what is the best way to answer what are your weaknesses

Westchapeau are your weaknesses?

Yes, the dreaded job weaknesses interview question.

The last thing yous ever desire to do at an interview - tell the interviewer that y'all are bad at something.

You already feel like puking. And now, y'all have to make yourself look skillful while discussing how you lot're terrible at something.

And no, you tin't pretend like you have no professional (or personal) weaknesses. Y'all're a puny human.

You lot've got to own up to that.

Good news. You tin reply the "what are your weaknesses" job interview question without sabotaging yourself.

And - hint - information technology does Non involve pretending that beingness a perfectionist is a personal weakness.

This article will show yous:

• What an interviewer wants to hear when they inquire for a list of weaknesses.
• How to answer the "what are your weaknesses" task interview question.
• The all-time "what are your weaknesses" example answers.

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If y'all are looking for more guides to get set for your interview, bank check these:

• How to Reply Why Do Y'all Desire to Piece of work Here
• How to Set up for a Phone Interview
• Common Interview Questions and Answers

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ane

What Are Your Weaknesses? Here's What You're Being Asked

What does the interviewer want to find out by asking the "what are your weaknesses" question?

Here'south a little secret. Information technology's about how you reply, non what y'all answer.

The interviewer is looking for three qualities:

• Cocky-awareness

Correct
An ideal candidate won't deny that they have real weaknesses. Just the weakness they cull won't interfere with the duties of the job in question. Yes, I have a couple of weaknesses. My biggest weakness is my inability to work well on a team. That's why I became a truck driver. I get to spend nigh of my time alone.

Wrong
Some candidates volition hear the "what are your weaknesses" question and freeze. They panic and deny that they have whatsoever. Denial is ane of the worst mistakes yous can make. Weaknesses? What weaknesses? Y'all mean me? You must exist kidding! I don't have any.

• Honesty

The 2d worst mistake? Lying.

Right

An ideal candidate won't prevarication near their weaknesses. Choose a real weakness and talk about the steps you're taking to address it. I'one thousand not very good at gauging how long a task will take me to finish. I quite often underestimate the fourth dimension it will take to do smaller jobs. The result is that I don't delegate enough time to larger, more important projects. I accept to rush to get things done. Sometimes I miss deadlines. To address the issue, I've started taking time management courses at my local customs higher.

Wrong
Disguising a strength as a weakness. What are my weaknesses? Well, for one affair, I'm such a perfectionist. Everything has to exist perfect. Non to mention I'thousand a definite workaholic. Plus, I'm obsessive about organization. Everything has to be perfect and in place. It's super annoying.

Okay, for a long fourth dimension we were all trained to reply this way. Now, interviewers know that information technology'southward a way of avoiding the question. Over again, they'll wonder what you lot're hiding.

• Self-improvement

Right

An important role of your "what are your weaknesses" answer is showing self-comeback. You should include details about the steps you're taking to larn a skill or right a weakness. I take two greatest weaknesses. The start is my inability to share responsibilities. The 2nd is remaining patient during group projects. I want to exist in command. I don't trust others with work I know I can do meliorate. So, if I take to share a task, I lose my patience when I suspect that the other person isn't doing information technology right. I've discussed these weaknesses with my supervisor equally areas I'd like to improve. We've prepare a timeline and goals for me to achieve. I've enrolled in several squad building workshops and a volunteer group. I'm learning to let go and trust others. My supervisor complimented me on my progress.

Incorrect

Y'all are non confessing your sins or discussing childhood traumas with a therapist. So, don't talk almost your greatest weakness of all fourth dimension and so wait for mercy. I hate animals. I detest animals so much that I yell at my sister'southward domestic dog when she isn't around to hear it. I don't know why I hate animals then much. I suspect that it comes from the fourth dimension when a seagull ate my taco. That bird swooped down and ate a taco out of my manus. I've never been the same since. I don't know what to do nearly it.

