What are your biggest weaknesses?
by Clare Jaques, Monster’s Interview Expert
“I’m easily bored, a bit sloppy and you wouldn’t like to meet me on a morning before I’ve had a coffee – I’m an ogre!”
This is not the place to admit your biggest flaws – or crack jokes.
It’s also not the time to pretend you don’t have any development areas – it would make you look either conceited or unrealistic about your own performance.
So how should you handle this type of question?
Learn how to recognise it
It might not arrive in the format you’re expecting. This is the type of question that has many guises. Rarely is it asked so directly. You need to spot it quickly, so you’re not caught out.
It might sound something like:
· What would your manager miss about you? And what won’t they miss?
· Tell me about a time when a project / objective went badly.
· What do you find most difficult / dislike the most about work?
Being able to identify the question is the first step to giving a compelling answer. When you hear it, take a moment to think about your answer. If you follow steps 2 and 3, you shouldn’t have a problem thinking on your feet.
Prepare before the interview
Top tip: claiming not to have any weaknesses is likely to give the impression that you are arrogant or unable to evaluate your own performance.
So what can you do?
You don’t want to open up and do a full-blown character assassination on yourself. Yet you have to answer the question.
Think about your strengths. This will give you a solid foundation before you think about “weaknesses” and means you’ll avoid the temptation to beat yourself up about not being perfect.
Think about your last appraisal or what your current colleagues would say about you - or even ask your friends. What are some areas you can improve upon? Where do you excel?
As for weaknesses, it's often better to think of them as "development areas", rather than "faults". Are there any areas where you could improve? Be honest with yourself. The employer is looking for proof that you can identify your areas for development and then do something about them.
So you’ll need to admit that you’re not perfect, whilst showing that you are already working on the issues and giving examples of the progress you have made. Have you been on any training courses? Or maybe you’ve taken on a project at work to increase your skills?
It’s usually a good idea to make the “weakness” something small. Avoid major topics such as “organisational skills” or “time management”!
If possible, choose a development area that doesn’t affect your ability to do the job for which you are being interviewed.
What happens if one of your development areas is one of the key strengths required for the role? You’ll need to think laterally, to demonstrate why it won’t be a problem. Or, if it’s a big issue, potentially reconsider why you’re applying for the job.
Learn how to answer it
The key to a good answer to most interview questions is to give examples that back up what you’re saying.
Don’t expect them to take your word for it. If possible, demonstrate how you’re already improving your “weak spot”.
It's also a good idea to turn your “weaknesses” around, to have a positive slant. For example:
"Some people call me impatient. That's because I have drive and enthusiasm to get the job done, but I still make sure I plan and don't miss anything."
Make sure your answer is appropriate to the company and role. The example above would work well for a high-pressured, deadline-driven role. But it would be less appropriate for a job that required someone to studiously follow through the same project for five years.
Following this simple 3-step plan should make answering the dreaded “weaknesses” question much easier. In fact, you’ll be able to take a question that terrifies most candidates and turn it around, to use to your advantage.
Visit Monster's 'Ask the Interviewer' Forum for more tips and to post a question.
Visit Clare’s website, Interview Stuff, for more expert advice and practical tips on job interviews.
