What Should I Put for Areas of Improvement? (With 10 Sample Interview Answers)

‘Areas of improvement’ this section in resume or CV is the testimony to the fact that no one is perfect and there is always room for improvement and getting better. Many people get baffled while writing this section and some people aren’t even aware of this section. The main intention of writing this section is to explore yourself.

This section represent that you know yourself pretty well and you are trying to overcome your cons. Everyone has some cons but knowing and accepting your cons is what makes you stand out. There are many areas that you can focus on while writing this section. You also be asked about your ways of overcoming these barriers based on this section. So also prepare your strategies for improvement.

Some Areas of Improvements Can Be

1. Time management

Time management is very important skill to multitask and get things done smoothly. Time management is the essence of corporate world. Many people lack this skill and problem is that the never accept that fact and live in denial which is much worse. So writing this in your areas of improvement make you accept the fact and take steps to improve these skills.

Improving strategies: You can make to-do list everyday and try to achieve as many targets as possible as per the list. You can assign time period and learn prioritising the work based on their deadlines.

2. Customer service

Customer service is the base of any company’s growth and expansion. There are many factors like reputation, customer satisfaction index, etc that are hampered due to customer service. Jobs that open you up to social exposure requires you to be good at customer service. Working on your tolerance and interactive skills to serve good customer satisfaction.

Improving strategies: Learn from your colleagues who are known for their better customer services. Learn to handle challenging situations.

3. Team work

Being a team player always helps in you and your company’s favour. It’s easy to get things done faster and efficiently if one works as a team player rather than just being competitive. A team can achieve larger goals than any individual. So team work is an essential element to work in any field or organisation.

Improving strategies: See your colleagues or teammates as your co workers and not your opponent. Try to organise group discussions, critical thinking and brain storming meetings. Also try to celebrate small achievements and try to organise team lunches. This increases the integrity among the teammates.

4. Interpersonal skills

Interpersonal skills are the mirror to your personality. Interpersonal skills not only include communication skills but also other social etiquettes. Improving your interpersonal skills leads to overall development of your personality.

Improving strategies: Try to learn about positive body language and other interactive skills required for improving your interpersonal skills.

5. Communication skills

Communication is the bridge between you and your clients. Good and less ambiguous communication skills can help you handle the client smoothly. A good speaker always gets a lime light in any field. Sometimes communications are also effective to motivate your teammates and colleagues.

Improving strategies: Try to have more face to face talks with your colleagues and teammates. Pay attention to both verbal and non verbal communication of others to learn from them

6. Writing skills

Writing is also very important in today’s world of content and stories. If one knows what makes people tick while reading then he/she really have good writing skills. Writing skills are also essential in business communication. Improving your writing skills is the first step towards increasing your speaking fluency.

Improving strategies: Install free grammar and spelling checker. Try to proof read your write ups. Learn about business communication ethics.

7. Accepting feedback and constructive criticism

Accepting feedback and constructive criticism falls under the process of progress. One who can’t accept feedbacks and constructive criticism remains stagnant on his/her progress. This is the medium to change as per the need as per the customer or client.

Improving strategies: See those feedbacks and criticism as opportunities to improve and accept them so that you can work on them. Try to inculcate calm behaviour and learn to ask questions about how you can improve.

8. Organization

Organizational skills help to manage time and multitask. It also helps in reducing stress of work load. An organised team can achieve great success.

Improving strategies: Try to create schedule or to-do list for your entire day and work as per that schedule. Don’t keep your work space messy.

9. Flexibility and cooperation.

Being flexible and cooperative helps the company or the customer in many ways. This helps them by decreasing any extra managerial work required as formalities and help provide clients with large variety of options. Being cooperative and flexible also increases the customer satisfaction index and ultimately increases the customer service.

Improving strategies: Be willing to become a part of projects that are out of your comfort zone. Try to learn new things that will help you to be flexible and adjust in some situations. Be willing to change as per requirements and work as a team player.

10. Problem solving skills

This is the most important skill require in any field nowadays. Having good problem solving skills help you stand out from the crowd.  Problem solving skills include identifying problem, Choosing and implementing best solution that is possible. It is very crucial skill to overcome the obstacles in any project.

Improving strategies: Try to work out on your problem resolution strategies. When you experience a situation, note down your strategies to handle a issue if they are unique and different from others as future references.

11. Leadership skills

Many companies or organisations come looking for a person with leadership skills rather than just a normally skilled person. Your leadership abilities help you to get things done as per the requirements. It also helps in reducing the managerial formalities for the company. Leadership skills are important for carrying out successful meetings and project collaboration.

Improving Strategies: Try to learn about team building. Look if you can volunteer in any fundraising campaigns of any no profit organisation. Give credits and appreciate people who do good in their jobs.

12. Conflict Resolution

There will come many instances when your colleagues get into a conflict. The reasons can be personal or work related either way it can create a negative work atmosphere. Your conflict resolution skills will come in handy during these situations

Improving strategies: Try to have one on one conversations with persons in conflict about the issue. After knowing the reason try to put forth a unbiased solution to resolve the conflict. Use you problem solving skills and communication skills for this.

13. Listening skills

This is another important skill required after communication skills. An active listener can focus on important points to come up with best solution for any problem.

Improving strategies: Try to have face to face talks with your task assigner. Discuss complex ideas and ask questions when you don’t get a point this makes the person speaking feel important and represent you as an active listener. Validate what you understood after listening carefully.

14. Patience

In this fast world patience is very rare thing to find. Patience can help you get through tough times and handle a messy situation calmly and without getting frustrated.

Improving strategies: Practice staying calm when you notice something that delays your work completion. Try to do breathing exercises and meditation to increase your patience and keep your mind calm.

15. Honesty

Honesty is the key element in building trust and strong teams. This helps in team building and increases your professional reputation. Honesty is very crucial ethic that one should inculcate in his/her professional as well as personal life.

Improving strategies: Be transparent with your words and try to keep your words. This helps in building integrity and trust. Respect the confidentiality of any work when needed.

16. Critical thinking

Critical thinking skills are needed when a project or an assignment need some out of the box solutions. Brainstorming and coming up with better solution always helps in progress of team and the work place. Critical thinking skills can give rise to creative ideas and business solutions.  

Improving strategies: Get to know the problems faced by different businesses and projects and try to come up with better solutions. This will enhance your knowledge and give you an opportunity to use your problem solving skills.

17. Perseverance

Perseverance helps you in handling failure trying hard for getting better result. A person with qualities like perseverance is an asset for any company. Helps in improving your decision making skills and problem solving skills as per the previous experiences.

Improving Strategies: Try to analyse the challenging situation and face them with a optimistic view. Try to learn from your mistakes and have a never say die attitude.

Conclusion

Knowing about your areas of improvement is about exploring yourself. Accepting your cons helps defend your negatives when needed and it also help you to strategise any work plan that will be better as per your skills. Every company or organisation accepts the fact that no one is perfect but they also look for person who are working hard to overcome their imperfections. This quality of one represents his/her professionalism.