TOP 20 SMALL AND MID-SIZED U.S. CITIES FOR JOBS

 

FIND OUT WHICH SMALL OR MID-SIZED US CITIES OFFER THE BEST JOB OPPORTUNITIES, AND WHICH CITIES HAVE THE MOST OPENINGS IN THE TOP 10 MOST POPULAR INDUSTRIES.

We’re proving that city size truly doesn’t matter when it comes to great employment, and that incredible roles are available for job seekers in less-populated (but still awesome) U.S. cities. Using CareerBuilder data, as well as information on city population and size, we created an official guide to the best small and mid-sized U.S. cities for jobs, and which fields are most likely to hire you.

Let’s face it, big cities have gotten all the attention lately; it’s time to give smaller cities some love.

BEST JOB MARKETS IN THE U.S. FOR SMALL TO MID-SIZED CITIES

According to our recent CareerBuilder survey, 46% of respondents said they considered themselves "explorers" when it came to their most recent job search. That could mean their home town or state — even region of the country. So, if you’re after a new place to explore, these small and mid-sized cities (in every region of the U.S.) could have a lot to offer you.

10 best small cities with the most job opportunities:

1. Bellevue, WA - 151 jobs/1,000
Just a 15-minute drive from Seattle, Bellevue offers the best of both worlds: small-city living within touching distance of a big city. Bellevue has a population of 139,820, and there are 21,147 jobs being advertised there right now. That’s 151 jobs per 1,000 people. Its proximity to Seattle, a city known for its tech industry, means its top industries are in this sector, including computer hardware and IT. So, if you want all the benefits of Seattle without the big-city living, Bellevue is your place.
Does Bellevue sound good to you? Find a job there today

2. Tempe, AZ - 129jobs/1,000
Workers in Tempe, AZ earn up to 17% more than the state average, so it’s definitely worth looking at the available jobs there. If you work in the healthcare industry, you are more likely to find employment here, with 620 current job openings.
Does Tempe sound like your kind of place? See the jobs being advertised now

3. Salt Lake City, UT - 119jobs/1,000
In Salt Lake City, the healthcare industry is booming, with 616 jobs available right now. If you choose this city as your new home, you can expect to earn around 12% more than the state average. Plus, there’s plenty to do when not working, making this a great place to find your next job.
Is Salt Lake City your ideal location? Browse availabilities there now

4. Sioux Falls, SD - 89jobs/1,000
In Sioux Falls, healthcare is the top industry at the moment, so if this is your career area of choice, don’t write off this small city. The city is home to stunning landscapes - one being the falls in the Big Sioux River - and by working here you can earn up to 145% more than the state average.
Find jobs in Sioux Falls today

5. Springfield, MO - 83jobs/1,000
Currently, healthcare is the number one industry in the city of Springfield. There are 840 job openings at the moment, so this could be a great city to live and work if big-city life isn’t for you. There is plenty to do in Springfield, from the Dickerson Park Zoo to the Fantastic Caverns, so there will always be something exciting to see.
See what’s available in Springfield

Completing the top ten:
6. Akron, OH- 82jobs/1,000
7. Knoxville, TN- 78jobs/1,000
8. Grand Rapids, MI- 75jobs/1,000
9. Fort Collins, CO- 67jobs/1,000
10. Peoria, AZ- 64jobs/1,000

10 mid-size cities with the most job openings:

1. Orlando, FL has 156jobs/1,000
Orlando isn’t just the theme park capital of the world, it’s also a great place to find a job. With 42,229 jobs currently being advertised, Orlando offers plenty of opportunity for job seekers, especially in the healthcare sector, which has 1,201 current openings. The average Orlando salary is 18.58% higher than the state average, so you’ll have plenty of cash to spend on your visits to Disney World.
Want to experience the magic of Orlando? See what jobs are available right now

2. St. Louis, MO has 151jobs/1,000
With 151 jobs per 1,000 people, St. Louis is a close second for the best mid-sized cities to find a job. The population is 315,685 people, and the industry with the most job listings at the moment is in health services. Move quickly, as those 982 openings are bound to fill up fast once everyone realizes that 7-Up was invented there.
Find jobs in St Louis, MO

