Top 3 Weaknesses
Knowing your list of weaknesses is great, but understanding how to communicate them in an interview is different. As mentioned above, do not avoid the question.
Choosing 3 weaknesses you have made improvements in the last few months provides a base. From there explore how you can relate your improvements to the specific job you are applying for. For more details on how to answers click here.
Job interviews are nerve-wracking. Whether you’re interviewing for a job that you want or one that needs filling, the questions can be intimidating and challenging to answer. But perhaps, some of the best ways to prepare yourself include:
- Dressing appropriately
- Arriving early
- Researching the company
- Practicing how to answer questions
One of the most common questions asked in an interview is “What are your weaknesses?” So how do you answer this question?
In this post, you will learn what weakness might be, how to answer the question when it’s posed to you in an interview, and some different ways to address your weaknesses so they don’t become deal-breakers!
Examples of Job Interview Questions
Learn more here < about example job interview answers to all your strengths and weaknesses questions.
Identify Your Weaknesses
One of the most common questions in job interviews is “what are your strengths and weaknesses?” or some variation. Asking candidates to identify their weaknesses can allow employers to see how they respond under pressure, so you must think carefully about what you say before answering.
Identifying your weaknesses doesn’t mean that you should say “you work too hard” or “you are not a morning person,” which are common answers to this question. Instead, you must identify a “real” weakness, which is something that you struggle with but are working to improve. Think about what is preventing you from achieving your goals.
For example, you may have a hard time delegating to others and instead do everything yourself. This is an area where it would be good for you to develop your skills to help with the workload. Or, you may be unable to multitask, and you have a hard time juggling different tasks simultaneously. Again, this is an area where it would be good to improve your skills to keep up with workload demands.
Do not answer this question by saying, “you are a perfectionist.” Employers know that people are never perfect, so they want to hear what areas need improvement from candidates who interview for their organization.
Weakness doesn’t need to mean something negative about who you are as an individual; it just means there’s room for improvement and progress. Be honest in answering this question – employers want someone who will grow into their position over time rather than someone who would be stagnant and unable to continue with development. Identifying your weakness can help you in answering this question.
Classify Your Weaknesses
There are five types of weaknesses you may need to address for a job interview. The first is the personal weakness or something about your personality that could be seen as unfavorable. For example, if one of your weaknesses is “you’re not always punctual,” this would be an attribute from your character which can’t be fixed in response to questioning.
The second type of weakness is knowledge-based: things like being rusty on specific topics due to lack of recent experience, having too little experience overall, and knowing nothing about some critical tasks within the company’s industry. But, again, these are more fixable through training and time spent learning those skills with someone who knows them better than you do right now.
The third type of weakness is technical: not knowing how to use specific tools or having a poor understanding of how things work, which can usually be fixed by getting educated on those topics.
The fourth type is situational. Suppose you are coming into this job interview with personal issues (like caring for kids and parents at home) that will affect your ability to perform well in some areas related to the company’s needs.
In that case, it might make sense to disclose them as an obstacle before taking up more time interviewing for a position where you know there would be too much conflict going on. However, being honest about this sort of thing could cause employers who don’t understand these circ*mstances (or have never had children themselves) from hiring you, even if it’s not your fault.
The fifth type is environmental. This can include company culture or lack of opportunity for growth within that specific job role. Again, these are often fixable through a change in employer and environment.
No matter what type of weakness you have to address during an interview (especially one related to skills), never make excuses about them- be straightforward with the interviewer, so they understand where you’re coming from.
The best way to do this? Be honest! Explain how you see these weaknesses as something that will hinder progression and performance at their company and provide solutions to how those issues could be fixed by adding training time or changing environments. It may seem counterintuitive, but by bringing up these issues, you’re showing self-awareness and responsibility for what needs fixing.
If the interviewer is uninterested in hearing about your weaknesses so as not to be “too nice,” they are most likely looking for someone who will do whatever they tell them without question. You might think it’s a waste of time or too much information. Still, this type of honesty shows that you care enough about their company to have given some forethought on these topics before coming into an interview with them. Therefore, it is crucial to know where your weaknesses lie.
