Addressing Your “Biggest Weakness” in Job Interviews

During a job interview the most dreaded question may be “what is your biggest weakness?” How do you answer a question designed to demonstrate why you are not a good candidate for their job? Fortunately, there are a few ways to tackle this question and turn it around.

How to Address Your Biggest Weakness When Interviewing

  1. Organizational skills. Not everyone has the organizational skills of Martha Stewart, nor should they. However, in the office it is essential for desks to be orderly so work can be done effectively and efficiently each day. If this is your hot button issue you can use it as your weakness example. For instance, “I sometimes struggle with keeping my workplace organized. I have learned over the years some strategies for helping myself with this task. At the end of each day I take about five or ten minutes to determine what is still on my desk, what can be filed away, and what should be placed in a priority spot for the next day.”
  2. Multi-tasking. This has been a big buzzword for HR and hiring managers for a long time, but science is showing that our brains are not designed to multi-task in this way. There are many ways you could approach this issue in an interview. One would be to confess that you sometimes have a hard time multi-tasking so you have learned to prioritize duties throughout the day so each one gets the right level of attention. Be sure to mention that you are able to set aside a non-essential project for an emergency when necessary. Or you can describe how you have trouble maintaining focus on one project at a time and thrive in situations where you can bounce between them.
  3. Not asking for help. Independence is a good thing. Many managers look for people they describe as “self-starters.” However, there will always be times in an office environment where asking for a second opinion is not only smart but essential. You might say something like, “I’m fiercely independent and sometimes stubborn so I have a hard time asking for help when I need it. I try really hard to accomplish all the tasks myself which can sometimes lead to being overwhelmed. I have learned to recognize when this happens and have been able to work up the courage to talk to coworkers or managers about things I need when I need them.”

Do You Want to Know More About Successful Interview Strategies?

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