Have you ever been on an interview and gotten one of those annoying questions where they ask you to rate yourself? Sometimes they use a scale from 1 to 10, other times they ask you to classify yourself as a beginner, intermediate, or expert. While often well intended, these questions can quickly derail your aspirations faster than a Howard Dean rampage. So unless you’re looking to end the interview early and getting in a round of golf, here are a few tips to navigate the self-rating waters.

1. Never (and though I rarely use this word, I mean NEVER) rate yourself as an expert, a 10 (not even Bo Derek was a real 10), or whatever is at the top of the scale. I’ve lost count of the stories about interviewers challenging someone’s “expert” status and let’s just say it never ends well.

2. If you do possess advanced skills in a given area, demonstrate a little humility (nobody likes a braggart) and lead off with something like the following … Well, other than the person who developed this software, nobody is a 10. After that you can elaborate on your strengths without becoming overbearing.

3. Most importantly, after you’ve rated yourself, provide your rationale as to why you rated yourself that way (e.g., I’d rate myself a 7. The reason is that I have 3 years of development experience with that in web-based environment …).

Since nobody hires someone (or at least they shouldn’t) on how they rate themselves, it needs to be about the actual experience and not the number. So remember that these rating questions are on of the best opportunities you have to introduce and discuss your technical strengths during the interview so don’t blow your chance to showcase your skills.