Weaknesses what to write in the resume. Weaknesses and strengths of a person

14.10.2019

It so happened that some employers, when surveying, and sometimes in the job description, ask you to indicate your shortcomings and weaknesses in your resume. Thus, they want to simplify the selection of personnel, weed out unnecessary candidates, etc. In a word, HR managers solve their problems in a way that suits them.

Let's get to the point

For quite a long time I have been helping people write resumes and look for work, and I want to say that the topic of shortcomings in a resume rarely pops up. But if it pops up, I tell everyone the same thing.

Weaknesses in the resume do not need to be indicated. Not at all. Under no circumstances. Even if it is written in a vacancy or a special questionnaire that you describe your shortcomings, it is still not. No no and one more time no. Never write bad things about yourself!

There are several reasons for this.

  • Pointing out the weaknesses of the character in the resume increases the likelihood that your resume will be thrown into the trash. Someone will definitely understand your words “wrong” and decide that such a candidate is not needed. Let them first invite you to an interview, and there you will answer the questions of the employer and tell about yourself in all details.
  • Second moment - don't judge yourself. You may be biased and most likely you will. Many people are demanding of themselves and self-critical, they make an elephant out of a fly and scold themselves out of the blue. Let others judge you. Let the employer look at you, talk to you and draw your own conclusions. For him, your minuses can be pluses (and vice versa).

    For example, shyness can be highly valued. She can be seen as a calm disposition and accommodating. Similarly, an active and energetic person can be called an upstart and a troublemaker.

  • If you indicate weaknesses and shortcomings in your resume, this show your low self-esteem. Low self-esteem = low salary. Therefore, you do not need to be extremely honest in your resume, show yourself from the best side.

If you still need to write something?

If you have a questionnaire or a form on the site where there is a special column “your shortcomings”, write a neutral phrase.

Examples of indicating weaknesses in a resume:

- "Ready to answer your questions in person"
“I prefer to talk about it in person.”
- Just put a dash

No disadvantages - only advantages

I want to say a few words about the other side of the coin. If it is not necessary to indicate the weaknesses in the resume, then the strengths are necessary. This is really important. Focus on your strengths, strengths and skills. This will help the employer make the “right” choice.

When applying for a job, employers often require a resume. Some of them, in addition to work experience, general information and a list of advantages, are asked to indicate the weaknesses of character. And here a dilemma arises: how to correctly reveal your shortcomings in a resume? If you think that they do not need to be indicated at all and that it is enough just to put a dash in the corresponding column, then you are deeply mistaken. In order not to get into a mess when you find yourself in a similar situation, check out what HR specialists advise on this matter.

Features of writing a resume

On the one hand, writing a few words about yourself is an easy task and does not require special knowledge and skills. However, as practice shows, those who hold this point of view are often denied employment. Therefore, the more solid the company in which you want to get a job, the more important it is to write a resume correctly.

The volume of the summary does not have to present a large amount of information. Usually it fits on 1-2 computer sheets. Therefore, it is especially important to briefly state the necessary information that will emphasize your individuality and attract the attention of a personnel specialist. When writing a text, weigh each word and correctly present your weaknesses.

For example, if you're worried about being in a certain age group, start by listing skills or work experience. Move your date of birth to the bottom of your resume. Or if your future job involves frequent business trips, and you have a small child growing up, be sure to indicate that you can leave him in the care of relatives or a nanny.

To correctly reflect your weaknesses in your resume, adopt a few basic rules.

  • Pay special attention to the style of presentation of information. The text must be written clearly and understandably. If during the interview you can convey information in different ways, then what is written will be perceived unambiguously.
  • Never ignore the column in which you need to indicate your weaknesses and character traits. This can lead to the fact that you are either written down in the category of insecure and notorious people, or considered a person with too high self-esteem.
  • Don't be afraid to be honest. A true reflection of information, especially regarding your weaknesses, indicates how self-critical you are and adequately assess your own strengths and weaknesses.

Examples of Weaknesses

When filling in the column about the existing shortcomings, take your time, carefully consider each phrase. If you do not know what to indicate in it, look through the options below and choose the ones that characterize you. At the same time, try to select such character traits that, if desired, can be turned into virtues.

