“‘I’m Too Organized’ Isn’t A Weakness”: HR Experts Share Tips To Get Hired Faster

Ahead of the interview, it’s crucial that you do your research to understand the culture, mission, and values of the company.

“The more you know about the company you're going to interview with, the better you'll understand what they're looking for in interviews. Ultimately, it's about engaging with the person who will determine whether you're chosen or not,” explains Cristian, who suggests tailoring your responses to show that your individual goals align with those of the company.

“It is also important to verify if the company's culture corresponds to an environment where you would feel comfortable working,” adds Sofía. The website, employees, slogans, and the way of communication all serve as indicators of the type of culture of a company.

“The most crucial thing is for the recruiter to see, understand, and discover that you really took the time to prepare for that interview, that the interview matters to you, and that is why you researched its culture, mission, and values,” she highlights.

“If you truly know the company, you will be able to have a much more relaxed interview in terms of content, an interview where you not only talk about yourself but, above all, about how you can add value to the company.”

The way you dress will impact what the recruiter may think about your professionalism. Of course, the definition of “appropriate attire” varies according to the company and position you’re applying for.

“When we talk about dressing appropriately, we mean dressing according to the job position and company. Surely, the way a lawyer who wants to work in court should dress is not the same as someone aiming to be a graphic designer at a very innovative marketing agency,” explains Sofía.

The same applies to online meetings. “For virtual interviews, it's very important to maintain a good presentation and to pay close attention to the place where you'll conduct the interview, as there are no second chances for a first impression,” mentions Cristian.

Though the recruiter has already read your resume, bringing a copy allows them to look for a specific date or ask you about any relevant information in case they don’t have a computer nearby.

However, before handing in your CV, it’s crucial to avoid reading it.

“What recruiters analyze is the candidate’s ability to organize their thoughts while speaking: how they choose words, prioritize information, and provide examples,” Sofía says. “If someone expects to read during the interview, they would be making a significant mistake.”

If you don't have a physical copy, ensure you have it ready as a draft email, so you can send it quickly if the person interviewing you needs it, Cristian recommends.

Maintaining eye contact helps connect with the recruiter and conveys that you’re fully focused on the interview.

“Smiling and maintaining eye contact are very important, as are showing kindness, interest, and remaining focused. For example, a candidate who checks their phone during the interview or appears not to pay attention may be directly ruled out from the selection process,” warns Cristian.

Appropriate body language will also make you appear more confident, adds Sofía. “In the context of a job interview, a smile, a good presentation, kindness, and eye contact will certainly contribute to a more successful interview and show the recruiter that the candidate is calm and in control of the situation.”

This is the most classic—and, arguably, most intimidating—question of job interviews. By asking the vague “Tell me about yourself?” questions, recruiters are looking to learn about your soft skills, according to Sofía.

“What the recruiter expects to learn from these types of questions is what the job seeker's hobbies are, what they do in their free time, what their family situation is like, and what their expectations and desires are. This helps to get to know the candidate in depth and says a lot about their soft skills.”

“Your storytelling needs to be prepared,” advises Cristian, who recommends including aspects about your professional journey. “It's your moment to shine – to highlight the milestones throughout your career, the challenges faced, and how they were resolved.”

Meanwhile, Sofía suggests saving that information for questions like, “Tell me about a situation where…”

“When recruiters ask a job seeker to describe a situation, for example, ‘Tell me about a situation that has been challenging for you,’ we expect to see how they construct a narrative, if they speak in an organized manner, if what they are saying is consistent, and if recalling that situation brings up any anger or frustration.

“Above all, we want to know what the candidate learned from that situation, knowing that in work, they will always encounter frustrating situations, where they have made mistakes or have to deal with someone else's mistakes.”

Don’t sugarcoat your weaknesses when asked to identify your strengths and areas for improvement. Instead, acknowledge these aspects of your personality and explain what you’ve done to improve them.

“With strengths and weaknesses, we don't expect an answer like, ‘My weakness is that I am too organized’ because those aren't weaknesses. What we expect when discussing a weakness is to see what the candidate is doing to change that situation,” says Sofía.

“For example, a weakness could be, ‘I didn't consider myself a very organized person in the past, so now, I use a notebook where I write down all urgent and non-urgent tasks I need to tackle throughout the day, and I have significantly improved my level of organization.’

“Furthermore, we want to understand how the candidate responds regarding their problem-solving skills—whether it's a situation that required them to contact other team members to solve it or one they tackled alone or whether it pushed them into a crisis. 

“For the ‘strengths’ part, it's crucial to mention examples that back up what the candidates are saying. For instance, if they consider teamwork to be [their] strength, they should recount a specific situation when they worked effectively in a team before.”

The BetterPros recruiter advises leaving questions for the end of the interview. This way, you can accumulate the different doubts that may arise throughout the meeting instead of constantly interrupting the interviewer.

In terms of the types of questions to ask, she says there are no right or wrong doubts. You should ask the ones that really matter to you and would help you decide if you see yourself in the position.

“What are the challenges of the role? What team will I be part of? What are the career and development possibilities? What should happen in the next 3 months for me to be considered successful in this position? These are the most typical questions, but we do not expect the person to ask anything specific. 

“The idea is to show that you did your research and that they are not questions already answered in the job description.”

Both experts agree that it’s a nice touch to contact recruiters following the interview to thank them for their time. Additionally, it's a way to continue showing interest in the role.

“Perhaps it's best to connect on LinkedIn (if you haven't already), and if the company doesn't provide feedback, send a thank-you message,” Cristian says.

For Sofía, a thank-you note signifies interest and professionalism. “It's not necessary, but it's always a nice gesture. The same goes for following up on your application.”