Landing a dream job comes with a lot of challenges, but the toughest part is preparing for your interview and nailing it to finally get an offer from your dream company.
During the interview, the interviewer asks a lot of questions to understand you as best as possible. One such common job interview question is “What are your weaknesses?”
Answering the question “What are your weaknesses?” is the most challenging part of a job interview. Giving the best answer to this question requires a balance of two things: honesty and strategic presentation.
Maintaining this balance and approaching this question the right way allows you to present your answer well and showcase your self-awareness and commitment to professional growth. This blog will help you crack this interview question with ease. Read on to learn how to answer this question with strategies and examples to impress your interviewer.
Why do Interviewers Ask What Are Your Weaknesses?
Before diving into strategies on how to answer “What is your weakness?”, let’s first understand why interviewers ask this question and what they are seeking from you as an interviewee.
Here is what they want to know:
Self-awareness: By asking this question, interviewers try to gain insight into how well you know yourself and how aware you are of your shortcomings.
Honesty: Interviewers want to know how truthful you are about your weaknesses and limitations.
Growth: They want to understand if you are actively working to improve yourself.
Fit for the role: Interviewers want to learn how your weaknesses might impact your job performance and if you’re the right person for the role.
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Tips on How to Answer What is Your Weakness?
Be Honest, But Selective
Remember, the weakness is not the core requirement for your job. It’s a question that interviewers ask to understand you better and to assess your honesty. Therefore, be truthful about what you mention and avoid clichés like “I am a perfectionist” unless you can explain and provide a real example from your past experiences.
Show Self-Awareness and Growth
This tip is very important. Interviewers want to understand if you are self-aware. Discuss what your weakness has taught you and how you are working to improve it. Mention steps you have taken to address the issue, such as training, reading, or guidance from your mentors.
Keep it Relevant
Make sure the weakness you mention is relevant and not so critical that it raises a red flag on your ability to perform the job. For example, if you’re applying for a sales role, mentioning a struggle with public speaking might not be relevant and could create a negative impression with your interviewer.
Frame it Positively
Bring out how your weakness has acted as a learning point or driven you towards self-improvement as earlier stated. Concentrate more on stating how you have been able to acquire new skills and habits in the process of dealing with a weakness.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Answering
Being too negative: Avoid answering your weakness in a negative way that leaves a negative impression about you, as you might also lose a chance to move forward with the next step of the interview process.
Oversharing: Keep off personal weaknesses that do not have anything related to your job role.
Claiming to have no weakness: Answering this might come across as arrogant or lacking self-awareness, so make sure to strategically answer this question.
Best Examples of Weaknesses For Interview
Here are some examples to help you answer this question well to impress your interviewer.
Example 1
I have found that I may be too particular about the details, which can cause me to spend too much time on minor parts of a project. But I’m working on it by allotting specific time limits for each task and reminding myself about what’s really important. This way helps me maintain high levels of accuracy while also improving my efficiency.
Example 2
In the past, I’ve realized that one of my weaknesses is a lack of patience. I always want to see the results quickly which makes me feel frustrated whenever things are not moving as fast as I thought they would. However, I have learned to develop this virtue by taking time for mindfulness exercises and setting achievable goals. This has brought stability and has given me a chance to grow continuously.
Example 3
I’ve never been good at public speaking and used to be extremely anxious before giving presentations. So what did I do? I joined a public speaking club and have been practicing regularly. While I still get a bit nervous, I’ve become much more confident and capable of delivering presentations effectively.
Conclusion
Answering ‘What are your weaknesses?’ isn’t a difficult task; all you need to know is the right way to approach this question. Remember to present this answer with honesty and as a learning opportunity. Every candidate has weaknesses; it’s how you manage and overcome these weaknesses that sets you apart. With these tips in mind, you will be well-prepared. Follow the example for references to answer with confidence and ease.
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