If you have been to an interview you probably know that interviewers love asking you about your weaknesses. While it is an interesting way to find out whether the candidate is suited to the post, it can also be nerve-wracking for the candidate. Read on to find out how you can talk about your weaknesses!
Why is this Question Important?
Everyone has specific strengths and everyone has specific weaknesses. It’s pretty certain that if you are not clear on your weaknesses then you are not clear on your strengths, and your value at the office will be questionable.
The interviewer wants to know about what you can’t do, or what you have difficulty with on the job. How you respond will also help the interviewer understand how well you know yourself, as well as whether you would be a good fit for the role.
Often interviewers ask this question because:
They’re trying to get past your nice, presentable interview facade and get a sense of what you’re really like to work with — the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Even if you don’t answer honestly, your answer tells them something about you. If you dodge the question or try to fake your way through, the interviewer will wonder if:
What to Say When You are Talking about Weaknesses?
Weaknesses are tricky to talk about, so you need to be careful when sharing examples of yours. You don’t want to knock yourself out of contention for the job because the interviewer thinks you’re not qualified. You do want your answer to be honest, but as positive as possible.
Examples of Weaknesses
There are different categories of weaknesses that you can choose from when answering interview questions about your shortcomings. However, do not choose a weakness at random. Instead, make sure the one you select is not critical to the job, and mention in your interview the ways you plan to improve upon this weakness.
Hard Skills
You might mention a hard skill as your weakness. Hard skills are job-specific abilities that are easily quantifiable. They are developed through school and other forms of training. Examples of hard skills include computer skills, finance, mathematics, creative writing, etc.
Soft Skills
Soft skills are important for almost every job. Unlike hard skills, these are skills that are hard to quantify; they encompass your personality traits, your communication abilities, and your social skills. While they are important, you can pick out one soft skill to mention as a weakness. Some soft skills you might mention when answering questions about your weaknesses include:
Creativity, Delegating tasks, Humor, Spontaneity (you work better when prepared), Organization, etc.
Interpersonal Skills
You might mention a weakness that relates to your ability to interact with others. Of course, you want to make sure you don’t come across as someone who can’t work well with co-workers. Pick one specific issue you struggle with, and then talk about how you have worked to improve on this type of interaction.
Examples of interpersonal skills you might mention as weaknesses include: Confrontation, covering for coworkers, expecting too much from colleagues. expressing too much frustration with underperforming staff or colleagues etc.
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Tips for Talking about Weaknesses
Focus on qualities not necessary for the job. When you consider which weaknesses to mention in an interview, keep in mind that you should focus on qualities that are not central to the requirements of the job for which you are interviewing.
For example, if you are applying for a job in accounting, you don’t want to say your weakness is mathematics.
Keep it positive. It’s important to try and remain positive. You might also explain how your weakness could be seen as a positive in the job. For example, being very detail-oriented is an asset for many positions.
Be honest. Finally, while you want to be positive, you should also be honest. Answers like, “I don’t have any flaws” will come across as insincere.
Common Mistakes People Make While Talking about Weaknesses
Here are the mistakes that they typically make (you may be able to relate):
Trying to Turn a Negative into a Positive
You’ll find many books and articles that advise you to “turn a negative into a positive” by sharing a supposed weakness that is actually a desirable quality in an employee. A few examples:
I am too much of a perfectionist.
I work too hard sometimes.
I care too much about my work.
Refusing to Answer the Question
Some candidates will assert that they can’t think of a single weakness. This is probably because they don’t prepare for the question properly and freeze up, afraid to say the wrong thing. This answer also makes you look like you are hiding something.
Revealing a Weakness that Raises Red Flags
Another mistake is to be too candid and confess to a weakness that would hinder your ability to excel in the role. I once had a coaching client answer, “I have trouble getting up in the morning and getting to work on time.” His real weakness was that he was way too honest.
Interview Questions about Weaknesses
Here are some of the different weakness questions that are regularly asked in job interviews:
What is your greatest weakness?
What are some of your weaknesses?
If I called your current/previous manager, what would he/she say that you need to work on?