To come into the interview with a plan for improvement in mind, you need to:
- Do your research
- Know what to expect
- Be ready to prove yourself as somebody who will always put forth 110%
Don’t respond by saying, “you don’t have any,” or “none of these apply.” It’s better to take an honest approach than pretend like none of this is happening. At the same time, it would also be beneficial to ask questions about how they handle these weaknesses at their company.
Not only does it show interest and readiness for self-improvement, but it could also benefit them by alerting them towards potential problems within the organization which could cause issues down the line. The more information you share upfront during your job search process, the more honesty and openness you’ll get in return.
Using the STAR Method to Address Weaknesses in Interviews
When discussing weaknesses during an interview, using the STAR method can help structure your response and provide a clear and concise answer. The STAR method stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and it allows you to provide a specific example of a weakness you have recognized and how you have actively worked to overcome it. Here’s how to apply the STAR method to address weaknesses effectively:
Situation:
Begin by describing the situation or context in which your weakness became apparent. Provide a brief overview of the circ*mstances that led to the identification of your weakness. This sets the stage for understanding the challenge you faced.
Task:
Next, explain the specific task or goal you were working on that was affected by your weakness. Clearly define the objective or responsibility that was impacted, highlighting why it was essential and the potential consequences of not addressing the weakness.
Action:
Now, detail the action steps you took to address and improve upon the weakness. Discuss the strategies, techniques, or resources you utilized to actively work on overcoming the weakness. Highlight any training, courses, or mentoring you sought to enhance your skills in the particular area of weakness.
Emphasize the commitment and effort you put into developing yourself, such as dedicating time outside of work or seeking feedback and guidance from others. This showcases your proactivity, growth mindset, and willingness to invest in personal and professional development.
Result:
Lastly, describe the positive results or outcomes that arose from your efforts to improve your weakness. Share specific achievements or instances where your enhanced skills or mindset positively impacted your work or contributed to successful outcomes.
Quantify the results whenever possible, such as increased productivity, improved collaboration, or positive feedback from colleagues or supervisors. This demonstrates the effectiveness of your actions and the progress you have made in addressing the weakness.
By using the STAR method, you provide a structured and comprehensive response that not only highlights your self-awareness but also showcases your problem-solving abilities and commitment to personal growth. Remember to tailor your response to the specific weakness and how it relates to the job you’re applying for, ensuring that the result you discuss aligns with the desired skills or qualities sought by the employer.
Keep in mind that while the STAR method provides a framework, it’s essential to be authentic and genuine in your responses. Avoid exaggerating or fabricating stories; instead, focus on real experiences and the steps you genuinely took to overcome your weaknesses. This approach demonstrates your integrity and sincerity in addressing areas for improvement.
Utilizing the STAR method in addressing weaknesses during interviews will help you effectively communicate your growth and development journey, leaving a positive impression on potential employers.
Turning Your Weaknesses Into Strengths
At some point in your career, you’ve probably been asked the question: “What are your weaknesses?” and had no idea how to answer it. This tricky question can cause even the most qualified candidates for an interview (or promotion) to sweat.
The truth is that there isn’t any good way to respond when someone asks this question during an interview. You could say what’s easy, like “you work too hard” or “you don’t take enough breaks.”
However, these answers may make you seem lazy or unmotivated, which will turn off many employers looking at you as a potential employee. Instead, try turning one of your weaknesses into a strength by using it as part of your answer.
For example, if you’re slow to finish projects because you are a perfectionist, try saying: “you are a perfectionist, and take time making sure the product is perfect.” You may be too cautious, but at least it sounds like an asset rather than something employers might find problematic during your interview process!
Another option of turning your weakness into a strength is to talk about when you overcame your weakness and what it taught you. For example, if one of your weaknesses is impatience, try saying: “you are not the best at waiting for things like others, but your boss has helped you learn how important patience can be.” It’s not always easy to turn your weakness into a strength, but it is crucial to land that next job!
