Question by usually confused: The best way to describe a weakness and strenght in a job interview?
I’m going in to an interview in a few hours, for a western wear sorta place, and I usually troubled by the dreaded what is your greatest weakness question, along with strength…..
i have no idea how to answer it
maybe put how u would answer it and itll help me
Best answer:
Answer by Jen M
You want to look at you from the perspective of your employeer and try to see what they might see as a strength or weakenss. When discussing weaknesses however, I would always figure out some way to spin it in the right light. For instance, I lose track of time easily and always go over with my clients. That is my weakness, I would say in the next breath however, I do keep a small clock that I can glance at to keep me from losing track of time.
THis way they know that you know it is a weakness but, are doing something about it.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Use one of your weaknesses that could be good for the company. Things like “i’m a neat freak” or “I’m a perfectionist” or “I’m a workaholic.” But make sure it’s something kinda true or else they will figure it out fast. Strengths should be easy, things like “hard worker, ambitious, motivated, good listerner/follow directions easily.” Even saying your best strength is that you’re easy to work or you’re a friendly happy person are good. Again, make it something true.
Comment by coolissublime — August 23, 2011 @ 11:46 am
make your weakness into a strength for the company
for example, if you are talkative and social, say that your weaknes is ‘I am always trying to make connections with people, and to hear their side of the story, and that leads me to spend time with them figuring out what to do’ : those are good management and service and customer focus skills
Comment by Ghadahav Morchaffi — August 23, 2011 @ 12:10 pm
For greatest weakness the ultimate answer is to say you thought about it a long time, trying to determine what your greatest weakness is. The conclusion you came to is that your greatest weakness is in comparative ranking during self-evaluation. While you were able to identify various weaknesses and strengths, you were simply not good at determining their relative greatness, since, to you, it is so situationally dependent.
When they ask your greatest strength, say that self-evaluation is one of your greatest strengths, especially when considered in the context of a given situation. OR, since this is a sales position, say you have a very friendly attitude and can get along with just about anyone.
Comment by merpius — August 23, 2011 @ 12:11 pm
In a recent job interview, the hiring manager told me something that stuck with me. He was asking me about strengths and weaknesses, and after I gave him my answer, he referred to the fact that he doesn’t believe in strengths and weaknesses, but he believe in tendencies instead. Some traits, he said, if not properly addressed, might turn into weaknesses. If you work on them, though, you might be able to avoid them becoming such.
For example, one of my tendencies is that I often don’t go the “extra mile”. If somebody asks me to deliver 50, I deliver 50… not less, not more. This tendency of mine is something I’ve been working on a lot in the past years and I’ve discovered that, if I’m in the right environment, where there are other ambitious people who tend to give more than what required, I tend to feel the competition and go the extra mile myself. My father understood this since I was a child: when I went to swimming competitions as a kid, he always put me in competition with older kids; if I was with kids of my same age, I would barely win the game and not set a good time. Swimming with older kids, I would probably not win, but I would swim faster and make a better time!
All I’m trying to say is that, whatever answer you give them about your weaknesses, show them that:
1) they’re not set in stone, but they’re just tendencies that can be countered by taking proper measures
2) you’re already taking proper measures (be specific, with examples)
Hope this helps.
Comment by Nicolò — August 23, 2011 @ 12:15 pm