Tell me about a development goal that you have set.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
What do you most want to improve in the next year?
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Why Do Employers Question about Your Weaknesses?
Employers may inquire about your faults during an interview to see if you have the desire to use your flaws to advance your career. The following are some characteristics they may be searching for in your response:
Self-awareness
This question allows the interviewer to gauge your self-awareness. Self-awareness means you’re willing to own your flaws and seek to improve them.
Honesty
You demonstrate your honesty by making yourself transparent and talking about your flaws.
Emotional Quotient
This is a crucial component of emotional intelligence. It demonstrates that you can manage and control your emotions as well as recognise your motivations.
Self-improvement
Your response may indicate that you are willing to work on specific elements of yourself as well as master new skills.
It’s a sobering experience to consider your own flaws. It’s crucial to consider your flaws before your interview so that you can respond with an answer that demonstrates your awareness and desire to improve. Rather than masking a strength as a flaw, take advantage of this opportunity to work on abilities or personal attributes that could be improved.
How Do You Respond to the Question, “What are Your Weaknesses?”
To properly answer this difficult interview question, follow these instructions:
Perform Self-reflection
Consider yourself for a moment while you prepare for this question. Pose the following questions to yourself:
# What kinds of problems do I have to deal with on a regular basis?
# What kind of feedback have I gotten in the past?
# What are my individual objectives?
# What are the chores that I keep needing to redo?
Consider the Role
Make your response pertinent to the position you’re looking for. You can think of ways to strive to excel in this profession even if you want to demonstrate to the employer that you have all of the talents and attributes they require.
Consider how you could develop a specific talent to make yourself a better-qualified employee. Demonstrate to the employer that you are goal-oriented and eager to learn new skills.
Make It a Positive Experience
After you’ve explained your flaw, tell us how you plan to overcome it. You can use your flaw as a springboard to becoming a more talented employee or a more well-rounded person. This can assist you to emphasise that you are a person who enjoys taking on new tasks.
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Some More Examples of Weaknesses
Self-criticism
Many individuals are their own harshest critics, thus self-criticism is an understandable flaw. This flaw can demonstrate that you care deeply about your job and are constantly striving to improve.
It’s also a good idea to let your boss know you have this propensity so they can figure out what kind of feedback you need the most. Explain in your response that you want to use your critique to help you grow while also acknowledging your accomplishments.
Organisation
If being organised is a deficit of yours, you can tell an employer about it as long as you make it obvious that it will not impair the quality of work. You may say that you’re used to operating in a cluttered environment but that you’ve decided it’s time for something new. Include methods to improve your organisational abilities and maintain a clean environment in your response.
Overworking
Overworking may be a weakness if you are constantly taking on new work without completing previous responsibilities. You must learn how to build boundaries between professional and home life in order to ensure a strong work-life balance. Explain how you plan to prioritise things and give yourself enough time to live a much more healthy lifestyle in your response.
Public Speaking
Because many people are afraid of public speaking, this is a fair flaw to admit. This is particularly true if public speaking isn’t a big part of your job. Explain why you find public speaking difficult in your response. Then, make a list of methods you aim to conquer your fear and improve your public speaking skills.
Shyness
When you’re shy at work, it can be difficult to open up to new colleagues and participate in team-building activities. When you tell an employer about your shyness, you’re expressing that it takes you a little more than other individuals to feel at ease at work.
This is useful information for them to have so that they can locate team-building activities that are more appropriate for their personality. Describe how you can make an attempt to be more assertive in your response.
Asking for Help
It’s quite typical to seek assistance while starting a new career. When you have a huge workload or require certain knowledge, asking for help is a valuable ability. Sharing this flaw demonstrates to employers that you are conscious of your reluctance to ask for favours.
Mention in your response that you are familiar with the benefits of seeking assistance. Share how you plan to improve your confidence in seeking help.
Conclusion
Just like talking about strengths, talking about weaknesses also needs to be done skillfully. Modern employers are always on the lookout for the sharpest and the most skilled individuals. Therefore in order to make the cut, it is important that you talk about your strengths and weaknesses effectively.
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