what to say as your weakness in a job interview

Are you prepared to discuss your weaknesses during a job interview? One of the trickiest interview questions to answer is, "What is your greatest weakness?" This question is challenging because information technology's easy to answer in a fashion that comes off as dishonest ("I have no weaknesses!") or disqualifying ("I am bad at this one skill that's an accented must-accept for this job.")

At that place are ways to respond effectively and strategies you tin can use to best answer the question, and so the weaknesses you mention don't impact your chance of getting the job.

Why Interviewer Enquire About Weaknesses

So why do hiring managers ask this question during job interviews? In short, considering they can't get a complete picture of you equally a candidate past only talking almost your strengths.

In addition to learning nigh what you can do, the interviewer wants to know about what y'all can't do, or what yous have difficulty with on the job.

How you lot answer will also help the interviewer understand how well you know yourself, every bit well every bit whether you would be a adept fit for the office. It likewise shows the interviewing that you know that nobody is perfect, and that yous're willing to piece of work to improve your skills and excel.

How to Answer Interview Questions Nigh Weaknesses

What should you talk about when you're asked what you can meliorate? Weaknesses are catchy to talk about, so you demand to be careful when sharing examples of yours. Yous don't desire to knock yourself out of contention for the job because the interviewer thinks y'all're non qualified. Yous also don't desire to come across equally too big-headed and perfect, because almost nobody is.

You do desire your answer to be honest, simply as positive as possible. Be conscientious when you answer questions about weaknesses (and strengths), and you'll be able to evidence how you're a good fit for the task.

Focus on steps you are taking to improve on your weaknesses, and avoid mentioning weaknesses in skills that are important for the job.

If you think carefully nearly the job alee of time and prepare an answer, you will be able to remain positive while nonetheless existence honest.

The Residuum

Listing of Weaknesses

What are the best weaknesses to mention during an interview? There are different categories of weaknesses that you can choose from when answering interview questions about your shortcomings.

However, do not cull a weakness at random. Instead, make sure the 1 you select is not critical to the chore, and mention in your interview the means you programme to improve upon this weakness.

Difficult Skills

You might mention a hard skill as your weakness. Hard skills are job-specific abilities that are easily quantifiable. They are developed through school and other forms of grooming. Examples of hard skills include computer skills, finance, mathematics, and more.

If y'all decide to mention a difficult skill, brand sure it is non a skill necessary for the job.

If it is a skill that is like shooting fish in a barrel to larn, yous might also mention that you are currently developing that skill (or that you plan to develop that skill). For instance, if you say your weakness is a particular software program, you might say that you lot are currently taking an online course on how to utilize the program (of course, only say this if it is truthful).

Some examples of difficult skills you might mention when answering an interview question about your weaknesses are:

• Advanced mathematics
• Creative writing
• Fiscal literacy
• Foreign languages (or 1 particular foreign language)
• A detail software package
• Spelling

Soft Skills

Soft skills are important for almost every job. Dissimilar hard skills, these are skills that are hard to quantify. They encompass your personality traits, your communication abilities, and your social skills.

While they are of import, you could pick out i soft skill to mention as a weakness. But make sure information technology is not necessary for the job, and emphasize how yous are working on improving that skill.

Some soft skills you might mention when answering questions nigh your weaknesses include:

• Inventiveness (many jobs don't require inventiveness)
• Delegating tasks (if you lot're non in a management office, you won't need to delegate)
• Humor (it's fine if you're not funny)
• Spontaneity (you piece of work better when prepared)
• Organization
• Patience
• Taking too many risks
• Beingness too honest

Interpersonal Skills

You might mention a weakness that relates to your ability to collaborate with others. Of course, you want to make sure yous don't come across as someone who can't work well with co-workers. Choice one specific issue you struggle with, and so talk about how you have worked to improve on this type of interaction. Examples of interpersonal skills you might mention as weaknesses include:

• Confrontation
• Covering for co-workers
• Expecting too much from colleagues
• Expressing also much frustration with underperforming staff or colleagues
• Presenting to large groups
• Public speaking
• Being too critical of other people'south piece of work
• Likewise easily internalizing the bug of clients
• Being besides sensitive

Work Ethic

You don't want to say that your weakness is that yous "piece of work too difficult." This will encounter as insincere. Notwithstanding, yous might explain how you do certain things in excess at work. This will show that yous work difficult, simply it volition exist a more honest answer. Examples of weaknesses related to your work ethic might include:

• Leaving projects unfinished
• Providing likewise much detail in reports
• Shifting from one project to some other (multitasking)
• Taking credit for group projects
• Taking on too many projects at one time
• Taking on likewise much responsibility
• Existence too detail-oriented
• Beingness too much of a perfectionist
• Besides much procrastination (equally long as you still meet all your deadlines)
• Being too helpful to others
• Working too many hours

Academics

Y'all tin also refer to an academic skill or ability every bit a weakness. This is a especially adept thought if you lot are at to the lowest degree a few years out of schoolhouse, because then the employer can evaluate you on your work experience rather than your academics.

Of course, don't highlight an bookish weakness that is directly relevant to the job. For example, if you are applying for a job as an engineer, don't say your weakness is a detail applied science course. Some examples of weaknesses related to academics include:

• Coursework (a particular course you struggled with)
• Essay writing (be certain to emphasize your strength in other forms of writing)
• Existence overly involved in on-campus activities (if a educatee or recent graduate)
• Spending too much fourth dimension on schoolhouse assignments
• Standardized tests

What to Say During an Interview

Focus on qualities non necessary for the job. When you consider which weaknesses to mention in an interview, go on in heed that you should focus on qualities that are non central to the requirements of the chore for which you are interviewing. For case, if you are applying for a task in accounting, you don't desire to say your weakness is mathematics.

Keep information technology positive. It's important to attempt and remain positive. You lot might also explain how your weakness could be seen equally a positive in the chore. For example, beingness very detailed oriented is an asset for many positions.

While information technology might seem incommunicable to do this in a question about weaknesses, all you lot accept to do is to simply avoid using negative words like "weak" and "failure."

Emphasize your plan of action. You lot should explain how you are overcoming (or program to overcome) your weakness. It is particularly useful when your weakness is a hard skill that can be hands learned. You might even phrase your answer as, "Ane skill I am currently working on…"

Share your strengths. As well as being prepared to mention weaknesses, it's important to discuss the strengths that qualify you for the chore during the interview. It's also essential to exercise your best to sell your qualifications to the interviewer, and then you're a strong contender for a chore offer.

Be honest. Finally, while you want to be positive, you should also be honest. Answers similar, "I don't have any flaws" will come across every bit insincere.

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Source: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/list-of-weaknesses-2063805

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