What is a weakness?

It is possible that, at some point throughout the interview process, you may be asked to discuss both your strengths and flaws on a personal level. There are a lot of people who are applying for jobs who don't know how to respond to this question. However, if you set the stage properly, you may offer hiring managers an honest and thoughtful response that demonstrates both your self-awareness and your professionalism.

Spending some of the time you have before the interview preparing answers to questions like this one is time well spent. Even if you aren't specifically asked about your strengths and weaknesses, scripting out your response to this common question will give you an honest yet compelling description of what you bring to the table and how you wish to grow in the future. This is true even if you aren't asked about your strengths and weaknesses specifically. If you have these talking points prepared in advance, you will be able to respond with assurance to many of the typical interview questions.

In this post, we will go over some instances of strengths and weaknesses, and we will also offer some advice on how to be ready for your answer.

Compilation of advantages and disadvantages

Examples of existing strengths

If you aren't sure what your strengths are, you might ask some of your friends or coworkers what they think your finest characteristics are and see what they say. Consider looking at any written comments that were left for you by colleagues or superiors in the past.

The following are some instances of strengths:

Action-oriented/entrepreneurial

Attentive/detail-oriented

Collaborative

Committed/dedicated

Creative

Determined

Disciplined/focused

Empathetic

Enthusiastic/passionate/driven

Flexible/versatile

Honest

Innovative

Patient

Respectful

Examples of areas of weakness

Because we all have flaws, but we don't want to confess them, it's better to start with the truth while answering the question, and then work backwards to write the script. Choose an answer that a person in charge of recruiting would not believe to be a necessary quality or talent for the job, as well as attributes that you are working to improve.

The folowing are some instances of weaknesses:

Disorganized

Self-critical/sensitive

Perfectionism (notice that this may be a strength in many positions; however, you should make sure that you have an example of how perfectionism can be an issue in order to indicate that you've thought extensively about this attribute)

Lacking confidence or ability in public speaking

Confrontational (note: similarly to perfectionism, this can be a strength)

Insufficient training and experience in a skill that is not needed (especially if obvious on your resume)

Not proficient at distributing duties

Accept an excessive amount of responsibility

Neither attentive to nor preoccupied with details

Not comfortable taking chances

Too concentrated / not focused enough

"Which of your flaws do you consider to be your greatest?" replies given as examples

It is possible that you may be asked about both your strengths and shortcomings in the same question, although it is also possible that you will be questioned about them separately. In the case that you are questioned about both your strengths and shortcomings at the same time, it is best to begin by discussing your flaws so that you may conclude on a more upbeat tone.

When addressing your shortcomings, it is helpful to rely on instances that relate to either your skills/habits or your personality qualities. It is possible that you may need to make a decision on which of these aspects to emphasize based on the kind of job for which you are applying. For instance, if you're applying for a technical employment, talking about your habits and skills might be quite useful. Your potential employer may be more interested in learning about your personality qualities if they are hiring for a position in sales or customer service. There is no one option that is categorically better or worse. You should reread the job description to get some indications about the factors that could be most important for this particular function.

The formula for your solution is straightforward and looks like this: To begin, please mention your area of weakness. Second, provide some extra information as well as a particular instance or narrative that illustrates how this quality has shown itself in your professional life. Because of this backdrop, prospective employers will have a better understanding of your degree of self-awareness and dedication to the advancement of your professional career. You'll find several sample responses down below, each of which includes a context phrase that follows the flaw in italics:

Self-criticism is one example of a human failing.

"I have a tendency to be very critical of myself. Even though, from an outside perspective, I have been successful in my job, I often have the feeling that I might have done even better. This is a trend that I have seen throughout my professional life. In the earlier stages of my profession, this led to exhaustion and negative internal dialogue. One of the solutions that I've put into practice over the last three years is to consciously stop what I'm doing and celebrate my successes. Not only has this benefited my personal sense of self-worth, but it has also helped me actually appreciate and acknowledge my team as well as any other support systems that I have.

A second example of a weakness would be a lack of confidence.