3. Tacoma, WA has 142jobs/1,000
Located between two of the trendiest cities in the U.S. - Portland and Seattle - Tacoma is a great place to look for a job. The top industry in the city is healthcare, with 278 openings currently being advertised, and overall, there are 29,506 jobs up for grabs. With an affordable cost of living, less rain than in Seattle and many activities to fill your downtime with, this could be the perfect place to work for you.
Find jobs in Tacoma now

4. Cincinnati, OH has 138jobs/1,000
Home to the first baseball team in America, Cincinnati is a great place for job seekers to hunt for their next role. With 138 jobs per 1,000 people, you have an excellent chance of finding employment in Steven Spielberg’s birthplace. Once again, healthcare is the top industry, with 1,373 job openings in the sector available.
Browse through the Cincinnati job market

5. Richmond, VA has 128jobs/1,000
The capital of Virginia is one of the oldest major cities in the U.S. If you want to live and work alongside history, then you are in luck: Richmond has 128 jobs per 1,000 people, making it one of the best mid-sized cities to find a job in.
Make Richmond, VA your new home and find a job there today

Rounding out the mid-sized top 10 cities:

6. Tampa, FL has 128jobs/1,000
7. Minneapolis, MN has 128jobs/1,000
8. Pittsburgh, PA has 128jobs/1,000
9. Des Moines, IA has 128jobs/1,000
10. Chandler, AZ has 128jobs/1,000

20 top cities that have the most popular job industries

We may know which small or mid-sized cities are offering the most job opportunities, but what about the industries? Here, we will look at the industries that are booming at the moment, and which city is the current hotspot for those looking to enter these professions.

More than 42,000 healthcare jobs

Mid-size: St Louis, MO, Cincinnati, OH, Orlando, FL
Small: Sioux Falls, SD, Knoxville, TN, Little Rock, AR and Boise, ID
Healthcare has always been a huge industry in the US, and this won't change. With the tens of thousands of job vacancies in this sector, it’s a great time to get into healthcare - especially since there is a serious shortage of workers for these jobs.
Find healthcare jobs in a city near you

Computer hardware is booming with 32,000 jobs

Mid-size: Miami, FL, Raleigh, NC and Des Moines, IA
Small: Fort Lauderdale, FL
With our ever growing dependency on computers, it’s no surprise that the computer hardware industry is booming. There are 32,299 computer hardware jobs open, and 1,194 of them are in Minneapolis, MN.
Browse computer hardware jobs now

35,000 accounting jobs available right now

Mid-size: Durham, NC and Scottsdale, AZ
Small: Plano, TX
The accounting and financial industry is larger than ever, with a total of 35,897 jobs currently available all over the country. The city that is listing the most accounting jobs: Minneapolis, MN with 1,642 current openings. Durham, NC also has many vacancies in this sector, as it’s the city’s top industry, so there is no lack of choice when looking for a small city to start your accounting or finance career.
See what the accounting industry has to offer you with CareerBuilder

No shortage of jobs in the IT industry

Mid-size: Tampa, FL
Small: Bellevue, WA
Working in Information Technology (IT) may take some tech savviness, but there are plenty of jobs available once you learn everything you need to know. If you’re looking for a small or mid-sized city to work in, and IT is your dream industry, then we have some great news for you: IT is the top industry in both Tampa, FL and Bellevue, WA.
Find your next great job in the IT sector

The aerospace industry is taking off at the moment

Small: Sunnyvale, CA and Huntsville, AL
If you want a job that will take you (professionally) to the moon, or at least the clouds, then aerospace could be for you. Working in this industry includes the research, development, and manufacture of flight vehicles - both aviation and space flight - and there are plenty of job openings in this field at the moment. This is the top industry in both Sunnyvale, CA and Huntsville, AL, so if you have your eyes on a smaller city, then these could be perfect.
See your career fly in this industry. Browse aerospace jobs today

WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR QUOTES THAT WILL INSPIRE YOU TO SUCCEED

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS AND FIND INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR QUOTES THAT CAN HELP YOU CREATE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS MODEL IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

The fast-paced business world can leave some entrepreneurs questioning their abilities and motivations. To succeed and overcome the challenges of being an entrepreneur, getting inspiration from those who have paved the way before you can prove helpful. With the increase in women starting their own companies over the last decade, it's no surprise that their creative and motivational words can encourage others. Explore what a woman entrepreneur is and some of their insights through women entrepreneur quotes to help you take your business from startup to success.

WHAT IS A WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR?

