You're in a job interview and the interviewer asks, "What is your greatest weakness?" How do you answer this tricky question without sabotaging your chances of getting hired? In this article, you'll learn how to communicate effectively about your areas of improvement and demonstrate your self-awareness, honesty, and growth mindset.
Interviewers ask this question for several reasons. They want to assess your fit for the role and the company culture, your level of self-awareness and honesty, and your willingness to learn and improve. They also want to see how you handle challenging situations and feedback, and how you cope with your limitations. Therefore, your answer should not only reveal a genuine weakness, but also show how you are working on it and how it affects your performance.
My greatest weakness is, I'm a perfectionist. I desire excellence of myself. I'm learning to balance with practicality and time management skills.
Normally during the recruitment process this kind of questions are used first to see what is the sense of self-awareness the candidate has about his skill set and secondly to understand if the person is looking to improve his knowledge, if he has a mindset oriented to improvement. Is not a question that has the purpose to block the candidates or to negative impact them, but for a future employer is important to know what is the skill set he will have to work with
?? Interviewers ask this question because they want to check if you're coachable: They want to see if you're okay with getting feedback and if you're ready to learn, get better, and grow in your job. ?? Interviewers want to see if you can handle setbacks and recognize areas where you need to improve and if you can bounce back from tough situations. This way, they can check your resilience. ?? Interviewers ask this question to find out if there are any problems or concerns that might affect how well you can do the job. This is a method they use to spot potential issues or red flags.
Acknowledge a genuine area of improvement but focus on how you're actively working to overcome it. For instance, you might say you sometimes struggle with time management but have been implementing new strategies to prioritize tasks effectively and meet deadlines consistently. This demonstrates self-awareness and a proactive attitude towards personal development.
Use this type of question to showcase how you have grown/developed/improved a particular attribute. For example, if asked what is your greatest weakness be honest about what you believe you need to work on, but close it off with an example of how you are working on it specifically, or what you would do to overcome the weakness (how you will invest in yourself to get better). This type of question is all about self awareness, we are human and no one expects you to be perfect, but acknowledge that you are aware and open enough that you are happy to be vulnerable and share insight into your development areas.
The first step is to choose a weakness that is relevant, but not essential, to the job you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a sales position, you don't want to say that you are bad at negotiating or closing deals. However, you could say that you sometimes struggle with time management or public speaking. Avoid clichés like "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work too hard", as they sound insincere and overused. Instead, pick a specific skill or behavior that you can measure and improve.
I like to show my attitude is all about action and self awareness. So I talk through times where I had found weaknesses, how I became aware of them and then how I actioned it. It is all about action and continuous self improvement at the end of the day. You can’t know everything or be perfect - it is how you pivot and learn when you don’t know or discover a weakness in yourself.
Go through the 4 stages: What you are looking to improve What steps are you taking How much improvement have you made And how that weaknesses may become a an asset
Choose a weakness that's relevant but not critical: Don't pick something that directly hinders your ability to do the job you're applying for. Explain the weakness: Briefly describe your weakness. Show improvement: Highlight what you're doing to address the weakness. This demonstrates self-awareness and proactiveness. Here's an example: "Sometimes I can be a bit of a perfectionist, and this can lead to me taking longer to complete tasks than necessary. To address this, I've been working on delegating more effectively and setting more realistic deadlines for myself. I've also found that using time management tools helps me stay on track."
?? Choosing a weakness that is relevant but isn't crucial for the job lets you show smart thinking. You can focus on areas where improving will really help you do better in your work and grow professionally. ?? Choosing a weakness that isn't crucial for the job reduces the chance of you being ruled out as a candidate. Yet, it still gives a good idea about your personality and how you work.
We can say weakness in a positive way as an eg. -I try to be perfect in every assignment with no error so I take little more time than another colleagues,my focus is always more into quality than Quantity.
The second step is to frame your weakness positively by using the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. This is a simple way to structure your answer and provide concrete examples. For instance, describe a situation where your weakness was exposed or challenged, explain what you had to do or achieve in that situation, and then outline what you did to overcome or mitigate your weakness. Additionally, highlight the outcome or impact of your action and the insights you gained from the experience.
Dare to be different when asked this canned question. Say, "You go first," and pause. They will laugh, trust me here. At that point you can say whatever you want to address the question but you have now disarmed the person asking it and it will work in your favor.
Own your weaknesses and be up front about the things you need to improve upon. Incorporate your weaknesses into something you’re really good at. For example, I’m a people investor, everything I do comes from a place of servitude. Yet, I also know, as part of that, I need to work on not trying to please everyone. That we all know is impossible. Then discuss steps you’re taking to be better, that hold you accountable to being better and tracking those steps.
Emphasize a commitment to learning and development. For instance, if time management is the area of improvement, explain how you've been proactive by prioritizing tasks, setting clear goals, and utilizing tools like calendars or productivity apps. Include any participation in workshops or online courses. Show your adaptability to overcome challenges, continuously striving for improvement.
?? The STAR Method is a technique utilized for responding to questions about past experiences in behavioral interviews. ?? It helps in providing concrete evidence of skills and experience relevant to the job description provided by the hiring team. ?? Interviewers assess both successes and areas for improvement in each STAR response. ?? When you talk about what you did well, it's important to also mention one or two things you'd do differently if faced with a similar situation again.
When asked about your greatest weakness in a job interview, it's important to give your response in a positive light and demonstrate your commitment to improvement and demonstrating how you are actively working to overcome them.
