By Anthony Stough
The interview that you’re in is going really well. Everything seems to be lining up with all of your answers. You like the role, and the environment seems like a great fit too! All of a sudden the manager changes the tone of the interview and says, “You know you seem like a really great fit. Before we get to your questions, I just want to know what are your weaknesses?” Seems like a pretty loaded and negative question right? Just like all of the other questions, there is a reason for this. Follow our steps below for the best way to navigate this question!
How honest should you be?
The question itself is really odd. Regardless of the reasoning, this isn’t the time to be directly transparent. Listing off weaknesses isn’t exactly what the company wants to hear. Keeping the weakness professional is key. There’s no reason for the employer to know that your weakness is chocolate or that you have a really bad temper (yes, I’ve heard these before). The other answer that I generally hear is,“Oh, well, I actually don’t have any weaknesses.” Although some people may think that this is true, each and every one of us has something professional that we can improve.
How to answer this question:
You should view this question like a giant softball and lean in to how great you are as a candidate. As you’re deciding on which weaknesses you really have, you should also think through how you have improved on that weakness. By utilizing this method it shows that you identified something that needed improvement in your background and you did the work to actually improve it. The worst way to answer the question is with a weakness that has no solution. Some of the more common weaknesses and solutions are below:
Time management - began to use a calendar
Overwhelmed with work earlier on in your career - began to prioritize
Not delegating due to high expectations - began to delegate and trust
Not responding to all emails - answered all current emails before moving to the next day
Let’s Practice:
“A weakness of mine that I struggled with earlier on in my career was time management. I had a bit of an issue over-concentrating on certain projects and I lost track of time. I mitigated this by creating a calendar on my phone and email. Since then I have never missed a meeting, and it has allowed me to become more efficient”.
By identifying a weakness and providing a solution, it shows that you are self-aware. It also shows that you are adaptable and able to overcome something in your professional life. Whatever your weakness is, I highly recommend that you have at least two answers prepared for this question.
If you find yourself stuck and unable to find a weakness, definitely check out any of the online strengths finders. Some are paid and others like the VIA Character Strengths Survey are free.
Be realistic and honest with your answers. Remember to leave yourself in the position where you can speak positively on your weakness. With practice, you’ll have no issues answering this common interview question!