A woman entrepreneur is someone who organizes and runs her company. Historically, men have started and run many major global companies. Fortunately, due to changes in societal views of females, the number of women in business has increased significantly since the 1970s. Today, women feel more empowered than ever to start businesses, and those who have had success are more than happy to share inspiration to help encourage others. If you're interested in starting your own company, reading some women entrepreneur quotes may give you the motivation you need to get started.

MOTIVATION FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

What motivates women to start their own companies may not be the same for men in similar positions. For women, the desire to start a business may be for financial or economic reasons. However, other factors can contribute to women wanting to succeed in business, such as:

• Achievement: Wanting to achieve success and prove oneself is often a motivating factor for women entrepreneurs.
• Independence: Some women want a sense of independence and don't want to rely on others for life's necessities.
• Innovation: Many women entrepreneurs have great ideas that they want to share with others to make their lives easier.
• Role models: Being a positive role model to children and others is often very important to women in business.
• Self-identity: Finding a sense of self and feeling worthwhile can also be a significant motivating factor for women entrepreneurs.

Some of the qualities and skills that women entrepreneurs possess can lead to their success. These qualities might include:

• Being adventurous
• Willingness to take risks
• Having motivation
• Feeling conscientious
• Being intelligent
• Using empathy
• Possessing patience
• Having an education
• Being hardworking
• Using many skills

While everyone's motivation for starting a business can vary, it takes a strong person to succeed in the business world. Hearing the words of others can benefit those interested in creating a company and provide the support they need to keep moving forward toward their goals.

WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR QUOTES

Reflect on these inspirational words from women entrepreneurs that can help you through the challenges of starting a business:

Quotes for self-confidence and motivation

• "Don't be apologetic for charging premium rates." — Nicole Feliciano
• "No one is going to believe in you like you do." — Latasha McRae
• "Find the smartest people you can and surround yourself with them." — Marissa Meyer
• "So often people are working hard at the wrong thing. Working on the right thing is probably more important than working hard." — Caterina Fake
• "Surround yourself with a trusted and loyal team. It makes all the difference." — Alison Pincus
• "Don't ever let anyone else speak for you." — Anonymous
• "Fearlessness is not the absence of fear. It's the mastery of fear." — Arianna Huffington

Quotes about courage and purpose

• "Embrace the reality that nothing in the plan you make for yourself may happen the way you anticipated." — Anna-Katrina Shedletsky
• "Ask for help and seek experienced insights early and often–you don't have to learn all of the lessons on your own." — Ellison Anne Williams
• "Do not let fear get in the way of your success or of your choices." — Netta Korin
• "Don't work for money. Work for a greater purpose." — Anita Grantham
• "The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have." — Padmasree Warrior
• "Be direct, be bold, and be yourself. Don't try to fit into a narrative that is not yours." — Anonymous
• "If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can't hear them anymore." — Michele Ruiz
• "Listen to your gut. If it feels right do it. If it doesn't, don't. Women have great intuition, and they should hone that ability." — Anonymous
• "Be fearless. If you have a good idea, do not let it go." — Anonymous
• "Don't let others define you. Define yourself." — Ginni Rometty
• "If you don't get out of the box you've been raised in, you won't understand how much bigger the world is." — Angelina Jolie

Quotes about achieving success

• "The key to success is to start before you are ready." — Marie Forleo
• "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it." — Estee Lauder
• "You are going to often find that to step into your biggest opportunity, you will be asked to move through your biggest fear or insecurity." — Ali Brown
• "The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity." — Amelia Earhart
• "No matter what, expect the unexpected. And whenever possible, be the unexpected." — Lynda Barry
• "I've learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends on our dispositions and not on our circumstances." — Martha Washington

Quotes about the power of intention

• "When you're building a business, you're either all in or you're not." — Barbara Corcoran
• "You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." — Mae West
• "Start now. Every small step you take will get you closer to your goal." — Brandy Wykes
• "Shifting my mindset from a scarcity mentality to an abundance mentality opened up so many opportunities and experiences." — Tracy Komlos
• "It's not about who started with the biggest nest egg. Rather it's about who can get knocked down repeatedly and keep going." — Jill Winger
• "Failure is an opportunity in disguise." — Danielle Tate
• "Don't live up to the expectations of others, but soar high above them." — Anonymous
• "The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." — Alice Walker
• "It's where we go, and what we do when we get there, that tells us who we really are." — Joyce Carol Oates
• "I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to someone else's whim or someone else's ignorance." — bell hooks
• "Our histories cling to us. We are shaped by where we come from." — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

 

PREPARE ANSWERS TO THESE 7 SKILLS-BASED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

 

UNDERSTANDING WHAT TO EXPECT WITH SKILLS-BASED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS CAN HELP YOU FEEL MORE PREPARED WHEN YOU SIT DOWN WITH THE INTERVIEWER.

