When asked about your weaknesses, choose one that is truly a challenge for you but that you’re working on. Avoid the overused weakness-but-not-really tactic of saying something like “I’m a perfectionist” or “I’m a workaholic.” Instead, pick a trait that you’ve struggled with but that isn’t a deal killer: “I tend to be a big-picture thinker, and I’ve thought about that and found that it’s helpful to be really focused on details as well.”
Get what you’re worth
You’re an inch away from landing your dream job—now you have to be sure your compensation is just as dreamy. This negotiation is a dance, so the more rehearsed you are, the better. Know what you’ll take if the money doesn’t measure up. Are you willing to accept a pay cut for a position that gains you critical work experience or access to potential mentors or future employers or clients? What about a better title in exchange for less pay? Would you consider flextime? Additional vacation? Decide what your walkaway value is, and be prepared to say “no thanks” if you can do better elsewhere.
There’s a fine line between respectful assertiveness and over-the-top arrogance. But this is the single best time to ask for money, extra vacation, immediate enrollment in the 401(k) or whatever tops your wish list. If you feel uncomfortable haggling, as many women do, think of this as advocating not for yourself but for your family. Set your aspirations as high as realistically possible and get the best information you can to support those aspirations, says Hannah Riley Bowles, an associate professor at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and an author of a study on gender differences and initiating negotiations. “Men tend to be paid higher than women, so see if you can figure out what kinds of packages men with your experience or job prospects have.”
When you’re negotiating, don’t be thrown by a question like “What do you need?” If possible, be prepared to make the first offer or come up with a way of framing the discussion so that your reasoning shapes the negotiation. Find the salary range for a job by consulting websites such as salary.com, vault.com, and monster.com. If you’re an on-ramping mom, it’s important to get paid what the position calls for, not some price discounted for the time you took off.
