When meeting with a hiring manager or human resources, you must avoid offering anything that is ... [+]
In a job interview, it’s essential not to fall into the trap of saying something that can ruin your chances of moving on to the next round. When meeting with a hiring manager or human resources, you must avoid offering anything that is disparaging about yourself that will portray you in a poor light. When asked, one particular question that can feel like you are navigating a landmine is, “What is your greatest weakness?”
When interviewing for new opportunities, you will encounter this question many times throughout your career. You must know how to successfully answer it without blowing your chances.
When crafting your response, ensure your answer relates to work and offers a positive spin. In the same way that you want a reference from a friendly boss who will only provide a glowing recommendation, you must find a weakness that isn’t really a weakness. If you have shortcomings, find a way to demonstrate how you overcame adversity and succeeded. Never offer a weakness in a matter that is crucially important to the job at hand.
What To Say
To make an end run around the question, select a weakness that is irrelevant to the job you're trying to get. For instance, if you are a software developer, it would be okay to admit that you could use some help with social and communication skills. Since most tech managers recognize that top engineers spend their entire lives coding at the cost of not having as many interpersonal interactions, it's an acceptable admission.
You can counter the so-called weakness by asking if the company offers upskilling, so that you can improve your interpersonal skills. Add that you’d like to advance to a leadership position ultimately. It shows that you are self-aware and intelligent enough to take a seemingly innocuous weakness and show the interviewer that you are interested in moving up the corporate ladder at the company, and are not interested in leaving anytime soon.
If you have a weakness related to the job, be open about it. Be honest about what skills, attributes, credentials, accreditations or educational background you lack, and confidently say that you are up for the challenge of learning and growing into the role.
When pressed for a weakness, find things that aren’t really faults, but can adequately answer the question without coming across as you’re being evasive.
Some Examples
- “Sometimes, in my eagerness to help, I take on too many projects at once. From time to time, I realize that I get so engrossed in my work that I lose track of time and need to accomplish the tasks in the evening.”
- If you are a straightforward manager, you may share, “I recognize when I share feedback and constructive criticism with my employees, they may take it the wrong way. I try to counterbalance this by offering psychological safety and applauding their achievements regularly.”
- “There are times when I see my team struggling, and I pick up the slack myself instead of delegating it to others, who are already overwhelmed with work.”
- “My family says that I put in too much time and should cut back. I try to have a good balance of work and life. That is one of the primary reasons why I was attracted to your company because work-life balance is one of your core corporate culture initiatives.”
- “I’ve always been an overachiever in school, sports and work. I notice that putting in all the time and effort, paying attention to detail and reaching for more to do could make my co-workers feel that they are not keeping up. Being empathetic, I always congratulate them on their work product and let them know that we are a team. I just love what I do and am passionate about my job.”
