How to Answer Weaknesses in Job Interviews QuestionsDisclosing your weaknesses in job interviews, is a tricky matter… "What
is your greatest Weakness"? "Tell
me about 3 of your work related weaknesses"? "On
your latest performance review – What were the points listed for your
development and improvement"? "What was the
last mistake you made at work"? "When you get one of these type of “Tell me what you’re really bad at” type of questions what should you do"? These can be tough questions when under pressure at a Job Interview for a role you really want. However as with everything else, if you have prepared, these questions are easy, AND give you a great opportunity to put some distance between you and your interviewing competitors. Firstly a few don’t do’s. Don’t try and avoid the question. Don’t say you have no weakness or have never made a mistake- It’s an obvious lie.
Don’t fob the interviewer off with the type of answer that MOST people give. “My biggest weakness is that I am a perfectionist, and can be a little too fussy over my work”. Or any other strength dressed up as a weakness type of answer. Interviewers have heard these answers time and again, and may think you are being dishonest or mark you down for lack of originality. Of coarse the objective is not to divulge any weakness that may cost you the job, or to lie (lies are often easy to spot), there is no need to lie. The secret to handling this type of interview question is in preparing for them, Have a few stock answers prepared and practiced, all ready for your interviewer. The benefits are massive! Technique for answering Weakness related Job Interview QuestionsTime to introduce the STAR method for answering tough questionsThis is the best technique for answering tough interview questions. Quickly read it and return.
Stick to the truth as far as possible, but don’t divulge anything that will jeopardise the role. Now apply these to experience related scenarios, try to use recent examples, and by all means use a schooling example if appropriate. The idea is that if you identify 2 weaknesses, and wrap each into an STAR story. They can be used to answer the different types of weakness interview questions (for example "what weakness was identified in your most recent performance review"?, or "what was the last mistake you made at work"?). Warning – I hope it goes without saying that if you get asked one of the harder questions such as what was the last mistake you made at work – You don’t admit that your accounting error has resulted in the company going bankrupt – hence why you are currently interviewing! Only offer a weakness or mistake that you can turn around and demonstrate a positive outcome in a STAR story. Therefore If we use “easily distracted” as an example. I would not recommend using this as a current weakness from your most recent performance review, but what you could say is… “I used to suffer from a short attention span, and was described as easily distracted by my teachers at school. However my mum taught me how to shield myself away from distractions in order to complete important tasks, and I applied this with the discipline I normally reserved for my sporting training. This dedication enabled me to pass exams and earn my University degree. And now I even get recognised in performance reviews for having a focussed goal achieving personality! Let’s try one more – Too Shy slightly lacking in confidence “My last performance review went very well, and though it would normally be three years before someone of my grade would be considered for a management role, I have been identified as being management potential. However I am perceived as being a little shy, and need to build upon my assertiveness in preparation for the promotion. To this end I have taken on a self funded Management Communications training course, and though I am still learning, I led my first team assignment last week, which went very well, with my boss recognising my improvement in confidence and comunication”
Again
a very real weakness, but the answer not only outlines corrective
action, but also plants the notion that you have been identified as a
potential manager. Work out a few of your own. Good Luck – Though you won't need it! Experts
Guide Interview Skills Check out the best interviewing answers Return
from Weaknesses in Job Interviews to Interview Tips
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