Don't be weird. Don't be too candid. Don't over-confess. Forget about your aversion to animals, and don't talk about how you lot miss piece of work considering you tin't go out of bed.

Here are other ways the interviewer might enquire the "what are your weaknesses" question:

• What is your weakness?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• What is your biggest weakness?
• What are some of your weaknesses?
• What are your weakest areas?
• What are your weakest skills?
• What do you consider to be your weaknesses?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What would your current dominate say is your weakest area?
• Tell me about a fourth dimension you failed.
• Describe a difficult work situation and what yous did to overcome it.

Some of the variations allow you to answer with a display of strength. Don't waste the opportunity.

Pro Tip: Remember, the interviewer cares less about what you answer and more about how you answer. The "what are your weaknesses" question is designed to put you on the spot.

Strengths and weaknesses go hand in hand. Need help identifying your strengths? Read our guide: " How to Reply the "What Are Your Strengths?" Interview Question (Examples) " and List of Summit Strengths to Put on a Resume

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2

How to Reply the What Are Your Weaknesses Job Interview Question [Job Interview Weaknesses List]

How are you supposed to come up with a list of weaknesses in the first identify?

And yeah, yous'll want to make a listing of your job weaknesses in accelerate. Plus, you'll want to gear up yourself so you can talk about most of them if necessary.

That's considering the interviewer may offset with:

What is your greatest weakness?

And follow upwards with:

What are some other weaknesses?

Showtime, expect at this:

Here is a list of common professional person skills you lot can mention when answering questions about your weaknesses during a job interview:

• Teamwork
• Fourth dimension management
• Sharing responsibility
• Patience
• Focus
• Shyness
• Organization skills
• Sitting withal
• Writing skills
• Overtalking
• Delegating tasks
• Sense of humor
• Presenting to public
• Public speaking
• Speaking too honestly
• Spontaneity (y'all don't similar to work unprepared)
• Multitasking
• Command of a particular foreign linguistic communication.

Just you should also come upward with your ain, customized listing of personal and professional weaknesses that you can apply to further inform your answer. Here's how to exercise it:

Showtime by request yourself the following:

• Is at that place a job or work-related skill that I don't like to do or don't do well?
• Was there a fourth dimension that I failed at work?
• Was there a time that I failed at work and corrected information technology?
• Did my supervisor ever point out that I needed to work on something and and then praise me when I corrected information technology?
• Did anyone e'er criticize me for working in a particular style?
• Did I e'er have any academic weaknesses? Was at that place annihilation problematic for me when I was studying?

Remember, the best answer to the "what are your weaknesses" question should have 2 parts:

• The weakness.
• What yous're doing to correct it.

And so, when you make a list of weaknesses, try to come up with those that you've worked hard to correct.

Next, go to your job offer. What skills can you discover?

Here'due south an example of a job offer for a Server at a restaurant:

Find the skills:

• Show up on time every day.
• Works well under pressure.
• Ability to stay professional.
• Ability to piece of work in a fast-paced, squad environment.
• Has a positive, bubbly, and friendly attitude.
• Can pay attention to particular, speed, accuracy, follow-through, and multitasking.
• Tin learn and retain information.
• Practiced listening skills and the power to follow instructions.

Look at your list.

Your answer to the what are your weaknesses question is the but time you'll desire to avoid matching skills from the chore offer. You volition desire to choose weak skills that ARE NOT essential for the job.

Right

Choose a weakness that isn't 1 of the chore-related skills listed in the job offer. One of my biggest weaknesses is that I can't sit withal and focus for extended periods of fourth dimension. I was never a bookworm. I ever preferred athletics and hands-on activities. To brand sure that I got through schoolhouse with good grades, I gear up study goals for myself. I would sit down still and focus on exam materials for thirty minutes. After, I would reward myself with a break to run around or socialize. The system taught me discipline and helped me focus. I graduated from my high school with honors. I am now attention college on an athletic scholarship. First, she doesn't disguise her weakness as a force. But she does mention her strengths equally she goes along. It'southward more than than okay to talk nearly your strengths in your what are your weaknesses answer.For example, she is disciplined and can learn new information. 2nd, she shows what she did to accost her weakness.She fix written report goals. And these steps atomic number 82 to her success. She got good grades and earned a scholarship.

