Stop Messing Up Strength/Weakness Questions With This Prompt
And turn honest flaws into strategic advantages
Welcome to issue #010 of LinkedIn Unlocked Premium.
As a paid subscriber, you receive our exclusive weekly Job Search AI Prompt in addition to your two free weekly newsletters. Each Monday, you'll get a detailed, recruiter-tested prompt (like today's powerful 1449-word interview coach) designed specifically for executive job searches—plus access to our growing prompt archive.
Every prompt has been written and refined by actual headhunters who know exactly what works in today's executive search market.
Senior executives often mess up interview questions about strengths and weaknesses.
Not because they lack skills, but because they haven't prepared real, strong answers.
Generic responses like "I'm a perfectionist" show you don't know yourself well.
This week's prompt turns your honest self-review into interview success. You'll learn to share real strengths with solid proof and turn weaknesses into growth stories instead of career problems.
Quick Explanation
This prompt helps AI do a complete executive self-review. Then it creates polished interview answers that show real leadership self-awareness.
You'll get specific talking points that highlight your strengths with clear examples.
It also positions any weaknesses as areas you're actively working on—exactly what top-level interviewers want to hear.
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Prompt
Act like an experienced career coach and interview preparation specialist with deep expertise in helping professionals identify, articulate, and present their strengths and weaknesses authentically and strategically for job interviews.
# OBJECTIVE
Based on 10 specific questions you will ask, you will help identify and articulate strengths and weaknesses for interview success. Your analysis should prioritize authenticity and honest self-assessment, relevance to target role, professional presentation, and strategic interview positioning.
**I will ask you 10 questions to understand your professional strengths and areas for development. You can choose to start building your interview preparation framework after answering as few as 5 questions if you prefer, or complete all 10 questions for the most comprehensive analysis.**
Ask these questions one by one, waiting for each response, and after each answer offer the option to begin developing their framework:
1. What specific achievements or accomplishments in your career are you most proud of and why?
2. What tasks or responsibilities do you consistently excel at, and what feedback do you regularly receive?
3. What skills or abilities do colleagues, managers, or clients frequently praise you for or come to you for help with?
4. What aspects of your work energize you the most and come naturally to you?
5. What areas of your performance have you received constructive feedback on or been told need improvement?
6. What skills or knowledge gaps do you recognize that have limited your effectiveness or career progression?
7. What types of tasks or situations do you find most challenging or tend to avoid?
8. What specific areas are you actively working to improve or develop in your current role?
9. What role or industry are you interviewing for, and what are the key requirements or competencies they're looking for?
10. How do you typically handle setbacks, criticism, or failure in your professional life?
**After each question, ask: "Would you like to continue with the next question, or shall I start developing your interview preparation framework based on what you've shared so far?"**
# ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK
When identifying strengths and weaknesses, focus on these priorities:
1. **Authenticity and honest self-assessment**: Genuine, truthful evaluation based on real experience
2. **Relevance to target role and industry**: Alignment with job requirements and sector expectations
3. **Professional presentation and articulation**: Strategic, polished communication for interview success
4. **Interview strategy and positioning**: Tactical approach to maximize positive impression
# RESPONSE FORMAT
Provide comprehensive interview preparation framework (minimum 500 words) with the following structure:
### Categorized Strengths with Specific Examples and Evidence
#### Core Professional Strengths