Avoid Revealing To Much
It is rare for interviewers to be interested in what your weaknesses are. If they ask, make sure it’s an answer that supports a strength-based approach and does not reveal too much about you. It can come across as too negative or defensive if the interviewer has seen this before when interviewing candidates.
When answering these questions, keep your answers brief and concise without going into detail about why you think those weaknesses might exist because this will likely never really get addressed at all in the interview.
Revealing too much about yourself is not a good idea. Giving brief answers and then moving on to the next question is the best way to respond. Keep in mind that if they ask this, they are open-minded and not looking for a perfect candidate but rather someone who will bring something different or new with their strengths while minimizing any of those weaknesses as much as possible. This is within your skill set and background.
It’s also important to be honest because being too conceited can lead them to think you’re not worth hiring at all when there might have been other opportunities where you would’ve been a great fit!
Consider the Job Description
To be successful in any field, you need to understand your strengths and weaknesses clearly. Your interviewers will frequently ask questions about some of the things that make you less qualified for the job than other candidates?
This is because they want to hear more about possible areas where improvement could occur or possibly limits on current skill sets. If there are glaring holes in your qualifications, the interviewer may not understand why you were selected from all the other applicants.
If this question isn’t well-handled, it can lead to an instant lost opportunity with little chance of being reconsidered later on down the line. For instance, as tempting as it might seem – answering “you are too good” is never a good idea. Before answering this question, you must consider the job description and the requirements.
The interviewer is looking for genuine insight into possible reasons why you may have failed in your previous jobs or what professional weaknesses might hinder your success at this new position. Be sure to take time before answering so that all significant considerations get addressed on how they relate to the company’s needs.
You will also need to do some introspection, which can be difficult because people don’t always know their limitations without outside input. Nevertheless, this is an excellent opportunity for growth if handled correctly!
Think about what areas of improvement would go along with the firm’s goals and culture while being honest enough not to lie outright about any gaps in knowledge or skill sets. There’s nothing wrong with telling an employer upfront during a phone interview that you’re not 100% qualified.
Tell A Story!
Everyone has weaknesses, but this doesn’t mean that you cannot work on them. Interviewers try to get at an applicant’s history of overcoming their flaws by asking them about their strengths or weaknesses?
Applicants need to know how best to answer these questions to avoid turning off the interviewer with too much information and demonstrating they’re capable of being honest about themselves while also staying positive. And telling a story is a great way to answer this question!
The best way to handle these questions is by telling a story about your personal experience overcoming the weakness. One good example of this would be saying, “you are always there for your family and friends, but you know that sometimes it can take too much time away from work.”
This demonstrates their care-taking abilities while also showing their awareness of balancing both spheres in life. Another option might be something like, “your biggest flaw has been procrastinating on certain projects until the last minute because you have trouble focusing when there are other distractions around you. Make sure to separate yourself from everything else at least an hour before starting a project so that you don’t feel distracted by anything.”
It’s essential to be honest about your professional weaknesses and know how best to demonstrate them in an interview. The most effective way is by telling a story that shows you not only have the weakness in question but are capable of overcoming it as well – and this doesn’t mean just listing off something like “you are sometimes late” without any context/explanation.
Instead, by painting a picture with words for the interviewer, they can better see what kind of person you are and whether or not you’re someone who would make their company grow stronger by getting you on board!
Your “weaknesses” are simply areas where you can improve. Think of it as a chance to highlight skills that demonstrate your self-awareness and drive for growth rather than something that holds you back. Just because you’re honest about what needs improvement doesn’t mean the interviewer will view this negatively. After hearing your answer in context, they might even offer to help you find a way around that obstacle.
You can find a complete guide to My Strengths and Weaknesses here. We also have a List of Strengths post that you may find helpful.
Question:
What are your weaknesses? Comment below with 3 weaknesses you have improved in the last few months that may or may not be in the lists above. This will help others see different possibilities.
