It’s one of the most common interview questions and it’s often the one that candidates struggle with the most. Here’s our advice on handling that difficult question and still having a great chance of landing the job!
Prepare an example
One of the worst answers you can give is “oh I can’t think of anything” or “I don’t think I have any weaknesses” as this sends the wrong message to the recruiter. A candidate who isn’t aware of their own weaknesses can come across as inexperienced or perhaps lacks self awareness, neither of which are good in an interview situation. In preparation for the interview you should think about what your weaknesses are and use our advice to come up with a great answer.
Avoid the clichés
“I’m a perfectionist” or “I work too hard” are the go-to options that you can guarantee a recruiter will have heard a number of times, possibly that day. Answers like this can come across as inauthentic and it might even seem like you’re avoiding answering the question.
Be honest…
The best advice you will ever receive in terms of answering this question is to be honest! Everybody has weaknesses and if you’re unsure what yours are then think about what you struggle with in your current role and the tasks you find most difficult, as this can help you to identify them. For example if you always struggle to meet deadlines and often find yourself overloaded then your weakness might be the ability to delegate.
…but think about the job you’re applying for!
The caveat to being honest is of course to think about the job you are applying for. For example if the role is a management position and your weakness is that you’re naturally shy then you need to think about how to word it so you don’t take yourself out of the running. Also if your weakness is that you’re always late, then again think about how you can word this, for example by focusing on time management skills in general.
Give an example
If you say you’re naturally shy then instantly a hiring manager might imagine you hiding in a corner struggling to speak to your team, which is why examples can be really helpful to demonstrate how your weakness works in practice. You might say, “I’m a naturally shy person so sometimes I get nervous when public speaking, however when it comes to one on one communication I’ve never struggled to build relationships with people”.
Offer a solution
Along with your weakness and example you should offer a solution to the problem, to demonstrate that you’ve worked on your challenges and that you feel that there is a solution. If your weakness is your inability to delegate, you might show how in certain tasks you’ve made a conscious effort to work on that and ways you’ve learnt about your team’s skillset to help build confidence.
Share another point of view
Another way to put a positive spin on your weakness is to see how it’s perceived from someone else’s point of view. For example if your weakness is to avoid confrontation, you might want to share how this has come across to someone else. For example, “My recent supervisor has always seen me as the peacemaker in the department, however if difficult conversations need to be had, even though I find it difficult, I will always have them”.
Address any concerns
When you share your weaknesses it might lead to follow up questions, so be sure to address any concerns by using the examples above to show how it impacts your work and all the different ways you’re working to improve it.
Good luck, we’re sure you’re going to do great!
We recruit across the full spectrum of temporary, interim and permanent positions across Accountancy, Finance and Human Resources. If you’re looking for a role we can help you find the right opportunity. Call 01904 208065 or email admin@optimumrecruitment.co.uk
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