"Shyness comes easily to me. It held me back from speaking out all the way through high school and into my early encounters in the corporate world. After being a member of a workgroup for two consecutive quarters that fell short of our strategic objectives, I realized that I owed it to both my team and to myself to present my views in a self-assured manner. I decided to take an improv acting class since I heard it was entertaining and would help people overcome their shyness. I gained hands-on experience in facilitating conversations and listening to a variety of points of view. Now, if I am in a scenario with many people, I always begin the discussion with the individuals who are the most reserved. When individuals finally open up about how they really feel, it's astonishing what they may reveal about themselves.

Example number three: having problems with question-asking

By default, I convince myself that I am capable of resolving any issue on my own. This is effective in certain circumstances, but in most instances, I need the assistance of other people to triumph over challenges posed by elements that are beyond of my control. One time throughout the course of the previous year, I was in charge of directing a client event that included a great deal of coordination. It wasn't until after the event that I understood how close I came to failing, but I was able to come through. I was attempting to keep track of everything, from the overarching strategy to the minutest details, such as how the tables should be laid. Following that, I engaged in a significant amount of introspection. Since then, I've been making it a point to give myself some space before jumping headfirst into the process of problem-solving and to make a list of individuals or organizations that might serve as resources for me.

Example number four of a weakness: a lack of experience

"I am not acquainted with the most recent version of [insert the name of a program that is not mission-critical]. Instead, I have been concentrating on [insert name of favored software] due to the fact that user-centered design has developed into one of my primary areas of interest. My experience in my most recent work has shown me that this is the best environment for my professional development.

Example of Weakness No. 5: Putting Things Off

"I've never been good at getting things done on time. When I was younger, I rationalized that it wasn't such a horrible habit since the only person I was stressing out was myself. However, while I was working for XYZ Company some years ago, I participated in a group project that allowed me to witness how the tension that I caused by putting things off until the last minute was transferred to the other members of the team. It was a jolt to the system. I stopped the habit by putting out daily plans that my team may use to keep me responsible for my actions. Using the Agile approach was a genuine breakthrough in both my productivity and my thinking, despite the fact that it was challenging at initially.

Example number six: the need to be perfect

Because I have a tendency to be a perfectionist, I often get bogged down in the particulars of a job, which may put the deadline in jeopardy. When I was just starting out in my profession and working for ABC Inc., precisely same occurrence took place. Because of the amount of effort I put into the details, my boss became anxious when I came dangerously close to missing the deadline for delivering my deliverables. Back then, the lesson was one that I had to learn the hard way, but I did. Nowadays, I constantly keep in mind how the actions I do will impact both my team and my management. I've learnt how to strike a balance between doing a great job, doing a very excellent one, and getting things done on time.

Example of a weakness 7: having trouble in a particular field of competence

"When I was in school, mathematics was not one of my stronger subjects. To tell you the truth, when I was a student, I didn't see how any of this would apply to my life when I was an adult. However, after just a few years of being in the working world, I came to the conclusion that I wanted to steer my professional life in a path that was more analytical. I didn't know where to start at first, but eventually I discovered some free online classes that let me brush up on the fundamentals that were most essential to me. With the help of this new foundation, I was able to define and monitor my own professional goals at the most recent position I had. In point of fact, overcoming the math fear I had from when I was younger has been a really empowering experience.

Obviously, you will need to modify the examples that were given above in accordance with your own areas of weakness as well as the methods in which you are modifying and bettering yourself.

"Which of your qualities do others admire most about you?" replies given as examples

In interviews, many individuals find it unexpectedly challenging to speak about the positive aspects of their character and experience. Finding a happy medium between being humble and projecting an air of self-assurance may be difficult. As is the case with weaknesses, you often have the option of selecting either skills/habits or personality characteristics. When deciding which of your skills to highlight, the job description might serve as a useful guide. Stick to the tried-and-true approach of "strength plus context plus tale." When giving context for your talents, be sure to mention the unique attributes that set you apart as a candidate and make you qualified for the position you're applying for.