Among the weaknesses in the summary, indicate, for example, the habit of speaking everything directly and frankly; difficulties in establishing contacts with strangers; hyperactivity and restlessness; excessive emotionality, susceptibility and impressionability; a tendency to fatalism, etc.

Try to select such character traits that, if desired, can be wrapped in virtues.

However, there is no need to be too frank. Add to one or two professional traits and a few that do not play an important role in the work activity. For example, indicate that you are afraid of flying or are overweight. You can also point out such shortcomings as excessive gullibility, a tendency to reflection, or frequent self-digging and self-criticism.

From social weaknesses, you can write that you do not fit well into the work team, because you do not like gossip, or you cannot fight back in response to boorish behavior. With a skillful approach, each flaw can really be turned into a virtue. And if among the weak character traits you indicate reliability, then this is only in the hands of the employer himself, since he will see in you a person who can be entrusted with overtime tasks.

How to present the weaknesses of the character

Some weak traits can be directly correlated with the characteristics of the profession. So, for example, for an accountant or storekeeper, such shortcomings as distrust, pedantry, inability to lie, an increased sense of responsibility, lack of diplomacy and flexibility in labor matters, can become positive in work activities. But it is better for a manager or a realtor to indicate hyperactivity, self-confidence, impulsiveness, inability to take a word and a desire to double-check the information themselves.

It should be noted that often job seekers go to the trick and present their merits in the resume under the guise of shortcomings. Before doing so, it is worth carefully weighing the consequences of such actions. Of course, you can point out the desire for perfectionism or excessive hard work among the weaknesses, but keep in mind that the employer can easily suspect you of insincerity.

Important nuances

Honesty is good. However, some negative features are still not worth pointing out. In no case do not write that you like to be lazy, afraid to take responsibility or unable to make decisions, not punctual, often distracted, etc. There is no need to get too carried away when listing weaknesses. It is enough to name 2-3 negative qualities. Do not use vague language and do not indicate those features that will go against the requirements of the position.

76 925 0 Hello! In this article we want to tell you about the strengths and weaknesses of a person. After all, everyone has to face this question when compiling a resume or during an interview for employment.

Strengths and weaknesses of a person

The strengths and weaknesses of the personality are closely related and should not contradict each other. Each person has their own disadvantages and advantages. As a rule, we are used to talking about strengths, but we are often silent about weaknesses.

An independent, purposeful and self-critical person always admits that there are many weaknesses in his character. And there is nothing wrong with that. We are all humans. But every purposeful person can turn his shortcomings into virtues through painstaking work on himself.

So, what are human strengths and how to find them? To do this, first of all, pay attention to your talents and skills. Here you will find your strengths. When you find your strengths, work on them, develop them. This will allow you to fully open up.

If you cannot independently determine your strengths for the questionnaire, ask your acquaintances and friends for help. Thanks to their opinion, you can discover advantages in yourself that you didn’t know about before. And in some ways your opinion will converge with the opinion of your friends.

In addition to the strengths in the resume, there is often a question about your weaknesses. You shouldn't be ashamed of them. If you claim that you have no negative character traits, this will become a sign of an unformed personality for the recruiter. Which in the future is unlikely to help you get the desired position.

Table 1 - Strengths and weaknesses

What are your strengths if you: Your weaknesses may show up in:
Focused on resultsInability to keep silent
PersistentExcessive emotionality
hardworkingLack of willpower
Strong-willed personality
Self-confidentInability to speak in public
SociableExcessive irritability and aggressiveness
Organized and independent person
Take in information wellFormalism
You learn quicklyHyperactivity
Responsible for their actions and actions of subordinatesFear of traveling by air and sea
DisciplinedInability to lie
Love your profession and workprinciples
Active and energetic personLack of flexibility
patientmodesty
Honest and do not like to lieExcessive self-criticism
Have organizational skillsStraightness
love for formalism
PunctualPedantry
Are you a good performerpride
scrupulousImpulsiveness

Exceptions to the rules

When applying for a job, indicate in your resume those strengths that will help you get the desired position. After all, some of your strengths for some position may turn out to be shortcomings that the applicant should not have.

Here are the most common examples. For a device to the position of a manager, you should not talk about the ability to sing. This is unlikely to help you get a job. But if you tell the recruiting manager that you cook well, this will indicate your discipline, creativity, perseverance and accuracy. After all, to prepare a new dish, you need to spend a lot of time and effort on the choice of products and on the direct cooking process. In addition, a good cook is always creative in creating a new masterpiece, but always follows exactly in accordance with the culinary recipe.