The third step is to avoid common pitfalls that could undermine your answer. When doing so, it's important to be honest and realistic, but not too negative or self-deprecating. Show that you are aware of your weakness and its consequences, yet remain proactive and committed to improving without being too vague or unrealistic. Additionally, avoid picking a weakness that is a deal-breaker or a red flag for the employer, such as lack of integrity, teamwork, or communication skills. Do not blame others or external factors for your weaknesses; similarly, do not exaggerate or downplay them.
?? Self-deprecation may be perceived as dismissing or not genuine, especially if it contradicts your actual qualifications and achievements, leading interviewers to question your authenticity. ?? Interviewers might wonder if you'd fit in with the company's culture if you talked more about your weaknesses instead of showcasing your strengths and how you could help the company. ?? Being self-deprecating can make others think you're not confident in leading or motivating people, which could limit your chances of being seen as a leader.
With this question as with any other, bear in mind there is no expected answer. There is nothing right or wrong. What matters is that you be able to talk about yourself in sensible terms. This question is a starting point for a different conversation topic, not centred around your achievements. This means your interviewer is unlikely to blame you if you do not identify one in particular but a broad area or the conflation of two or more possible weaknesses (areas for improvement). Pursuantly, be genuine and foremost always inform your claims re weaknesses with facts and situations you have personally experienced. Avoid talking in general and generic terms. Be as specific as possible.
Before the interview, it is essential to prepare for the question about your weaknesses. To do this, make a list of your strengths and weaknesses and prioritize them according to the job requirements and expectations. Choose one or two weaknesses that you can talk about confidently and practice using the STAR method to craft your answer. Research the company and role, as well as anticipate how your weakness could impact your performance or fit in the organization. Additionally, seek feedback from mentors, peers, or former employers to get their perspective on your weakness and how you can improve it. Finally, take action to improve your weakness such as enrolling in a course, reading a book, or joining a group.
?? Choose weaknesses that are genuine and relevant to your professional development. Avoid providing generic or insincere responses, as interviewers can usually see through these. ?? Conclude your response to the weakness question on a positive note. Summarize the steps you've taken or plan to take to address your weaknesses and reiterate your enthusiasm for the opportunity to learn and grow within the organization. ?? Getting help from a career professional is a good idea because they can help you understand how interviewers might see your weaknesses. They can also give you tips on how to talk about your weaknesses in a positive way.
When addressing your greatest weakness in an interview, illustrating how feedback has guided your improvement is crucial. If public speaking was your challenge, sharing proactive steps taken is key. For example, "Acknowledging public speaking as an area for growth, I sought advice from colleagues adept in this skill. I requested specific feedback after presentations, focusing on areas for improvement such as audience engagement. Acting on this feedback not only enhanced my public speaking but also underscored my dedication to self-improvement and my ability to use criticism constructively." This strategy demonstrates your proactive use of feedback and shows you are more likely to listen or take advice from others.
The fifth step is to follow up after the interview and demonstrate your continued interest and enthusiasm for the role. You should send a thank-you note to the interviewer within 24 hours, expressing your qualifications and briefly mentioning any weaknesses. Additionally, you can update the interviewer on any progress or achievements you have made since the interview. Ask for feedback or suggestions on how you can further improve your weakness or address any concerns they may have. Show your willingness to learn more about the company and the role, and inquire about the next steps in the hiring process.
Taking just 10 minutes ?? to express your appreciation via email ?? can make a significant difference in your job search. Whether you receive a response quickly or not at all, showing gratitude ?? could be the key ?? to standing out and securing the job opportunity amidst tough competition. ??
A simple email to the hiring team, thanking them for their time is always a nice touch. You will be surprised how well this will be received.
Interviewers ask about weaknesses to check the self awareness level of the candidate and see whether they are ready to groom and improve themselves or not. ?To answer this question you should be well aware about the JDs of the post you are applying for. ?Choose the weakness which is not essential for the job but somehow related to it. ?Tell how you get to know about it and what are you doing to overcome it. ?The weakness should be genuine and the answer should show that you are ready to work on yourself.
I choose to respond honestly while also demonstrating self-awareness and a willingness to improve. I typically mention a genuine area for development that is relevant to the role but not critical for success. For example, I might say, "One area I've been working on is improving my public speaking skills. While I'm comfortable communicating in one-on-one or small group settings, I recognize the importance of effectively presenting ideas to larger audiences. To address this, I've been attending public speaking workshops and practicing presentations whenever possible." This response shows that I acknowledge my weaknesses and am proactive about self-improvement, which aligns with the qualities employers often seek in candidates.
Use the "sandwich" technique to structure your response, framing your weakness between positive attributes or accomplishments... Tailor your response to the specific job and company culture, highlighting weaknesses that are relevant to the role and industry. Be genuine and authentic in your response, demonstrating humility and a willingness to grow and improve. Practice active listening during the interview to gauge the interviewer's response and adjust your approach accordingly. View this question as an opportunity to showcase your self-awareness, resilience, and commitment to personal and professional development...
Es una pregunta que debes tener preparada antes de una entrevista. Otra forma de introducir tu respuesta es dándole contexto a la debilidad. Es decir, mencionando bajo qué situación o circunstancia sale a la luz tu debilidad. Ten en mente que todos tenemos debilidades y esta pregunta hace parte de tu autoconocimiento.