Example of strength 1: the ability to exercise leadership

"I've always had a natural tendency to take the lead. I have more than ten years of expertise in finance and sales, and I have surpassed my key performance indicators (KPIs) every single quarter. As a result, I have been promoted twice in the last five years. When I think back on my accomplishments, I realize that I wouldn't have been able to attain them if I hadn't developed and managed teams that were comprised of people with a wide range of skills and experiences. I'm very pleased of my ability to persuade different departments to agree on the same direction. I have consistently improved my management skills by participating in 360-degree evaluations and frank sessions with my team, and I am aware that one of the things I want from my future work is to continue to develop my leadership abilities.

Example of strength 2: the ability to collaborate with others

"I've always liked to work in groups since I'm quite good at collaborating with others. In the project teams that I've supervised, the members collaborate with a wide range of individuals and are inspired to do a variety of creative work. Over the last three years, since I took over management of my current team, I've been able to achieve a 15% improvement in productivity while also achieving a 25% increase in employee retention.

Example strength 3: interpersonal skills

"I am a compassionate person who is adept at connecting to others and making them feel as if they have been heard. One of the most noteworthy things that happened to me this year was when I was on a support call with a client whose contract had been ended by our company. The reinstatement of the service agreement would have resulted in significant increases to her charges. Because she could not afford to go without auto insurance for herself or her family, she was naturally unhappy. She also felt as if she was imprisoned. Despite the fact that it became immediately apparent that we were unable to fulfill her requirements, I was adamant that she leave with a positive opinion of the service that we had offered. I walked her through some of her other available choices and even made her aware of some other service providers who may be able to supply her with a reduced cost in order for her to avoid a gap in her coverage. In the follow-up survey that we sent her after that conversation, she noted very precisely that she would still be promoting our services to others she knew. Throughout the course of my career in customer service, I've been a part of a number of encounters much like this one; they're complicated, but they always leave the consumer with a great impression.

Exemplification of the fourth strength: technical skills (software)

"I can't stop thinking about how much better the latest version of [insert name of new program] is. As soon as it was available to the public, I got to work exploring its capabilities to their fullest extent. I am really enthusiastic about the opportunity to put my skills and interests to use in this role and to help your organization push the boundaries of this program.

An illustration of strength 5: technical abilities (writing)

"My writing talents are among the strongest in the whole class. I have eight years of experience as a copywriter, during which time I have worked in a variety of businesses. When it comes to my work, I am dedicated to both creative quality and performance metrics. I've had to educate myself on how to strike the ideal balance between that creativity and analytics, and it's a particular interest of mine to show what excellent writing can do for a company's bottom line, whether it be in advertising or elsewhere.

Example of the sixth strength: perseverance

"I am meticulous and dogged in my pursuit. When I'm working on a project, I make sure to pay attention to every little detail. Because I have a thorough grasp of the components, I am able to recognize the basics and zealously push for them to fulfill the deadlines. This is something that is consistently reflected in the feedback that I get from both my peers and my management.

Organizational Abilities Are an Example of Strength No. 7

"I have never been late for a deadline. I am very well organized, and I have integrated my natural talent for arranging both people and tasks into every facet of my professional life and responsibilities. After working as a project manager for the last seven years, I've only had one instance of a late product launch. That event, which took place three years ago, taught me an important lesson about the need of making sacrifices in certain situations. As a result of the time I spent addressing an essential design need, the timing of everything else was delayed. I wouldn't give the knowledge that I gained from that experience for the world, and one of the most important takeaways was the need of keeping stakeholders informed about impending challenges.

Tips to prepare your answer

As you prepare an answer for this interview question, it is important to keep the following extra guidelines in mind:

Avoid being excessively modest or thinking less of yourself than you should.

Do concentrate on one or two important traits that are associated closely with the position.

Don't list multiple, unclear strengths

Be sure to back up your response with examples that are precise and pertinent.

You should avoid being conceited, exaggerating your accomplishments, and fibbing about your skills.

Be sure that your qualifications align with the job description and that they distinguish you from other candidates.

When you take the time to prepare a meaningful answer to what is often considered to be one of the most feared interview questions, you can construct a one-of-a-kind tale about who you are and where you want to go in the future. As you prepare your replies, you should reframe your shortcomings as difficulties that you've already conquered and your strengths as the reasons why you're a good match for the position.