If your answer is “I don’t have any weaknesses," then it’s obvious that one of your primary weaknesses is a lack of self-awareness. Being aware of your weaknesses is not the same as being weak. Knowing about and compensating for your weakness is in fact a very important strength.
Look back at times you’ve failed or come up short, and really think about why. Were you too passive? Too bossy? Unprepared? Overextended? For this exercise, write down your weaknesses in very simple and direct terms: “I get distracted too easily. ” “I focus too much on small details. ”
Say something like: “I know it’s a bit awkward, but it would really be helpful if you’d tell me some of my weaknesses, based on your own observations. I promise I won’t get upset!” Also consider taking personality evaluations to reveal weaknesses. Skip personality quizzes in popular magazines and use evaluations by reputable mental health organizations.
It’s a good idea to evaluate your strengths at the same time, especially since job interviewers often ask about both weaknesses and strengths.
However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t “massage the truth” a little to put your best foot forward during a job interview. Don’t say, “I’m lazy,” say, “I sometimes struggle with motivation when I’m not given a clear goal. ”
It should never come as a surprise to be asked “What is your greatest weakness?”, and you should never respond like it’s a surprise. Enter every interview expecting to be asked this question—and practice your answer ahead of time!
For instance, instead of saying, “My greatest weakness is that I’m too much of a perfectionist," try something like, “I sometimes over-analyze my work products, which can cause me to fall behind in other tasks. ”
The interviewer isn’t looking for a deep analysis of the roots of your weaknesses. Instead, they want to see that you’re aware of your weaknesses and trying to address them.
For example: “I sometimes over-analyze my work products, which can cause me to fall behind in other tasks. To avoid that, I set aside a specific amount of time for review. When that time is up, I move to the next task on my list of priorities. ” You’ve now proven that you can not only identify your weaknesses, but develop useful methods to overcome them.
The interviewer might purposely insert a lengthy pause to see what you’ll do. Look them in the eye with a comfortable expression on your face and wait for them to give you feedback. Resist the urge to take their silence as evidence that you’ve messed up the answer and should try again. If they want you to give another weakness, they’ll ask for it!
If you get asked a fourth time, there’s a good way to handle that: “When I do this exercise, maybe once a quarter or so, the list might change from time to time. I limit my focus to three current weaknesses so I don’t become overwhelmed. If you ask me again in June, I might have a different answer for you then. ” Or, if you’re sure that a little humor will work: “My fourth weakness is that I can only keep track of three major weaknesses at once!”
“I don’t take the initiative as much as I’d like. My last job was one in which following orders was very important and improvising was frowned upon. I realized that I gradually shied away from doing things independently for fear of upsetting my boss or undercutting company policy. Moving forward, I realize that most positions, and especially this one, value a degree of initiative. I try to be absolutely clear about the expectations of the project before I start working so that I can attack different angles or follow different leads while still staying on track. ”
“I don’t always manage my time effectively. To tell you the truth, sometimes I get sucked down a rabbit hole and neglect to balance all the other responsibilities of my job. I’m compulsive about getting things right the first time, sometimes at the expense of other tasks. That said, I’m learning how to get better at tying one project up when it looks like I’ll fall behind on another, without using shortcuts or mailing in it. I’m planning ahead, asking appropriate channels for help when necessary, and finding more efficient yet equally effective ways of getting the job done. ”
“I tend to seize a leadership role when it’s not designated to me. Sometimes, this causes tension between me and the project lead, who understandably is trying to do his or her job. I’m learning how to trust people with their own responsibilities, though, because I realize that letting people do their designated jobs makes a team a lot more successful in the long run. I’m focused on becoming a better team player by letting everyone do his or her own job, and helping when necessary. ”
“I talk too much. I’m a very extroverted, sociable person, which means that I have a weakness for not-always-workplace-related interactions. I’m getting better at channeling that extroversion into the right kind of communication. I’m leaving weekend updates for happy hour, and learning how to listen first and speak second, instead of the other way around. I know that I can sometimes drown other voices out, so I’m proactively asking colleagues to cut me off if I go off-topic or start dominating the conversation. ”
“I’m not great at public speaking. I start sweating, fumble my words, and can’t seem to communicate the ideas I’m actively thinking about. However, I understand that being in a group setting is an integral part of this position, and although I’m not perfect at it yet, I feel like I’m improving. I joined a hobbyist’s debate club to improve my exposure to larger crowds. I’m forcing myself to speak up in smaller groups, focusing less on my ego and whether I “did well,” and more on what I communicated and I how I communicated it. ”
“I’m not as organized as I could be. In college, I got by because I could keep my schedule in my head, and I could afford to be wrong once or twice along the way. Moving forward, I know that simple disorganization can produce errors or miscommunications that are unacceptable. I’ve taken to writing down every contact, meeting, and project goal in an online itinerary that I can access anywhere and anytime. I’ve gotten a lot more scrupulous about organizing the things that make my job possible and filing away the ones that don’t. ”