Below we will give a few examples of what qualities you need to specify when applying for a particular position.

Table 2 - Strengths and weaknesses by specialty: examples

Strengths Weak sides

If you are applying for the position of an accountant, then you:

diligentYou don't know how to lie
Attentive to detailsAlways straight forward
Disciplinedscrupulous
PunctualFundamental
hardworkingdistrustful
Honest and decent personModest

If you are applying for a leadership position, you:

InitiativeHyperactive
ActiveA person with high demands
Focused on achieving goalsscrupulous
assertiveFundamental
Possess leadership qualitiesPedantic
Love to grow and learn new things
Self-confident

If you are an applicant for creative vacancies, you:

Have a creative mindHyperactive
Know how to work for resultsModest
Know how to evaluate your workemotional
Initiative

If you are applying for a manager or office worker position, you:

SociableAre you afraid of flights
Focused on resultsYou don't know how to lie
know how to listenFundamental
Self-confidentHyperactive
Speak wisely
Punctual
Know how to find a way out of difficult situations
Attentive and polite
Responsive
Have a creative mind

The table shows that not all positive aspects should be indicated in the resume, since some are simply not needed to get the desired position or can “harm”. For the employment questionnaire, we recommend that you select such weaknesses that will help characterize you as a responsible and worthy person to occupy this position. The negative qualities of your character should help you fulfill the functions assigned to you.

What else should be paid attention to in the questionnaire or resume

  • Be sure to indicate on your resume that you always set goals for yourself and achieve them, that is, you are a goal-oriented person. At the same time, be persistent and always follow a pre-planned plan.
  • It is also worth pointing out that in the event of unforeseen circumstances, you can find a way out of this situation - you have a creative mind.
  • Another important component of any successful applicant is self confidence. This will characterize you as a confident person who is not afraid to take a step forward. You are not inclined to panic due to unforeseen circumstances, you are calm and confident in your abilities.
  • It is also very important the ability to communicate with people. Let it be customers, colleagues, subordinates, suppliers. You just need to be able to find a “common language” with them, accept their point of view and correctly present your opinion.
  • Another positive character trait that must be indicated in the employment questionnaire is responsibility. No matter what position you apply for, you must always be responsible for your actions. Otherwise, you will become a burden on the company, which will eventually lead to you being fired.

Also, when applying for a new position, indicate that you are well trained. You can give examples from past work or university practice. When you come to a new company, the first time you will need to study: learn about the company, about the features of its activities and learn how to fulfill your direct duties.

Exercises to identify strengths and weaknesses

Sometimes it is very difficult to determine your personal qualities on your own. Especially if you are nervous or writing a resume for the first time. To eliminate worries and unpleasant moments, make a list of your qualities before the interview. And how to do this, we will help you. So:

  1. Analyze your character. To do this, remember what you are good at and what is bad. And also what qualities are needed to perform these tasks. Write everything down so you don't forget.
  2. If you cannot independently assess your qualities, ask your loved ones and acquaintances whom you trust about it. They will help you find your strengths and point out your weaknesses.
  3. Assess your surroundings. Determine what positive and negative character traits your acquaintances have. Compare with yourself what you have and what you don't have. Write it down.
  4. Next, evaluate the qualities that you indicated. You need to select what from this list is your strengths and what is your weaknesses. Let's say at the university you could not make a presentation in front of an audience. So your weakness is the fear of the public. But you made this report, which means that you are an assiduous, attentive, responsible and hardworking person.
  5. Next, from the selected qualities, you need to choose your personal and professional qualities.
  6. Determine what qualities a candidate for your job should have. Write them down.
  7. Now make a selection of your personal and professional qualities in accordance with the qualities that a candidate for the desired position should have. Write it down.
  8. After the work done, identify your shortcomings and how you can deal with them.

Useful articles:

Every person has strengths and weaknesses. You have them. When the employer may ask you to talk about them. Why and why does he do it?

In most cases, an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of a potential employee is needed by the employer to make sure how ready you are to interact with other people. See if you can even do it. Finally, by analyzing your strengths and weaknesses, you can draw certain conclusions about your personality type.

