

A smarter approach? Focus on skills that are aligned with what the role actually needs. 

Use the job description as your guide.

For strengths: Choose a skill that’s clearly valuable for the role and back it up with a real example.

For weaknesses: Identify a non-critical skill you’re still building, and show how you’re actively improving.

When you can clearly show what you bring and what you're actively working on for the sake of the role, that’s self-awareness, growth mindset, and alignment.

Yes, honesty matters. But it’s also about being strategic. Especially in an AI-driven hiring world where every answer counts.

#EmotionalIntelligence #CrossCulturalTeams #AI #CareerGrowth