How should I respond in an interview when I am asked what my greatest weakness is? - Comparably | Comparably

How should I respond in an interview when I am asked what my greatest weakness is?

Interviews

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9 Answers

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    Top Employee Response

    the smallest streightess

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    I was advised to frame it as too much of a good thing like working through your lunch break or taking too much work home with you or staying late too often. I am honest and add a brief explanation of how their company can help me get past that so that my strengths can help them in return.

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    confront the question straight on ask for clarification

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    No matter what you say, you need to be showing you can overcome that weakness. Don't mention a weakness that is a permanent issue that will be a problem for the team, they don't want to hear that. Also, don't be "That person" who responds with, "I have a problem that I always need to be perfect with my work". If that is a legit situation for you, instead say that you are working to balance speed and quality of your work.

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    Truthfully, but with some ways you are working to improve on or manage it. I have adhd and tend to have a lot going on at once so I have methods to make sure everything gets completed on time

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    Everyone can improve to be better at something. Then proceed to tell what that is.

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    Say something that actually can be a positive. What you want to say is, "I'm somewhat of a perfectionist" go on to say how sometimes you will spend a little too long on a project or something in order to get it just right. (If this is appropriate) - or you could say "I have really high standards for myself and others and I am the kind of person who moves quickly and gets a lot done and I have to sometimes remember that others on my team may not move at the speed of light and I cannot necessarily expect them to. Those are a couple examples.

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    Truthfully, but it helps if you're actively working to improve.

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    Some people may suggest that you answer this in a way that focuses on a strength. As a hiring manager, I always appreciated it when an applicant answered truthfully but immediately followed up with the actions they've taken to remedy their identified weakness. This shows an amount of self-awareness and desire to grow that is much more beneficial to me and my team than knowing how to do some interview judo. Having said that, if I were hiring for a slaes position, I may prefer that the applicant knows how to reframe a negative as a positive.