Interviewing for a new job can feel overwhelming, especially if you're unsure about what questions you might face. A hiring manager might use the skills-based interview format if they're comparing many different candidates or hiring for a role that requires specific skills. Understanding what to expect in this type of interview and what questions you might ask can help you feel more prepared when sitting down with the interviewer.

WHAT IS A SKILLS-BASED INTERVIEW?

A skills-based interview, also called a structured, behavioral, situational, or competency interview, helps test certain applicants' skills. An interviewer conducting this type of interview typically prepares a list of questions, focusing on a particular skill. The answer allows the interviewer to compare each applicant's skill set against predetermined criteria.

Suppose an employer knows what skills are needed to succeed in a particular position. In that case, a skills-based interview can help them determine whether candidates fit the job description and can handle the responsibilities. The guiding principle behind this interview type is that an individual's past behavior is an accurate predictor of future job performance.

WHAT SKILLS DO EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN SKILLS-BASED INTERVIEWS?

An employer might look for various skills when conducting this type of interview. Some of the more common key competencies that may be desirable in candidates include:

• Leadership skills
• Decision-making skills
• The ability to work in a team
• Problem-solving skills
• Communication skills
• Flexibility
• The ability to manage time effectively

Some hiring managers may also ask questions that allow you to demonstrate your values, such as whether you are honest, trustworthy, or reliable at work.

SKILLS-BASED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

When you go in for a skills-based interview, the interviewer might ask you questions about your abilities and how your experience has helped you build these skills. Some of the most commonly asked skills-based interview questions include the following:

Describe how you contributed positively to a team you were part of in a previous role.

When asked about your contributions to a team, think of a situation in which you worked well with co-workers to achieve a shared goal. Include specific details that demonstrate your ability to work with a team, such as when you held yourself accountable or led your team to success.

Have you ever worked with someone difficult to get along with, and how did you handle that situation?

You will likely encounter individuals who have ideas and opinions that differ from your own in any workplace setting. It's essential to demonstrate that you can put your differences aside and collaborate effectively with people you don't necessarily get along with or even like to be around. Discuss a situation in which you maintained professionalism with a challenging co-worker to continue to achieve the team goals.

How do you apply creativity in your work?

Creativity is a skill that can be challenging to pinpoint during an interview. A skills-based interview question allows you to demonstrate how you applied creative thinking to solve a problem or develop a solution to a problem.

What is your most significant achievement in the workplace?

Talking about your achievements professionally and humbly can help an interviewer understand your confidence and ability to lead others. When answering a question about your most significant achievement, consider how you can back up the answer with solid data.

For example, if you set up a feedback system to encourage customers to interact with an organization and provide their thoughts, talk about how the creation of this system improved customer service scores or loyalty rates. Use numerical data whenever possible, such as a percentage increase in satisfaction rates or a decrease in customer wait times.

Describe a situation in which you had to adapt to change in the workplace.

Flexibility and adapting to change are vital skills in many roles. In specific industries, processes and tools change rapidly, so an interviewer needs to know if an applicant can handle that level of change. When answering a question about how you adapt to change, try to think about a situation where you faced a sizable disruption to how you managed your responsibilities. Provide specific examples of how you handled the change positively and professionally, such as:

• Adjusting your everyday processes
• Enrolling in a training course to learn how to use a new program more effectively
• Collaborating with team members to increase productivity or adapt to the updated processes
• Trusting in the leadership team that chose to make the change

How do you manage interruptions?

A question about managing interruptions during your day helps the interviewer assess your ability to adapt to a particular situation. Since emails, phone calls, and meeting requests bombard many workers, it's essential to know how you might respond if someone interrupts you and asks for assistance with a different project than what you're focusing on during your workday.

How do you respond if a colleague points out an error you made?

Mistakes are part of life, but specific skills can minimize them from happening, while other skills play a role in how you react to your errors. When talking about an instance in which a co-worker pointed out a mistake, highlight your ability to pay close attention to detail by emphasizing the steps you take to avoid making errors in your work. You might describe your editing process or how you review projects before submitting them for approval.

