What Are Your Greatest Weakness?

I want to give you a quick and easy way to get started preparing for your job interview.

Wouldn't it be great if you knew exactly what a hiring manager would be asking you in your next interview?

If you’d prefer to get started with a free resource before paying for a coach or a program, this tutorial is designed to get you up and running with the basics for acing your next interview.

What Are Your Greatest Weakness?

1. Answer structure

These are two popular ways that are used to answer this questions:

a) First way: Turning your strong point into weak point.

b) Second way: Solving your weakness absolutely. A better approach is that you state one point which was once your weakness, but you have done well to resolve it.

2. Answer tips

• Don’t try to make up a weakness.
• Don’t say you have no weakness. No one is perfect, therefore, you shouldn’t say you have no weakness.
• Always keep answering questions in a positive manner.
• Avoid directing the interviewer into negative thinking.
• In any question, including this one, you want to communicate optimistic approach and enthusiasm – two important qualities to demonstrate in interviews.
• Never list a key element of the job as your weakness!

3. Answer samples

Answer sample 1

Weakness which is not related to the job: I find accounting (or mathematics) as my major/biggest weakness. Even at home my wife is in charge of our books. Though it bores me, recently, I managed to learn some functions for having an idea of key accounting basics.

Answer sample 2

Weakness the interviewer already knows: I lack general work experience because I spent many years in advancing my education. However, my education has prepared me for the job – I learned some skills that couldn’t be gained as extensively in any regular job, such as: research experience that helped me analyzing and developing A, B, C.

Answer sample 3

Weakness that can be considered as a positive attitude: I don’t know to balance work and personal life. I love my work, but my family is neglected sometimes because of this. I often put in 12-hour working day. I am now learning to better manage my time as well as my personal life.
You should always have some questions for your interviewer to demonstrate your interest in the position. Prepare a minimum of seven questions, some which will give you more information about the job, and some which delve deeper into the culture and goals of the company.

Top 7 interview questions and answers.

Explain how you would be an asset to this organization

You should be anxious for this question. It gives you a chance to highlight your best points as they relate to the position being discussed. Give a little advance thought to this relationship.

What is your greatest strength?

Numerous answers are good, just stay positive. A few good examples: Your ability to prioritize, Your problem-solving skills, Your ability to work under pressure, Your ability to focus on projects, Your professional expertise, Your leadership skills, Your positive attitude

What have you done to improve your knowledge in the last year?

Try to include improvement activities that relate to the job. A wide variety of activities can be mentioned as positive self-improvement. Have some good ones handy to mention.

What experience do you have in this field?

Speak about specifics that relate to the position you are applying for. If you do not have specific experience, get as close as you can.

What kind of salary do you need?

A loaded question. A nasty little game that you will probably lose if you answer first. So, do not answer it. Instead, say something like, That’s a tough question. Can you tell me the range for this position? In most cases, the interviewer, taken off guard, will tell you. If not, say that it can depend on the details of the job. Then give a wide range.

Describe a typical work week for you.

Interviewers expect a candidate for employment to discuss what they do while they are working in detail. Before you answer, consider the position you are applying for and how your current or past positions relate to it. The more you can connect your past experience with the job opening, the more successful you will be at answering the questions.

It should be obvious that it’s not a good idea talk about non-work related activities that you do on company time, but, I’ve had applicants tell me how they are often late because they have to drive a child to school or like to take a long lunch break to work at the gym.

Keep your answers focused on work and show the interviewer that you’re organized (“The first thing I do on Monday morning is check my voicemail and email, then I prioritize my activities for the week.”) and efficient.

Do you have any questions for me?

Always have some questions prepared. Questions prepared where you will be an asset to the organization are good. How soon will I be able to be productive? and What type of projects will I be able to assist on? Are examples.

In reviewing these responses, please remember that they are only examples. Please do not rehearse them verbatim or adopt them as your own. They are meant to stir your creative juices and get you thinking about how to properly answer the broader range of questions that you will face.