How to Answer the 'What is Your Weakness' Question in an Interview ...

By Sonya

How to Answer the 'What is Your Weakness' Question in an Interview ...

It’s a question that you always get asked, and for some reason it is a question that every single person tends to struggle with. You are in a job interview and you are trying your best to impress, so what the hell should you say when you get asked what your biggest weakness is? You don’t want to say something stupid and false, and equally you don’t want to say something so serious that it puts you out of the running for the job! Here is how to answer the ‘what is your weakness’ question in an interview.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Please subscribe for your personalized newsletter:

1

Be Honest

The best course of action is always to try to be as honest as possible. Interviewers can tell when you are being sincere, and they can also tell when you are willing to try to work on your weaknesses. If you are bad at math, then let them know that. No flaw like that is something that can never be improved and worked upon! This kind of question is always asked to get a better handle on you as a person, rather than trying to identify or exploit any kind of career-ending flaw!

2

Functional over Personal

Don’t fall into the trap of getting too personal when revealing a weakness, it is always better to keep things on a functional, professional level. Don’t talk about not being able to keep a boyfriend, or being jealous of friend's successes etc. Instead, talk about having to work really hard to be punctual, or sometimes forgetting to proofread work, something smaller scale and work-related like that!

3

Be Selective

If you have a few different weaknesses bouncing around in your head, then always go with the one that is least detrimental to your chances of getting the job. For example, if the job involves shifts later in the day, then you shouldn’t have to worry about telling that them that you struggle with getting up early in the morning! It really pays off to be strategic like that, because you are giving a real answer, but it’s an answer that doesn’t really impact on your suitability for the role.

4

Learning Plan

No matter what you choose to say to them, always make sure that you tie it in to a larger learning plan and journey. Say something along the lines of “I have a tendency to be a little bit of a procrastinator, but it is something that I am really working on and improving every day’. Employers don’t expect people to be perfect human beings, but they do like to hear that you are actively working on positive change.

Related Topics

How to Highlight Your Soft Skills in a Job Application ... Things No One Tells You about Your First Job ... How to Get on the Career Ladder without Experience ... Career Choices That Can Make Positive Changes in the Lives of Others ... Guide to Getting the Best Cover Letter Ever ... How to Write Your First Resume ... How Travel Boosts Your Resume ... living and working in australia Common Mistakes when Starting a Business ... business ventures

Popular Now