The interview question: “What Are Your Strengths and weaknesses?”
At some point in the interview process, you could be asked to explain your qualities and flaws. Many applicants are not sure what to do in response. But, by creating the right situation, you will be able to give employers an honest and informed answer that demonstrates your self-awareness as well as professionalism.
Preparation ahead of time to answer this question is a smart way to prepare for the interview. Even if you’re not being asked about your strengths and weaknesses, in particular, writing out your answer to this typical question will provide an authentic and compelling explanation of your strengths and weaknesses to the table and how you’d like to improve in the near future. With these tips prepared, you’ll be able to be confident in answering commonly asked questions in interviews.
This article will provide sample answers, examples of strengths and weaknesses, and suggestions on how to craft your answer.
“What Are your greatest weaknesses?” Example Answers
It is possible to be asked about the strengths as well as weaknesses within one question, or you could be asked to answer these in two different questions. If you are asked about your strengths and weaknesses, simultaneously talk about your weaknesses first to ensure that you end with a positive conclusion.
In addressing your weaknesses, refer to examples of either your skills/habits or personal characteristics. It is possible to decide the one you want to concentrate on based on the kind of job you’re applying for. For instance, talking about the ability/skill could be relevant to an engineer position. For sales or a customer service position, the interviewer might find it more interesting to learn about your character traits. The choice you make is neither completely right nor wrong. Review the job description to get details on what is important the most in this particular job.
The formula to determine your answer is simple to follow. The first step is to identify your weak point. Next, you should add more information and an example or story about how this issue has been uncovered within your professional career. The context you provide will give prospective employers an insight into your self-awareness and dedication to personal development. In the examples below, you’ll notice the weaknesses, followed by contextual sentences that are in italics.
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Personality Characteristics
Example 1: I tend to get too negative about myself. The pattern I’ve seen throughout my career is that I frequently think I should have achieved better even though, in reality, I’ve been doing very well. Early in my career, it led to burnout and self-deflection. One strategy I’ve tried in the past three years is to regularly take a moment to reflect and be proud of my accomplishments. This has not only improved my self-esteem but also has allowed me to truly acknowledge and respect my team as well as the other systems of support.
Example 2. My personality is shy. Through high school and my early professional relationships, I was unable to be heard speaking out. After having been a part of a team that didn’t achieve our strategic goals for two quarters in a row, I was aware that I had a responsibility to my team and myself to openly express my thoughts. I took part in an improv class. It’s fun and really assisted me in overcoming my fear of public speaking. I gained practical experience in conducting discussions and sharing different views. Today, in groups, I usually engage with the more quiet people. I know how they feel, and the people are amazing when they get started talking.
Example 3: I fall to thinking that I am able to solve any issue by myself. This can be useful in certain circumstances, but in most cases, I require the help of others to deal with issues that are beyond my control. In one case, in the past, I was in charge of an event for a client that involved numerous moving components. It wasn’t until the event did I realize how narrowly I pulled it off. The challenge was to handle every aspect of the plan, from strategic to the smallest details, such as the table setting. I had to do lots of self-reflection later. Since the time, I’ve been teaching myself to step back before entering the problem-solving process and to identify individuals or groups that could help me in my quest.
Skills and Habits and
Example . I’m not acquainted with the most recent version of [insert the name of non-critical software[insert name of non-critical software]. Instead, I’ve been focusing on [insert the name of the preferred software] due to the fact that the user-centric design is my primary focus. In the last few years, that’s been where I’ve spent my time studying and developing.
Example: I’ve never been an impatient person. I used to believe that it was not a bad choice because it was creating anxiety for me. But while working with XYZ Company several years ago, I was involved in an assignment with a group, and I was able to see how postponing things to the last minute caused stress for everyone around me. It was an alarm clock. I began creating daily schedules to hold the team accountable, and I got rid of the old routine. It was a struggle initially, but the Agile method was a huge leap in my workflow as well as my mindset.
example: I am a perfectionist and tend to linger over the specifics of a project. This could put off deadlines at the beginning of my career as a worker at ABC Pvt. Ltd. This exact incident occurred. I was working on the details, which led to my boss being anxious when I nearly missed the deadline for my deliverables. I was taught how to do it the hard way, but I learned. Today, I’m conscious of how my work influences my team as well as my management. I’ve learned to strike a balance between being extremely efficient and perfect and being on time.
Example: Mathematics was not my favorite subject in school. In truth, as an undergraduate, I didn’t know how math would be relevant in my later life. After a couple of years of working in the world, however, I realized that I needed to move my career path in a strategic direction. In the beginning, I didn’t know how to start, but I did find several online courses for free that gave me the fundamentals that are important to me. In my current job, this foundation has helped me create my own goals and monitoring. In reality, conquering the anxiety about math that I experienced in my younger years was extremely inspiring.
Naturally, you’ll have to adapt the examples given above in accordance with your own personal weaknesses and how you’re working to improve and adapt.
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Examples of weak points
Because we all have flaws, however, we’re not always willing to admit them. It is best to start with an honest answer and then build your story from there. Choose a response that the hiring manager isn’t likely to consider essential or necessary for the job, in addition to qualities you are working to improve.