Wrong

Admitting to a weakness that is necessary for the job. I accept anger management issues. I tend to blow up when someone makes me angry or nervous. I guess yous tin say I'thou the opposite of Footling Miss Sunshine. Don't go me wrong. I like people. But I'm a grumpy person. I don't accept a loftier tolerance for nonsense or stupidity. I'1000 working on it, though. I've been doing volunteer piece of work with seniors to develop patience and empathy. I accept a couple of regulars who are as grumpy every bit me, and we get along fine. The chore offer states that the platonic candidate should be "positive, bubbly, and friendly." If that's non you, you're not qualified for this job. If you're going to imitation it until yous brand it (i.eastward., you need the job), don't mention that you're Oscar the Grouch.

Here's another example of a what are your weaknesses answer for a Software Designer:

Right

A existent weakness, merely one that isn't going to affect your task operation too much. I would say my greatest weakness is my writing skills. I've always been a technical, math person. I like crunching numbers. Merely when information technology comes to words I get tongue-tied and forget the rules. I've started using Grammer apps to make sure my emails are correct. The app gives the activity a tech feel, which makes the whole thing more comfy for me as well. The candidate chose "writing skills" as her weakness. As a software designer, she won't accept to write much. We'll say that "written communication skills" didn't show upward in her job offer. Plus, she is taking measures to practise better.

Wrong
A real weakness, but i that would affect your job performance. My greatest weakness? I'yard a contradiction. I'm a clown, and I tin't make people laugh. No matter how hard I try, no one laughs when Bobo does his clown show. If "making people laugh" is ane of the job requirements, don't tell the interviewer that you can't make people laugh. That's the easiest way to blow your interview.

That'due south why you want to choose up to 3 weaknesses from your list that don't match skills listed in your task offer.

Okay. Once you've got a list of your greatest weaknesses, y'all'll need to list the means you're improving. Showing that you're working on improving your weakness is of import role of answering the what are your weaknesses question.

Don't get out the interviewer hanging.

Have you done any of the following things to meliorate your weakness:

• Enroll in a class.
• Get grooming (Internal or External)
• Bring together groups or workshops.
• Practice volunteer work or an activity exterior of piece of work that uses that skill.
• Get help from a mentor or counselor.
• Find tools that help correct the weakness.

You'll also want to requite articulate examples of how you succeed or are on your way to succeeding.

Inquire yourself:

• Did your supervisor notice a alter after yous took mensurate to correct a weakness?
• Take you noticed an improvement?
• Tin you prove that you're fixing your bug with clear results?

The STAR method is an effective way to demonstrate that the measures you're taking are working.

The STAR method will help you think how to tell your success stories during an interview. And don't just use the STAR method for the what are your weaknesses question.

You tin use it to respond simply about any typical interview question.

STAR stands for State of affairs, Task, Action, Issue:

Situation - You start by explaining a situation which required you lot to solve a problem, utilise a skill, or come upward with a new thought.

Task - Next, you explain the action that your job requires in such a situation.

Action - Subsequently, you describe the activity that you took. If it's different than the required task, y'all should too explain why you lot chose a different path.

Result - What happened in the end? How did the situation play out one time you acted? It'due south best hither to illustrate successes with numbers and details if y'all tin. Numbers assistance reinforce the impact that your action had.

Let's apply an example of a weakness for the Server candidate that matches our job offer. Remember this is but office of a skillful answer for the what are your weaknesses question.

Situation - My greatest weakness is that I talk too much. I am a blabbermouth. I used to become in trouble for talking over my teachers during class.

