Finally, your hard work paid off and you made it to the threshold of your dream job. Your resume rocked and your phone interview sounded promising. Now all that’s left is the interview with the hiring manager. Even though you have thoroughly prepared for the behavioral and technical interview questions, what’s nagging you on the eve of the interview is every interviewer’s favorite question, “What are your weaknesses?”
There is tremendous strength in every weakness. And every recruiter perfectly understands that you would have your share of weaknesses since you are human. Recruiters ask this question to get a better understanding of your adaptability, your introspectiveness and also the way you present your flaws in a positive light. There are plenty of ways you could answer this question that will help you prove your worth as a potential candidate. Read on to find a collection of remarkable answers to the universal favorite, “What are your weaknesses?”
Addressing Your Weaknesses
1. Impatience
How to address “impatience” as your weakness:
“I am not very patient when working in a group. I’m extremely independent and it can be a challenge when I have to depend on others to finish my task. This is why I’ve opted for positions that require people to be able to work on their own. However, I’ve also tried to correct this weakness by attending team-building seminars. Although I usually work on my own it’s equally important that I trust my colleagues and seek assistance whenever needed.”
Here you are highlighting impatience as your weakness especially when working in a team. But you are also pointing out that it does not hinder your ability to succeed as a team member. Furthermore, you exhibit enthusiasm about improving yourself and creating strategies that address your weaknesses, which is a crucial ability to have in the workplace.
2. Disorderly
How to address “disorderly” as your weakness:
“I struggle while trying to be orderly. Although it hasn’t affected the way I perform, it has been apparent that my messy desk and overflowing inbox could in one way or the other hinder my productivity. I have learned to make time for myself to manage my digital and physical space. I’ve noticed a considerable improvement in my productivity as a result.”
Many individuals have messy workspaces. Here you are acknowledging that your weakness towards disorderliness isn’t a hindrance to your ability in completing your job. Yet you recognize that it can cause you to be less productive and readily mention the corrective measures taken towards self-improvement. Mentioning this weakness indicates a tremendous amount of self-awareness and maturity.
3. Ineffective Delegation
How to address “ineffective delegation” as your weakness:
“I’m an extremely self-motivated individual. So, it’s natural that I have a hard time trying to hand over responsibility to others when I think I’m capable of completing the task myself in half the time. However, when I got promoted to a managerial post, it became imperative that I learn how to delegate tasks. In order to ensure that I had control over the process flow, I set up an organizational system for supervising the project development. This system helped me enhance my ability to delegate effectively.”
This will allow you to show your ability to develop any new skills when a job requires it. It also shows that you’re flexible which is essential to long-term growth. In addition, you’ll be in a position to demonstrate a level of leadership and initiative it took to implement the new method that helped you to excel in the previous job despite your weakness.
4. Apprehension
How to address “apprehension” as your weakness:
“Oftentimes I’m quite apprehensive about giving feedback to my colleagues or managers lest they misunderstand my intention or harbor negative feelings towards me. However, in my most recent position, a colleague requested me to edit his writing and provide feedback on areas for improvement. After my interaction with him, I learned that feedback can be helpful and positive when offered in the right spirit. Since then, I’ve become much better in offering constructive feedback and I’ve come to realize that empathy could be utilized to my advantage while providing constructive, thoughtful feedback.”
In general, being apprehensive or timid is considered a major weakness in the workplace, specifically when a job requires someone to give feedback to other employees. By mentioning this weakness, you can demonstrate that your apprehensive nature could be transformed through practical experience.
5. Frank and Upfront
How to address “frank and upfront” as your weakness:
“My direct, simple nature has helped me be successful throughout my career as a team leader because I can accomplish tasks quickly and my employees generally are impressed by my transparency. But I’ve realized that my bluntness does not always serve my team members while giving feedback. In order to address this, I’ve been working to build empathy and stronger relationships with those I supervise. At the same time, I have completed an online course on servant leadership and worked closely with the instructor to help me develop my capacity to give feedback.”
Sometimes, aspects of our personalities could assist us in specific areas of our job and hinder us in others. That’s natural. But you have to demonstrate the ability to identify how your personality can interfere with the tasks of your role and then figure out how to overcome that. In this instance, you explain why your blunt nature makes it possible for you to succeed when faced with certain circumstances. You then explain that you realize your lack of sensitivity could be perceived as an absence of empathy. You also give examples of your efforts to address the issue. Your understanding of how you will appear to others indicates your level of emotional awareness which is an essential quality for a leader.
Intelogik makes career dreams come true for job seekers as well as recruiters. While job seekers benefit from Intelogik career accelerator program along with the coaching services from industry leaders employed at FAANG companies, recruiters join hands with Intelogik to empower their hiring strategy and zero in on the best candidates. Learn more about Intelogik here and reach out to us on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
