| What is your biggest weakness? is a common job | | | | would find annoying, is actually a real asset to a |
| interview question. It can be a tricky question to | | | | company? The key is giving a full explanation for what |
| answer, but with the proper preparation, you will give a | | | | you have been told is a weakness. |
| winning response. | | | | Here is another way to handle the question of your |
| Before you learn how to answer the question, let's | | | | weakness. Know what the job duties are and what |
| look at the reasons the question is asked during a job | | | | they are not, by getting a thorough job description |
| interview, so you have a better understanding of what | | | | before you interview. You can get this information |
| the interviewer wants to know. | | | | from the job posting. If you a working with a recruiter, |
| The question about your weakness is to find out a | | | | he will have the job description. You can answer that |
| few of things about you. Are you self aware and | | | | your weakness is something that you know is not a |
| know what your strengths and weaknesses are? This | | | | job requirement. For example, Joe did telemarketing |
| is important because people who are know | | | | one summer during college, now he is applying for a |
| themselves, are usually people who can learn and | | | | computer analyst job, and knows that he will never |
| grow both personally and in the job. | | | | have to handle a sales call. When asked about his |
| The question is also asked to discover if you are | | | | weaknesses, he can say,"I am not a good salesman. I |
| honest about yourself to others. A good team | | | | did telemarketing while I was in college and I did not |
| member can recognize his weaknesses and admit | | | | enjoy it." |
| them to others. No one wants to work with a person | | | | The interviewer may accept that answer and move |
| who thinks he walks on water and is never willing to | | | | on to the next question, or she may want to know a |
| admit he is wrong. | | | | weakness in Joe's current career as a computer |
| The answer to the question of your biggest | | | | analyst. If she wants another example, then Joe can |
| weakness, simply reveals what areas you are not | | | | provide a weakness that is a strength in the position |
| strong in. A smart boss will hire people who have | | | | he is interviewing for. He can say, "I know I can be |
| different skills, so that the team is well rounded. Imagine | | | | really stubborn. I am usually stubborn when I want to |
| a team where every employee is strong in finding | | | | make sure the system is right and that we have not |
| sales leads, but no one can then sell to those leads. | | | | missed any glitches. Others want to go live, when I am |
| Such a team would not be successful and the | | | | holding my ground to check when I am not yet |
| company would fail! | | | | convinced that the program is fool proof." Joe's |
| How do you answer the question of your weakness in | | | | stubborn side can keep that company from having big |
| a job interview? First, you must know what your | | | | problems by going live too soon. That is a positive |
| strengths are. Start with the positive and really know | | | | quality that will help Joe get the job. |
| what you do well. Now think of what does not come | | | | One other way to answer the weakness question is |
| easy to you, what you may struggle to accomplish. | | | | to think of something you were not skilled at, but took |
| Those are areas you are weak in. | | | | the time to learn. Maybe you were not very good with |
| If you are still unsure of your strengths and | | | | making Excel spreadsheets, so you took a course, or |
| weaknesses, think about what your former bosses or | | | | had someone teach you how to do the basics. You |
| teachers have said about you. Think of what | | | | could answer, "I am not an expert in Excel, so I |
| compliments and what criticisms you have heard in the | | | | decided to get help and learn. I can now do a |
| past. Make a list of both your strengths and your | | | | spreadsheet with basic functions. I plan to continue to |
| weaknesses. Your strengths may be that you are a | | | | my working knowledge and have signed up for an |
| good listener, you are someone who motivates others, | | | | online course on Excel." This shows the interviewer |
| or you complete projects on time. Weaknesses may | | | | that you recognized your weaknesses and you took |
| be that you over-analyze everything, you | | | | the initiative to learn and improve your skills. It is |
| procrastinate, or you are stubborn. | | | | important to be honest with your answers. You don't |
| Now that you have both lists, look to see what on | | | | want to say you took a course or have signed up |
| your list of weaknesses could be perceived as a | | | | when you haven't. Lies have a way of catching up |
| strength, depending on the situation. Polar opposites or | | | | with you and biting you later on. |
| the yin and yang exists in everything in life. What I | | | | In summary, when asked the question about your |
| perceive as good, someone else perceives as bad. | | | | weaknesses, give an honest answer. |
| That means that you can take your weakness and | | | | - You can name something that has nothing to do with |
| demonstrate it as a strength in the right situation. | | | | the job responsibilities and requirements. |
| Let me show you what I mean. You may have heard | | | | - You can give an answer that others perceive as |
| all your life that you over analyze things and ask too | | | | your weakness, but is actually a strength in the job you |
| many questions. When you go on a job interview, and | | | | are interviewing for. |
| are asked, "What are your weaknesses?," you could | | | | - You can talk about something you were not strong |
| answer, "I analyze things too much." That answer will | | | | in, but then took the time and initiate to learn and |
| not help you land the job. A positive, winning answer is, | | | | improve. |
| "I have been told that I sometimes over-analyze things | | | | This is only one question you will be asked during the |
| and can ask a lot of questions. I know that can bother | | | | job interview. Remember to be positive with all your |
| some people. I have the ability to see holes in plans, | | | | answers and be sure to tell the interviewer about your |
| that other people might not see. That's when I ask a lot | | | | strengths and abilities. |
| of questions." Do you see how what some people | | | | |