Have you ever felt stumped when the interviewer asks the dreadful question: “What are your greatest weaknesses"?
It's a question that has confused even the most confident job seekers. The key to talking about your shortcomings in a job interview is to avoid revealing its negative impact. Moreover, you should portray your weaknesses in a way that appeals to your employers.
In this blog post, I’ll disclose several weaknesses suitable for discussion in a job interview. I will also provide valuable insights on crafting your response that highlights your strengths and underscores your potential, so keep reading!
When your interviewer asks about your weaknesses, it's best to craft a response that acknowledges areas in need of improvement while showing you have a proactive approach to personal growth.
Here are some potential weaknesses that you can discuss during your interview:
Here are some sample answers to this question, using some of the weaknesses I outlined above:
Being meticulous is generally a positive trait, but it may be considered a weakness if you tend to obsess over project specifics. You can explain this weakness in the following way:
Example: "I've been taking steps to balance this by periodically stepping back and refocusing on the project's broader objectives. This way, I can maintain quality without getting excessively caught up in the details, which could impact productivity.
While being willing to accept requests may demonstrate dedication, it can lead to overcommitment and stress.
If you struggle to decline new projects, explain it like so:
Example: "I sometimes find it challenging to turn down requests, which has occasionally resulted in overcommitment and stress. But recently, I have been using project management apps to visualize my workload in order to improve in this area. This helps me gauge if I can and should take on additional tasks."
Having trouble meeting deadlines can sometimes result in excessive stress or poor quality work. To spin this weakness in a more positive light, you can take the following approach:
Example: "I sometimes have trouble managing my time, which leads to excessive stress when work is incomplete by the time deadlines come around. To cope with this issue, I've started to monitor my progress with time management apps and have started communicating more openly with team members and management about the status of the work + the timeline it is on."
Admitting a need for improvement demonstrates self-awareness and a willingness to grow. Ensure that the weakness you mention isn't crucial for the role you're interviewing for though!
Example: "I recognize that I need more experience in verbal communication, especially in large group settings. While I've improved, I believe there's room for further growth. I'm actively seeking opportunities to practice and refine my public speaking skills such as thought taking more leadership roles and being more assertive during team discussions."
Lacking self confidence is an extremely common weakness that can potentially affect your quality of work. If this is you make sure to talk about the steps you are taking to address this in your answer:
Example: "I've started to maintain a record of my contributions to the team and the organization to address this. This has helped me recognize the value I bring."
If you find it hard to ask for your colleagues' help, try using the following example as a template for an interview answer:
Example: "As I have an independent personality, asking for someone's help has always been challenging for me. However, since I began to work in a professional capacity, I’ve had to lean more on my colleagues and on management as I learned about the job. This has helped me become much more comfortable with seeking assistance or advice from the people around me, and has improved the quality of my work.”
If you struggle with communication try framing you answer like this:
Example: "I used to find it difficult to voice my ideas around more dominant colleagues. But since then, I've consciously tried to engage with these colleagues to improve workplace chemistry and my own communication"
When discussing your weaknesses in a job interview, it's crucial to be honest with your interviewer. However it's equally important to portray these areas in a light that demonstrates your active commitment to personal growth and improvement.
Remember, employers ask about weakness to let you demonstrate your ability to learn and grow. So, the next time you find yourself in the hot seat, embrace your weaknesses as opportunities to show yourself off and watch the offers come rolling in. Are you ready to ace your next interview?
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