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In the CV template I'm using there is a section for me to fill in my strengths. How should I optimize this section? I think that I'm a honest person, and I believe it's a strength, but should I write this down? I'm afraid that it would be... too honest.

Here is my draft:

My strength

Writing and presenting
Research ability
Productivity enthusiastic
Honesty and diligence

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    "What's your biggest weakness?" "Honesty." "I don't think honesty is a weakness" "I couldn't care less what you think" - all over the internet.
    – Kate Gregory
    Commented Sep 3, 2016 at 11:31
  • @KateGregory +1 for the sanitized version :)
    – Laconic Droid
    Commented Sep 3, 2016 at 16:12
  • To be honest (ha) the whole "strengths" should be discarded. I don't want to read bullet points of words - I want to see your experience. For one thing, none of what you listed is "special" - I'd expect all that from anyone applying to work for me. I want to see where you used those things to effect - world tech manuals, running training sessions, going the extra mile...
    – HorusKol
    Commented Sep 4, 2016 at 5:03
  • @HorusKol I thought that what you describe should be written in the cover letter; the CV only list your quantifiable achievements. Listing those bullets is my best attempt to quantify my strengths without having to write a whole paragraph.
    – Ooker
    Commented Sep 4, 2016 at 10:06
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    No, the cover letter is where you say why you think you should have the job. Your CV is where you list your experience, and your previous roles and responsibilities, and achievements. Your bullet list doesn't quantify anything because you don't provide evidence to back it up
    – HorusKol
    Commented Sep 4, 2016 at 10:22

2 Answers 2

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I cannot think of any role where honesty and diligence is not expected of the candidate. You are not adding any value to your resume by mentioning it. Even a dishonest candidate would describe himself as honest, if asked.

The purpose of your resume is to get you an interview call, and every word in the resume should contribute to it. "Honesty and diligence" is not really serving that purpose.

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Under the category "My Strengths", it seems that "honesty" does not belong there.

It's more belongs to "Why me?" or "Why to hire me?" session. It only essential in a situation like where, There are two candidates with equally qualified to a position and that one of them is you, so you have to come up with something more competitive than the other. In a detailed CV it's great to mention that. Your technical skills should directly come under "My Strengths" session.

For a example under strengths, "I'm a strong believer with can do attitude. That believe long R&D time is NOT a waste but a real payback to the company.". So that the company know he/she is well suited for such R&D job. That who knows the nature of R&D business.

On strengths session you can convenience your employer that you are in a strong position and match with the position that they going to hire.

"Honesty" comes after that, in a case they could find two strong well fitting candidates to a one competitive position.

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    How likely are they ever to be faced with two candidates, one of whom claims to be honest and the other claims to be dishonest?
    – Patricia Shanahan
    Commented Sep 3, 2016 at 13:34
  • In R&D industry there are none. We recently have a opening and our HR guys have hard time to find a suitable candidate for the position. The reality is position exists without a candidate. Neither we are full qualified candidates for that position.
    – sandun dhammika
    Commented Sep 3, 2016 at 19:45
  • @sandun It seems you misunderstood her question. How often did you have two equally qualified candidates, one of whom claimed to be honest and the other claimed to be dishonest?
    – Masked Man
    Commented Sep 4, 2016 at 7:59
  • @MaskedMan , In a business like R&D not about about seeking equally qualified. Positions kept open for 6 months sometimes, and that's the nature of R&D industry. Somehow we need to take the right matching candidate with the position. But in other industries like just teaching there could be equally qualified number of candidates who are already qualified for the position. In that case HR will read further your CV. In that case mentioning it over non mentioning it would be an advantage.
    – sandun dhammika
    Commented Sep 4, 2016 at 9:29
  • Sound everybody is honest and it's already assumed if that's CV for a top job(that term top job is not much polite either). So mentioning it only be an advantage in that above mentioned scenario.
    – sandun dhammika
    Commented Sep 4, 2016 at 9:32

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