For me, the most dreaded question in an interview was always answering what my weaknesses were. There was literally never an easy way to address it.
Honestly it’s a catch 22: either you share something that’s a blatant weakness and scare them away or you say it backhandedly and not really answer the question.
Throughout college I would ask career advisors and hiring managers speaking in my classes about the best way to answer it. Generally speaking, not even they had the secret sauce to be successful in this scenario.
There were three schools of thought I usually heard. Number one was to answer with a weakness that wasn’t really a weakness, such as being a perfectionist, being too organized, being too dedicated to work, etc. This always seemed like a cop out to me - answering the question without really answering it.
Number two was to name something you used to be weak at but weren’t anymore because of steps you already took to overcome it. For example, you used to be weak at time management but after implementing blocks in your schedule dedicated to certain tasks, you’ve greatly improved. While better, this never seemed to really answer the question either.
Number three was to just be honest. While honesty is the best policy in any situation, this usually has a tendency of going horribly wrong. Admitting to weaknesses such as being disorganized, not showing up on time, being prone to distractions, etc. generally doesn’t inspire confidence in your ability to be a good employee.
If you manage to find an actual weakness you possess that isn’t any cause for concern, then by all means use that. I don’t think I’ve done near enough self-reflection for that one yet…
Very recently I came across some videos posted by J.T. O’Donnell, a career coach, that may have saved us all the next time we’re asked this. In order to address this effectively, brace yourself for some effective interview prep beforehand.
Before your interview, dive deep into the job description for the role you applied to. In the job description, there should be a list of requirements, top skills, qualifications, etc.
Evaluate those requirements and skills with your own, and use that to your advantage when discussing weaknesses. Talk through this with them too.
An example on how to say this: “When looking through the role, I noticed A, B, C, and D were the key skills the ideal candidate should possess and ranked myself and my abilities comparatively. Through my experience at XYZ company, I gained experience and valuable tenure in skills A, B, and C. While I have some experience in skill D (give example), I understand that I could improve those skills in this particular way (show how). Through this opportunity, I felt that I could vastly improve this skill while adding value to your company.” Feel free to use examples to drive home the point as well.
In the grand scheme of things, the interviewer will likely already have a sense of where you’re strong and where you miss in terms of the role. By answering this question in this way, you get the chance to write that narrative rather than have it assumed or written for you. This way the question is turned into areas you feel you can improve rather than just blatant weaknesses.
In the end, you’re still putting a slight spin on the question. By effectively addressing areas you can improve while demonstrating the value you can bring, you’re well on your way to acing the test.
What are some interview questions that stump you?
This article is my own and does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of TEKsystems.
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