Knowing that you will have to talk about strengths and weaknesses and in sufficient detail, you need not worry about the fact that you have to admit to some weaknesses. It is not necessary to take a story about strengths as inappropriate boasting, it is better to prepare in advance for this topic that arises during a job interview.

To begin with, you yourself must identify your strengths and weaknesses. Try to make a list in which you carefully write down both your strengths and weaknesses.

This approach is most useful for communicating with your potential employer.

To begin with, you should identify your strengths that will contribute to your success in the organization where you are interviewing.

Strengths and weaknesses of a job candidate

As you know, there are almost no perfect people in the world. Therefore, every person has strengths and weaknesses.

Focus on your strengths first. These are the first things your potential employer should know about.

Focus on your strengths and use examples to explain how having these qualities will help you in the job.

Your strengths can be divided into sub-points in which certain qualities are concentrated. For example, here's what it might look like:

Acquired and transferred skills as strengths

This paragraph, which describes your strengths, should focus on the skills that a person acquires by performing his duties, and is also able to transfer them to others. These skills include: people skills, planning skills, communication skills, and so on.


Strengths and weaknesses, how to use acquired skills

Personal qualities

The strengths of any person are his personal qualities. So, a person can be hardworking, reliable, independent, punctual, optimistic, and so on. All these positive qualities can help you in the performance of your duties.

Knowledge Based Skills

The strengths of an educated person are the skills that he has acquired in the learning process. This includes: your special education, additional courses that you completed (language, computer and others).

Important: at a job interview, it makes sense to talk only about those skills from this paragraph, thanks to which you will really be able to fill a position.

your strengths. Specific examples

You will need to think a little about what qualities make up your strengths. If, reflecting on your strengths, you doubt some qualities, remove them from the list. Also remove from the list those qualities that are not needed in this job.

Here's what you can get as a result when you write a list that reflects your strengths:

self-discipline It is unlikely that this quality requires any special decoding. Your self-discipline means that the employer can be completely sure that you do not need to be additionally motivated to perform your duties
good faith You are able to adopt the policies and procedures of a particular company, you will support its values, confidential information will not go from you to competitors
Sociability Your skills in both oral and written communication. Examples of this strength could include your presentations, active listening skills, persuasion through business correspondence, and so on.
Problem Solving Ability If you are able to analyze emerging problems and are able to find the causes of their occurrence and determine solutions, of course, this quality must be reflected in the list where you describe your strengths
Teamwork We live in a world of corporate culture, where there is no place for singles for a long time. Today, the employer values ​​effective communication skills in a team, the ability to work effectively alongside other people.
Initiative If you are able to move one step ahead, if you are not afraid to take responsibility for your decisions and results, then enter initiative into your strengths.
Sustainability This quality includes the ability to focus after failures, overcoming obstacles on the way to the goal, the ability to respond correctly to criticism and work in a mode of limited material and time resources.
organization Quality includes the ability to multitask, time management skills, the ability to prioritize goals and complete tasks on time.

The list above probably doesn't reflect all of your strengths, but we just showed you what to aim for.


Advantages and disadvantages. How to talk about them correctly

Weak sides. Full list

Weaknesses also exist in all people. It is important that when you make a list of your weaknesses, you can present them as problems that can be solved and will not affect the quality of your work.

So, analyzing your weaknesses, you should immediately look for ways to overcome your weaknesses.

Try to convince the interviewer during a job interview that you can turn even your weaknesses into strengths. And you know exactly what and how to do it.

Traditional weaknesses may include qualities such as:

Lack of experience

You show some interest in the job for which you are applying, but you have the necessary practical experience to perform it.

Be prepared to conduct a full analysis of strengths and weaknesses so that lack of experience is not the main reason for refusing you for this position. Certificates of completion of courses in the field where you want to work can be an added advantage if you do not have the required experience.

How to turn weaknesses into strengths

As you list your weaknesses, think about how they can turn into strengths. So, if you are a slightly slow person by nature, then in a job interview you can say that sometimes you lose in the speed of work, focusing on the little things so as not to miss anything.

