"What's your greatest weakness?" is the Interview question that no one ever quite knows how to prepare to answer.
This single question has the power to determine in one swift blow whether you are a potential asset or a liability to a prospective employer. Luckily, there is a solution prepare in advance for this dreaded question.
The Smart Two-Part Answer:
Notice in the example answers below, each answer has two parts:
1. The confession of the weakness, and...
2. The recovery how you managed yourself to minimise the impact of the weakness, or (more risky) the plan you have for recovery.
Be sure to present these weaknesses in terms of how they impact the employer.
Picking Your Best Weakness
You want to position yourself effectively within the interview and need to match positive answers with positive tone of voice and body language.
When you prepare for this question, you will want to pick a weakness that does one of three things:
The weakness is a strength in disguise, or...
Present a current strength as a recovered weakness, or...
The weakness represents an irrelevant weakness.
Be sure that this weakness does not hinder your ability to do the job or to fit in with the employer.
The "Strength in Disguise" Weakness Example
This single question has the power to determine in one swift blow whether you are a potential asset or a liability to a prospective employer. Luckily, there is a solution prepare in advance for this dreaded question.
The Smart Two-Part Answer:
Notice in the example answers below, each answer has two parts:
1. The confession of the weakness, and...
2. The recovery how you managed yourself to minimise the impact of the weakness, or (more risky) the plan you have for recovery.
Be sure to present these weaknesses in terms of how they impact the employer.
Picking Your Best Weakness
You want to position yourself effectively within the interview and need to match positive answers with positive tone of voice and body language.
When you prepare for this question, you will want to pick a weakness that does one of three things:
The weakness is a strength in disguise, or...
Present a current strength as a recovered weakness, or...
The weakness represents an irrelevant weakness.
Be sure that this weakness does not hinder your ability to do the job or to fit in with the employer.
The "Strength in Disguise" Weakness Example
Choosing Your Best Weakness:
Regardless of what strategy you use, your ultimate goal is to present an answer that doesn't damage your potential for the position.
If you are not sure if you are picking a negative weakness, review the criteria for the position, and put yourself in the shoes of the employer to consider what you would like to hear and what you would think was negative.
Take time to practice difficult answers like this with a partner until you feel comfortable so that you will sound natural and confident in the interview.