TIPS TO PREPARE FOR A SKILLS-BASED INTERVIEW

Before you go into the interview:

1. Review the job description thoroughly and note the necessary skills for the position.
2. Consider any past experiences you may have had that relate to those skills and think about each situation and how you handled it.
3. Write down some of your past accomplishments in previous roles that you can draw on when asked specific questions about particular skills and how you have demonstrated your competency.

The STAR method for answering questions is helpful in this type of interview. STAR refers to “situation, task, action, and result.” As you consider how to answer a question that demonstrates a particular skill, think about a situation that applies and what task you faced requiring you to build or improve on that skill. Describe the action you took and what the result was to give a concise and valuable answer to the question.

Although it's impossible to know what questions you'll face during a skills-based interview, you can prepare for some of the most common questions and consider situations in which you built or strengthened specific skills. As you prepare for this type of interview, you can feel more confident and ready to talk about your past experiences that are fresh in your mind. When you're prepared to ace your next skills-based interview, you'll demonstrate that you're a qualified candidate who is confident about yourself, your knowledge, and your abilities.

Be sure to sign up for CareerBuilder email alerts so that you can receive breaking news about hiring industry trends and the latest job news information.

THE HIGH-INCOME SKILLS THAT CAN HELP YOU GROW YOUR EARNINGS

 

FIND OUT THE HIGH-INCOME SKILLS YOU CAN IMPROVE TO ADVANCE YOUR CURRENT CAREER, PLUS SOME IN-DEMAND SKILLS TO CONSIDER FOR A CAREER CHANGE.

Regardless of where you are in your career, chances are that you want to continue to improve your earning potential. But how can you do that? An effective way to improve your potential earnings is to find out what employees want from a high-performance employee and then work to become that person.

High-income individuals come from various backgrounds and have many different roles. However, some of the traits of a high earner are universal and some professions pay more than others. These are some in-demand soft and hard skills:

HIGH-INCOME SOFT SKILLS THAT CAN BOOST YOUR CAREER

Skills are either job-specific or universally valuable. The former are called hard skills, while the latter are soft skills. While you can improve your earnings by getting better at what you currently do, working on your soft skills can open up many doors, both at your current workplace and somewhere else. Having strong soft skills can also be very helpful if you ever decide to change careers, as their interpersonal nature can help you effectively collaborate with a wide variety of people.

Some soft skills that can improve your earnings and workplace performance are:

Sales

Sales is also a job-specific skill, but sales skills are valuable even to people who don't directly sell goods or services for a living. You're selling your personality and job skills every day to your coworkers, supervisors, and customers, whether you realize it or not. You're also selling yourself when uploading a resume on a job website. Everyone wants to believe they're being objectively judged by others based on their skills and achievements. However, most people won't notice your qualities without a little nudge. You sometimes need to showcase them, and sales skills help you do that.

Project management

Just like sales, you don't only need strong project management skills if you're a project manager. Many high-income roles involve planning out complex projects, listing their tasks, assigning people to complete them, and tracking overall progress. Even setting up an office party requires project management skills. Successfully coordinating people, resources, and tasks is likely to help you ascend to a high-income position.

Communication

Unless you're an eccentric genius working from a tower somewhere, communicating well with others is essential to professional success in virtually every field. Communicating effectively and efficiently can boost your productivity and can also help your colleagues, as clearly expressing your feedback may help them improve their output. Some key elements of effective communication are:

• Talking:Verbally expressing your ideas clearly and concisely can improve your interaction with others.
• Writing: Not all communication is verbal and writing effective messages and emails can be vital for your success.
• Listening: Communication isn't only about expressing your thoughts and ideas. It's a two-way street that requires understanding and resonating with others.
• Non-verbal communication: Adapting your body language to the tone of each conversation can help improve your interactions.
• Emotional regulation: Everybody has to deal with emotions, sometimes under less-than-ideal circumstances. Being able to manage your emotions can help your career.

HIGH-INCOME HARD SKILLS TO LEARN FOR A CAREER CHANGE

While improving your soft skills can help you on your current career path, sometimes you need a radical change to dramatically improve your income. These are some hard skills that can lead to highly lucrative careers:

Digital marketing

Nowadays nearly all businesses need a strong online presence to keep up, regardless of the field they operate in. Digital marketing skills are generally a mix of traditional marketing skills and the ability to use them in an online setting. Knowing how to promote a brand's goods or services through emails, social media posts, blogs, and other forms of online mass communication can help lead to a lucrative career.

