3 Smart Ways to Answer the Dreaded Weaknesses Question

Appearing for interviews is nerve-wracking for most people, however well prepared they may be. The stress and tension is amplified manifold when you really need that job - which is the case nowadays owing to the recession and the ripples it created. Hence, when the interviewer asks you to "Tell me about your weaknesses," you might just freeze with indecision.

	Membership to Hound gives you instant access to over 70,000 employer jobs. Enter your email address below to become a Houndie. Email Address (Used as your profile ID)

The answer is not easy. If you name a real weakness, it might cost you the job; if you camouflage it as a strength you might come across as a fake and you might lose the job again. So, what should you do? Fortunately, there are many ways to come out of this impasse as a winner:

1. State a Weaknesses That You Have Already Overcome - You can say something like, "I have always found it hard to delegate work for I need to stay in control of everything. However, after a lot of effort I am learning to let go and am becoming a better supervisor and team player. It is not as hard as before. I am actually working better and achieving better results because of this." This will show that you are aware of your flaws and are willing to work to rectify them - which is a big plus point anywhere you go.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Show That You Found an Adequate Solution - Show your weakness and its solution by saying, "I am a klutz with math. However, since my job invariably has me working with numbers I learned to use appropriate tools - now I carry a calculator with me all the time and I learned to use Excel for the project work." This shows once again that you recognize that you have a weakness and though you cannot improve on that, you found a way around it. This will show that you are not stopped by obstacles; and that you are smart enough to succeed in your work.
   
   
3. Say it as it Is - Sometimes it is okay to put all your cards on the table. For example, let us say the job required X years experience and you do not have it. Say, "I am aware that my weakness here is that I have less or no experience in XYZ field. However, I trust you will agree with me that everyone starts somewhere. I am confident that my diligence, ability to learn on my feet and hard work will very soon overcome this weakness."

See the following articles for more information:

• 21 Major Interview Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs
  
• The Best Way to Prepare for a Job Search and Interviews
  
• How to Talk About Other Interviews in Your Interviews
  
• How to Answer the Tell Me About Yourself Interview Question
  
• How to Answer the Do You Have Any Questions for Me Interview Question

 Create Job Alert   |    Email to Friend   |