Weak sides. Sample list

Impatience You always feel that employees are not doing everything as quickly as you expected
distraction You are easily distracted by external factors right at your workplace. This directly affects the efficiency of your work.
Shyness You are not able to say "no" even when you know for sure that this is not part of your responsibilities and does not promise you the slightest benefit. It is difficult for you to defend your point of view, not because you do not have it, but because you are shy.
Stubbornness It is difficult for you to adapt to changes, you hardly accept new ideas and orders
procrastination You always put everything off until the last minute. Then you work in emergency mode, but usually have low productivity
Failure to delegate tasks and responsibilities You are afraid to trust others to do a certain job or solve a problem. Lack of full use of the skills and resources of other employees
Inability to sympathize While striving to achieve your goals, you do not change direction. You don't care that other people may have different feelings or needs. You never take it into account
High sensitivity This quality is the exact opposite of the previous weakness. You take everything that happens at your work too close to your heart.
Conflict A person believes that only he does everything right. There are no other opinions for him. Ready to defend only his own. Sometimes it's not good for a team, project or product.
Lack of some skills No person has all the necessary skills for the job they are applying for. It is only important to show your readiness for further learning.

Describe your strengths and weaknesses. How to answer the question of the employer?

Be honest when analyzing strengths and weaknesses

If you are in a job interview and the employer has asked you to analyze your strengths and weaknesses, be as honest as possible when answering this question. It is better if you already have a pre-prepared answer, where you can present your strengths and weaknesses in a positive way.

Choose the Right Qualities

During the job interview process, pay attention to the employer's requirements for the job. Describe your strengths and weaknesses according to these requirements.

Describing weaknesses, choose those whose presence cannot deprive you of the chance to take a vacant position.


Advantages and disadvantages. Should I talk about them in a job interview?

Don't brag and don't be ashamed

Every person has strengths and weaknesses. You, your employer, the secretary who sits in the waiting room while you are interviewing for a job.

When asked about your strengths and weaknesses, speak calmly, don't be ashamed to mention your weaknesses, but don't be too arrogant about your strengths either. In no case do not say that you have no weaknesses at all, because you have them.

Take responsibility for your strengths and weaknesses

Often we are proud of our successes, and blame our failures either on others or on circumstances. During a job interview and when it comes to whether you have strengths and weaknesses, take responsibility for yourself, do not look for blame.

Don't give too much information

In a job interview, make sure that the employer's request to describe your strengths and weaknesses does not lead you into a verbal jungle, where you unwittingly lay out more information that you did not originally intend to voice.

Talk about work, describing your strengths and weaknesses

When you describe your strengths and weaknesses, talk only about work. Only about how these qualities will contribute to your success in a new place. Just about how your strengths helped you in your previous job. Only about how you managed to get rid of several weaknesses and what qualities you plan to improve or change in yourself in the near future.

Which section of your resume do you think is the most important?

Poll Options are limited because JavaScript is disabled in your browser.

When applying for a job, your profile becomes the only link with your employer. It is difficult to get a good job without the right presentation of one's own capabilities. However, many serious ones require filling in an insidious item - weaknesses of character.

In a summary, every word written is important. Do not fill out this line in haste!

Weaknesses on your resume should be a mirror image of your strengths.

How to turn weaknesses into strengths on a resume

But you should not be too zealous in listing your shortcomings. Yes, and reproach yourself for your weaknesses of personality is not necessary. Remember what is good for one, not for another. For example, for someone you are wasteful, someone will consider you generous; some will see greed in you, others will say economical.

Present your negative character traits to the employer, wrapping them in a beautiful wrapper. For example, for an accountant, unsociableness is even useful in work, but a manager with this quality will have a hard time.

Expert opinion

Natalia Molchanova

HR manager

Find 2-3 traits of your character that will be considered a minus in everyday life, but from the point of view of the chosen profession, they turn into undeniable advantages.

What weaknesses to indicate in the resume

This is where you need to think carefully. Sometimes writing a few words about yourself is much more difficult than you thought. After all, work in a reputable company is at stake, and the well-being of the whole family may depend on your ability to display weaknesses in the questionnaire.

Of course, there is no guarantee that the next employer will take you to their team. There is no doubt that the future boss will not only not put it aside, but will show his interest and will certainly want to meet. So what kind of trump cards will we save to beat the competition?

Be truthful

The habit of exaggerating will come in handy here. If the employer does not require dwelling on negative qualities, then you do not need to write anything. Then focus on your strengths as a specialist, mentioning your strengths. If the resume needs to be written in a free form, then focus on your positive aspects as a person and a specialist in the field.

