The Dreaded Interview Question-What’s Your Greatest Weakness?
Along with many other questions, a typical job interview often includes some annoying interview questions like What’s your greatest weakness? or what’s your greatest strength? Most probably, you will be asked about these questions when you sit in the interview, trying your best not to get confused or nervous.
Give the Summary of the Weakness
When you get a question like this, it’s better to give only the summary of the weakness. But after you explain your problem, you should follow-up by saying that you are aware of the problem and have been learning how to handle the issue.
It is also a good idea to have a great real life story from one of your jobs, to back up whichever weakness you choose to answer this interview question with.
Keep your Answer Short
It is best to keep your answer as short as possible. You will get a chance to explain your good points in some other interview questions. But this is usually not one of those questions unless, you have a good real life story to tell about how you overcame your great weakness.
For example, if you previously had a fear of public speaking, and you ended up becoming a lecturer on some topic, by working on that fear, it would be a story that an interviewer would like to hear. But be sure that you don’t lie and if your story isn’t that strong, then keep it short and sweet when answering the weakness question.
Come Prepared
Even though there is no one right answer to this interview question, it may help if you come prepared with something good based on who you really are. Also, give your weakness a natural positive spin by telling about how you turned some weakness around.
Te best way to answer this question would be to keep it short and specific and try to give it a positive turn.
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Job seekers should know there’s absolutely nothing wrong with briefly outlining a true weakness, especially if it’s a weakness that will not impact their performance in the job they’re applying for.
Example: data entry is not your strongest area, but this job doesn’t require you to perform this task; just tell them you could be stronger in that area.
Question handled.
Another strategy is to turn a weakness into strength – for example, an intolerance of unfinished tasks.
Hope that helps!
Best,
David Portney
Very insightful tip, thank you david
This is my least favorite question of all. I’m never really sure what the interviewer is looking for – which skills have I improved on, what can’t I do, etc. Maybe I am a sucker for semantics, but when I hear this I always want more of an explanation.
I was once asked in an interview, what are your THREE biggest weaknesses? After the first two, I was searching my brain for the next answer. I guess that’s where preparation is handy.