A few examples of weaknesses are:
- Disorganized
- Self-critical/Sensitive
- Perfectionism (Note it can be a positive trait in a variety of positions, so be sure to can provide an example of how perfectionists can cause problems to show that you’ve considered this characteristic)
- Not a natural public speaker.
- Competitive (Note that, like perfectionists, is an asset)
- Experience with a less-important skillset (especially in the event that it is obvious in your résumé)
- Not skilled at delegating tasks
- Don’t take on too much responsibility.
- Not detail-oriented/Too detail-oriented
- Not comfortable taking risks
- Focused too much/lack of focus
“What are your strongest strengths?” Example Answers
It’s difficult for a lot of people to speak about their strengths in an interview. It’s a challenge to balance modesty with the need to convey confidence. Like weaknesses, it is possible to pick between personality characteristics. Take this job description to be a reference when you choose your strengths. Use the same formula: strength, context and stories. In describing your strengths, you should highlight the particular qualities that make you be hired and differentiate your candidacy. Here are a few examples:
Personality Characteristics
Example : I’ve always considered myself a naturally-inclined leader. With more than ten years of experience in sales and finance, I’ve surpassed my KPIs every quarter, and I’ve been promoted twice over the last five years. I reflect on those accomplishments and realize that I could not have achieved them if I had not built and managed teams made up of talented and diverse people. I’m extremely proud of my ability to bring teams from different functions to be on the same page. I’ve been able to sharpen my management abilities through 360 reviews and honest discussions with my team, and I am confident that continuing to develop my leadership abilities is something I’d like to do in my next position.
Example : I’m highly cooperative and have always preferred working in groups. In the projects I’ve managed, the members collaborate with a range of people and are energized by a variety of creative projects. Since I started leading my current team, I’ve seen productivity rise by 15 percent and retention by 25 percent over the course of three years.
Example . I’m an empathic person who is adept at connecting to others and making people feel heard. In a memorable incident earlier in the year, I had a customer support phone call with a client whose contract was able to terminate. The reinstatement of the service contract could have raised her rates drastically. The woman was clearly frustrated and felt trapped since she required car insurance for her family and herself. It was clear quickly that we were unable to satisfy her requirements. However, I wanted her to be left with a positive perception of the service we offered. I guided them about alternative options and even let her know about other service providers who could provide a lower cost to be able to avoid a loss of coverage; in the feedback form following the conversation, she explicitly stated that she’d still recommend our services to friends. In my time in customer service, I’ve experienced many encounters similar to this. They can be complex, but they end with the customer feeling satisfied.
Skills and Habits and
Example. I’m in love with the most recent version of [insert the name of the softwarehere]. I began pushing the boundaries of what it could do immediately after it became available. I’m looking forward to applying my talents and passions to this role and pushing the limits of this software to benefit your business.
Example. I’m meticulous and persistent. When I’m working on a project, I record the specifics. Because I have a deep knowledge of the various components, I’m able to spot the crucial elements and firmly insist on their completion by deadlines. I frequently see this manifest in my colleague’s and managers’ feedback.
Example: I never miss a deadline. I’m very organized and have used my natural ability to organize projects and people in all areas of my job. After seven years as a project manager, I’ve had just one late launch of a product. In that incident that took place three years ago, I learned a vital lesson about the importance of trade-offs. I focused my attention on the most important design issue, and it pushed everything else behind. I am not willing to trade the lessons that I gained from this experience. Be aware of how to inform the stakeholders about the upcoming obstacles.
Example. I have exceptionally strong writing abilities. I’ve been an editor for the past eight years in a variety of sectors and am dedicated to creativity and performance metrics in relation to working. I’ve had to discover how to strike the right balance between the creative and analytical side, and it’s also a desire of mine to show how good writing can be used to improve the bottom line, whether in advertising or other fields.
Similar to the weak examples, You’ll have to modify your strengths and response depending on your previous knowledge and experience. When writing your script, be sure to keep in mind the following tips:
- Don’t list multiple, vague strengths. Focus on a couple of important qualities that directly relate to the job and reinforce these with specific, pertinent examples.
- Don’t be funny.
- Do not be arrogant, overstate your abilities or boast about your skills.
- Don’t be too humble or undervalue yourself.
Examples of Strengths
If you’re not certain of your strengths, talk to one of your colleagues or friends about what they think are your top qualities. Consider any written comments you’ve received in the past from colleagues or managers.
Examples of strengths include:
- Creative
- Patient
- Empathetic
- Decided
- Flexible/Versatile
- Honest
- Enthusiastic/Passionate/Driven
- Collaborative
- Disciplined/Focused
- Committed/Dedicated
- Respectful
- Innovative
- Attention/Detail-oriented
- Action oriented/entrepreneurial
Be aware, when you’re preparing your answer in response to”the “What do you think are your strongest and weakest points?” question, it’s important to
- Your strengths should be in line with your job descriptions and help set yourself apart as a candidate
- Do not be too humble.
- You must be specific with your answers.
