| This is one of those difficult interview questions that | | | | job, it’s probably best not to mention that you have |
| interviewers ask from time to time. The way you | | | | trouble getting along with people since you’re going |
| handle your response to the question might be as | | | | to be constantly working with others. |
| important if not more important than what you actually | | | | 3. Don’t evade the question. Don’t try to avoid |
| say.job listings | | | | answering the question. Also be careful about giving a |
| The question is how to answer the question without | | | | clichéd weakness (ie. I work too hard) and then |
| making it look like you have a weakness that might | | | | quickly stating how you deal with it. That looks too |
| prevent you from getting hired. | | | | scripted and the interviewer has probably heard it one |
| At the same time, you don’t want to mention a | | | | million times before. Admitting a real weakness but |
| weakness that isn’t really a weakness and simply | | | | then stating what you are doing to improve yourself is |
| tell the interviewer what you think they want to hear. | | | | preferable ie. “My presentation skills are not as |
| Trust me, an experienced interviewer has heard every | | | | strong as I’d like so I signed up for weekend |
| clichéd answer to this question and will know when | | | | presentation skills classes and also joined a |
| you are feeding them a line. | | | | Toastmasters club.” Remember that the specific |
| The purpose of asking this question is firstly to see | | | | job you are interviewing for will help to determine how |
| how you handle a stress question and secondly how | | | | you answer the question. |
| you actually respond to it. | | | | 4.Keep your answer factual and brief. Typically, stress |
| Here are some guidelines for responding when an | | | | questions such as these that put us on the spot tend |
| interviewer asks what about your biggest weakness: | | | | to cause us to ramble on and speak for longer than |
| Job Interview Skills Click here | | | | we should especially if we’re nervous. The best |
| 1. Answer the question honestly. It’s always best to | | | | way to answer the question is to be well prepared |
| answer any interview question honestly (obviously) but | | | | and to know how you are going to answer the |
| this is an especially important one. Making up a | | | | question before the interview. This will avoid you trying |
| weakness that isn’t really a weakness will most | | | | to think off the top of your head and saying more than |
| likely be very noticeable to the interviewer. If they think | | | | you need to which could hurt your chances of getting |
| you are lying, they may ask you for another | | | | the job. |
| weakness which will cause you even more trouble | | | | 5. Be careful about using “my biggest weakness is |
| trying to think of one off the top of your head. | | | | my biggest strength” as your response. Saying that |
| 2. Don’t mention a big weakness that could cost | | | | “I’m a perfectionist” or something like that is |
| you the job. Your goal here isn’t to lie of course, | | | | another of those clichéd answers that people often |
| it’s simply to present yourself as best you can. We | | | | give to this question. It will probably come across as |
| all have weaknesses but it doesn’t mean we tell an | | | | being scripted and the interviewer will most likely |
| interviewer everything that we do wrong. If for | | | | determine that you got the answer from an interview |
| example you are interviewing for a project manager | | | | tips book. |