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