Coding

Every website and software application requires coding to build and update. This makes coding a highly desirable and high-income skill. It's also one that you can learn by yourself, with some dedication and practice. You can choose a specific coding language to learn, depending on your career plans, and practice until you're knowledgeable enough to try out for coding jobs. As more and more of our everyday activities transition to online settings, the demand for coders is likely to grow over the next few years, along with their income.

Copywriting

Writing isn't only an interesting way to make a living but can also be a highly paid profession. It's also one that you can do from virtually anywhere as long as you have a decent internet connection. Copywriting is a relatively easy career to get into, mainly because it doesn't require specific education or certifications. It does require the ability to write effectively, however, as well as the sales skills to understand the target customer and how to effectively approach them.

Whether you're looking to improve your earnings in your current profession or trying to start a new career, knowing the skills you can improve is usually a major step. Regardless of where you are in your career, improving your in-demand skills is likely to lead to professional and financial success.

HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR WEAKNESSES IN AN INTERVIEW

 

WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES? EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS QUESTION WILL BE ASKED. HERE'S 3 TIPS FOR ANSWERING THE WEAKNESSES INTERVIEW QUESTION.

The least favorite interview question is: “What is your biggest weakness?”

It’s seemingly impossible to provide an adequate response to a question like this. You don’t want to twist it around into a positive because then you’re not answering the question, but you also don’t want to confess a flaw that may sabotage your chances of getting hired.

There are better ways for an interviewer to get you to think critically about your skills than asking this question. Karen Southall Watts, a trainer, coach and professional encourager for entrepreneurs and managers says that "What are your weaknesses?" is one of her least favorite questions too. “It's been encouraging over the years to see managers move to more situation-based and results-focused questions that better serve the candidate and employer. Yet, it is always wise to prepare for traditional interview questions like this one.”

So, how do you successfully answer the dreaded question?

1. Avoid the strength disguised as a weakness

Let’s start with how not to answer this question. While some people may tell you this is an opportunity to share a strength masked as a flaw, that’s not the answer most interviewers are looking for these days.

“Over time, the strategy for answering ‘What is your greatest weakness?’ has changed,” says Donna Shannon, president of Personal Touch Career Services. “The old school method was ‘to turn a weakness into a strength,’ such as ‘I am a perfectionist, so you know my work will always be top quality.’ The modern interviewer wants to hear a real weakness and then dive into how you deal with it.”

James Pollard, owner of a marketing consultancy, works specifically with financial advisors, and agrees—saying that when he asks this question in an interview, he does not want to hear the typical strength-disguised-as-a-weakness response. “If you Google how to answer this question, this is what you will see. People recommend saying, ‘I work too hard’ or ‘I’m a perfectionist’. I can see through these answers and I know that if you say something like this, you aren’t being genuine. You’re just giving me a rehearsed answer that you read online.”

2. Be honest, but with a twist

Interviewers can also easily spot a dishonest response. “Don't lie! Interviewers are surprisingly adept at seeing through scripted and false answers,” says Rebecca Horan, personal branding expert at Rebecca Horan Consulting LLC. “Be honest – with yourself and your interviewer. But … we all have multiple weaknesses. Choose one that is not going to torpedo your chances of landing the role.”

Instead, Horan says to make it clear that your weakness is something you’ve worked to overcome and won’t hinder your job performance. “Show that you care about personal development. If you've struggled in a specific area of expertise but you're taking a class in it to bolster your skillset, great! Talk about that. If you've always turned to jelly at the thought of public speaking but have joined your local Toastmasters chapter or you're taking an improv class to get more comfortable with speaking in front of a large group, you'll want to talk about that. Whatever it is, your interviewer should be able to envision the ‘happy ending’ to the story.”

3. Don’t self-sabotage

“Don't name a weakness that is going to get in the way of you being able to do your job successfully, working well with others, or otherwise succeeding in the position for which you're applying,” Horan cautions. “Be honest, but very selective about which example to use.”

To that end, Shannon also says to avoid choosing a “fatal flaw” – something that would knock you out of the running. “For example, saying that you lack attention to detail when you are interviewing for an accounting position would immediately disqualify you, no matter how good your strategies for dealing with it are.”