Task - The principal gave me a warning. She told me that I had to learn to aught it during form or I would get expelled. Then, I had to come with a way to restrain myself.

Action - I started playing the Quiet Game with my friends. You know the game that parents fob children into playing in the auto on longer trips? Well, I asked my friends to help me learn to mind more and speak less by playing the Quiet Game with me. They were more than than all-around.

Result - I learned to occupy myself with listening. I learned to await until it was my plough to speak and to cut myself off when I go a senseless motormouth. After a month of shutting myself up, my teachers noticed that I was doing better. They likewise suggested that I bring together the debate team where I helped the team win Land Championships. Now to evidence my new skill, I volition stop talking.

Pro Tip: You lot can mention strengths in your what are your weaknesses answer. Recall the question is often paired with strengths anyway:What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Desire to know what skills hiring managers find most important? Non sure if all the skills from the job offer are task-related? Nosotros've got you covered. Read our guide: " +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips) "

three

The All-time What Are Your Greatest WeaknessesAnswers

So hither's what a what are your weaknesses respond should expect like:

Right

My greatest weakness is that I am a shy and nervous person past nature. The result is that I take a difficult fourth dimension speaking up in groups. Fifty-fifty if I have skillful ideas, I take trouble asserting them. Often I keep them to myself. Here the candidate is admitting a common and existent weakness. At the aforementioned time, it'southward not the all-time answer if the job requires public speaking skills. Make certain you tailor your response to the job description. Once, I suggested an thought for a project. The projection managing director shot information technology downwardly, and I did not protest. The supervisor heard about my idea. It upset him that I didn't fight harder for it. Here's a situation where the candidate's weakness caused her to neglect at work. I decided that it was time to sign up for speaking classes. I likewise took some acting classes. The acting classes helped me acquire to separate my professional cocky from my shy self. That helped me a lot. Now, the candidate talks about the steps she took to improve her weakness. She took classes that she felt would aid relieve her shyness at work. The next time I worked on a project, I stood by my ideas. I spoke upwardly and asked the project manager to take a 2nd look at what I had proposed. She agreed that my idea was quite good upon reflection. My supervisor noticed the improvement and promoted me to management. I now head up a team of v people despite beingness shy. The candidate points out how her actions have resulted in success. It'due south okay if you don't have a success story for your grand finale. All yous demand to exercise is evidence that you are taking steps to improve now and in the hereafter.

Wrong

I have terrible time direction and organizational skills. I'm i of those people who procrastinates and puts things off until the very last minute. I've made up for it over the years considering I am a certified genius. Where others would crash and burn if they leave things undone, I flourish. So, I may wait like I exercise nothing. I may sit in the eye of a mess. But, I will always run into the deadline, even if it'south five minutes from the fourth dimension I start the piece of work. This type of reply raises all kinds of red flags for the hiring director. Aye, let'south say she meets deadlines. Just she can she turn in quality work last minute? Doubtful. What about that mess? She makes messes? What kind of messes? Well, that's not considerate at all.

If you want to be certain you ace your interview, check out our handy interview advice. And so, you need to ship a cheers email. Not certain how? Read our guide: " How to Write a Thank Yous Email After an Interview (+ten Examples) "

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Key Takeaway

Yep, sometimes the interviewer will try to catch yous off guard with an interview question that isn't fair. And aye, the what are your weaknesses interview question is 1 of the worst.

To properly answer this dreaded interview question, remember:

• Focus on beingness self-aware, honest, and dedicated to improvement. If you've got these three qualities, your weakness won't ruin your chances of landing the job.
• Endeavour to reverberate on your real weaknesses and what you lot're doing to improve.
• Give an honest and constructive answer. And call back, you're merely human being.

Still not sure how to talk about your weaknesses? We can help! Leave a comment and we will help you find out how best to answer weakness questions during your interview.

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