“What are your weaknesses?”

 Chris Wodke

http://www.summittrainingpublications.com/

This loaded question is often asked during interviews and you better be prepared with your answer.   Your answer to this question gives your potential employer insight into your work ethic and character.  As a hiring manager I look for employees who have the self awareness to identify weak areas and take action. Here of some examples of ways to handle this question.

Don’t Say this

I have seen advice given to answer this question by saying things like I am a workaholic or I am too detail oriented. A smart interviewer will see right through that kind of pat answer. Don’t try to turn your weakness into some kind of strength.  Everyone has a weakness. What are you doing about it?

Say this

Identify an area or skill you needed on your last job and what you did to develop it.

“I was not closing as many sales as I needed in my sales position.  I asked my boss to go along on several sales calls. He noticed that I had great rapport with my customers, but I wasn’t asking for the sale. He coached me on some simple techniques I could use. My sales increased by 25% and I became the top sales rep for the region.”

This shows you identified an area you needed improvement and that you were open to coaching to improve.

Or Say this

I am not very detail oriented when it comes to memos and reports. Sometimes I don’t see minor spelling and grammar errors.  I have a co-worker look over any important memos or reports before they go out.  If no one is available I read the material out loud and I found that helps me find errors. This shows how you partnered with someone else to compensate for an identified weakness.

Or this

I found in my position as a Sales Engineer I needed to make a lot of presentations on products for customers.  I never had any experience in public speaking and my nerves really showed.  I joined Toastmasters. I learned how to put together a good presentation and speak in front of an audience with confidence. My boss complimented me on the positive change in my presentations. This shows how you recognized an opportunity and took action.

Copyright 2012 Summit Training Publications

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