| 'Describe your weaknesses please' or 'what are your | | | | Failure and weaknesses are human - we all failed in |
| weaknesses?' is probably one of the most common | | | | the past and we all have our weaknesses (including |
| interview questions and undoubtedly one of the most | | | | the interviewer...). This is all part of life. The main |
| troubling for most interviewees. | | | | distinction between those that fail and those that pass |
| There is common belief that tells that you should never | | | | this interview question is our ability to learn from our |
| expose a weakness of yours if you want to pass an | | | | mistakes, acknowledge our weaknesses, embrace |
| interview. Moreover, you should be smart and cunning | | | | them and show how we strive to improve them. |
| and present a strength in disguise such as | | | | Demonstrate to the interviewer you can face this |
| 'perfectionism' or 'stubbornness' or 'finding it hard to | | | | question head on. Name a real weakness of yours |
| strike a work-life balance -I tend to work too much' as | | | | and show how you strive to improve it. Moreover, in |
| a weaknesses of yours. That should do the trick. | | | | many cases a weakness is a strength in disguise. |
| We all seem to think there is an unwritten code and | | | | For example a person who is 'talkative' may be a very |
| that in fact the interviewer expects such an answer. | | | | good 'negotiator'. A person who is not very 'sociable' is |
| Better yet, if we were to actually disclose a | | | | very 'conscientious' and does not like to be distracted |
| weakness, chances are we would be disqualified at | | | | at work. |
| that very point in the interview. | | | | In fact, when describing a real weakness and showing |
| If this is indeed the case, then what is the point of | | | | how you are working hard to improve it, or better yet |
| asking this question in the first place? Is it written in | | | | demonstrating how it can actually work to your benefit |
| some 'interviewer protocol'? If both the interviewer and | | | | - you are likely to impress the interviewer. |
| interviewee no the 'correct' answer to this question | | | | If you claim that 'perfectionism' is a weakness, not only |
| what is the point? | | | | is the interviewer unlikely to be impressed; you are |
| The fact of the matter is that this question is in fact a | | | | likely to compromise your credibility and reduce your |
| key interview question and there is no agenda behind | | | | chances of success. |
| it. When the interviewer asks 'can you describe your | | | | When asked to describe your weaknesses - do not |
| weaknesses?', they mean exactly that. | | | | avoid the question and do not hesitate or be reluctant |
| So does this mean you have to tell him/her that you | | | | to answer it. You are expected to answer it not avoid |
| are intolerant and at times suffer from panic attacks? | | | | it. Face the challenge and expose a real weakness of |
| Or you have serious trouble accepting any sort of | | | | yours. |
| criticism? Or you find it hard to sit down and get to | | | | Do not expose a weakness which is irrelevant to the |
| work every morning? Or that you have a nasty habit | | | | work environment or a weakness that can seriously |
| of daydreaming? The answer to these questions is | | | | compromise your chances of success; yet be honest |
| definitely NO! | | | | and sincere. Show that you are aware of your |
| When describing a weakness of yours the first thing | | | | weaker qualities and that you in fact are trying to learn |
| to do is imagine your self in a work environment. There | | | | from them and improve your ways; demonstrate that |
| is no point in bringing up weaknesses that are exposed | | | | you are a worthy and serious candidate. |
| when socializing with friends or at home; these | | | | Weaknesses that you may wish to disclose at a job |
| environments are irrelevant to the work one and the | | | | interview:o Suspiciono Criticismo Being too demandingo |
| interviewer has no interest in them (or at least should | | | | Controllingo Lack of humoro Being too sensitiveo Lack |
| not have...). | | | | of assertiveness (for IT professionals such as |
| Assuming you are an intelligent person aware of your | | | | programmers) |
| own strengths and weaknesses, you probably know | | | | Think of this interview question as an opportunity to |
| better then anyone around you what are your | | | | show the interviewer what you are really 'made of' |
| weaknesses and what are your biggest challenges. | | | | and you are on the path to success. |