But what shortcomings to indicate in the resume to become the first contender for the long-awaited position?

  1. Firstly, as we have already said, so that the employer does not get the impression of you as a person with a painfully high self-esteem, in no case do we ignore the paragraph on shortcomings.
  2. Secondly, do not deviate from the style of writing a resume. When talking with an interlocutor live, it is much easier to convey information to the listener: you can use gestures, facial expressions, and focus on his reaction. In the case of a resume, a special approach is needed, because the manager sees only what is written.
  3. Thirdly, the boss will not fail to note the honesty of the resume, where you briefly report your shortcomings, based on some important points.

Don't chase the standard

When considering a resume, each employer looks at the state of affairs from his own angle. Sometimes the same character trait can be regarded in two ways. For some, it will turn out to be the positive side of the coin, and some may be blacklisted, having such character traits.

Expert opinion

Natalia Molchanova

HR manager

Each field of activity requires an individual approach.. In teamwork, leadership qualities will only interfere with the team, and for a manager, the ability to make his own decisions will come in handy.

Be intellectually mature

It is important that you are aware of your imperfection and do not take criticism with hostility. After all, only an intellectually formed person can calmly and fairly conduct a personal assessment of his positive and negative sides.

It is undeniably easier for an employer to give preference to a mature person than to educate an unbalanced person.

Show willingness to work on yourself

Having presented your negative qualities to the general court, be sure to indicate that you are actively fighting the shortcoming you indicated. You can't let an employer think you're comfortable living with this negativity.

It could be shyness or impulsiveness. You can point to their manifestation in accordance with the situation, and make it clear that you are waging a stubborn struggle with the presence of these disadvantages: expanding your connections and striving to control your ardor.

Consider a simple example in a resume, where the weaknesses of the applicant turned into a positive side from a professional point of view.

“In everyday life, you are unable to refuse people, and because of this, you do not have your own personal life. However, the boss may find this quality more than beneficial for him. Having hired a trouble-free employee, the manager expects that he will always be able to rely on such an employee, no matter what issues the assignment concerns. This feature can become simply invaluable for personnel who work under someone's direct supervision.

Present your strengths as weaknesses

Psychology is a very interesting science. Of course, it is not worth filling the field for shortcomings with the phrases “increased responsibility” or “workaholism”. The leader will immediately convict you of dishonesty.

To take a highly paid position and with it the future boss you need:

  • credulity - you will be perceived as a person capable of concluding agreements exclusively with trusted partners;
  • self-confidence - they will see you as a leader who is inclined to move forward;
  • hyperactivity - they will bet on the speed of completing tasks commensurate with other employees;
  • slowness - they will find in your person a scrupulous worker who can see mistakes and notice important nuances;
  • increased anxiety - they will note a responsible approach to work and their duties;
  • straightforwardness – they will consider you a master of negotiation, who will confidently insist on the conditions and requirements of the company;
  • exactingness - they will think: if an employee is demanding of himself, then you will treat production processes with no less responsibility;
  • pedantry - they will determine the ability to bring undertakings to the ideal through repeated checks;
  • restlessness - they will see you as an employee who is ready to perform new tasks and assignments, regardless of external factors;
  • modesty - they will be credited to the number of employees who weigh what has been said, which helps to prevent conflict situations and unnecessary misunderstandings.

For a summary of a future accountant, as an example of weaknesses, you can be guided by:

  • suspicion;
  • excessive pedantry;
  • increased anxiety;
  • straightness;
  • scrupulousness;
  • modesty;
  • inability to lie;
  • pride;
  • lack of complicity in working moments;
  • scrupulousness;
  • overestimated sense of responsibility;
  • inability to negotiate.

But for specialties that require direct communication with a wide audience, this list of qualities is extremely unsuitable.

For a manager, for example, you can indicate in your resume:

  • restlessness;
  • hyperactivity;
  • exactingness;
  • impudence;
  • stubbornness;
  • self-confidence;
  • straightness;
  • impulsiveness.

Why does the manager want to know about your shortcomings

If the future boss decided to include the “weak sides of character” column in the resume, then it cannot be ignored.

Stay yourself, believe in yourself and you will succeed, and finally the video



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