Numbers have not always been my strong suit. Don’t choose something that will eliminate you from consideration for the job right away. Be Aware: Self-awareness is the first part of emotional intelligence (EQ). How do you do that? Why It Works: This response shows the candidateâs successful shift from working on one task at a time to multitasking. In my recent position, I implemented a project management tool that allowed me to easily oversee the progress of all the tasks I assigned. This helped me feel much more comfortable about delegating work. 3. It can be hard to answer the question, “What is your greatest weakness?”—especially when you expected to be discussing the skills, talents and capabilities that make you the strongest candidate for the job. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(53, '57d87eb6-edaf-43e1-ac08-e04e87201d4c', {}); Originally published Dec 18, 2018 7:00:00 AM, updated December 18 2018, 7 Incredible Answers to "What Is Your Greatest Weakness?" However, I've also worked to improve this weakness by enrolling in team building workshops. Choosing Your Weakness: Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills Typically, weaknesses fall into one of two categories -- "hard skills" or "soft skills" -- and hard skills are usually the best to choose for a job interview because they are the easiest to overcome. In this case, you're able to demonstrate how timidity can be used as a strength, through thoughtful reflection and practice. -Â. I used to like to work on one project to its completion before starting on another, but I've learned to work on many projects at the same time, and I think doing so allows me to be more creative and effective in each one. So, this question is an opportunity to show that youâve got the right assets for the job. One approach to answering this question is to analyze the key skills and strengths required for the position you are interviewing for and then come up with an honest shortcoming that is not essential for success in that job. ", Tips for Answering Interview Questions About Failure, How to Answer Job Interview Questions About Mistakes, Job Interview Question: 'What Do You Hope to Accomplish Here? 7. This answer works because you've explained how you were able to turn a weakness into a strength through real-world experience. Regardless of what you say, it is critical to indicate that you are mindful of this trait and capable of preventing it from interfering with your productivity. Your own answer will look different, but let's dissect what makes this one work. Be honest. Itâs important that your answer be authentic and tailored to your own circumstances. Donât go overboard. Itâs important not to talk too much about your weaknesses or what you need to improve. -Â, What can we expect from you in the first 60 days on the job? Ultimately what you’re aiming to do is to reassure the hiring manager that you’re the right person for the job. However, interviewers will not only want to know about your greatest weakness, but they’ll also want to know what you’re doing to improve it. In this case, it would be critical to underscore your strength in one-on-one communication with patients while providing an example of your difficulty with presentations to large groups. This system enabled me to improve my ability to delegate efficiently.". Turn a negative into a positive. Frame your response in a positive manner so that whatever you portrayed as needing improvement is seen as an accomplishment rather than a weakness. What's the best way to talk about weaknesses at job interviews? Free and premium plans, Customer service software. Tip #1: Make your answers insight-driven When you are discussing your strengths, you should make sure your answer is linked to the needs of the company and the position for which you are applying. "I don't have much patience when working with a team -- I am incredibly self-sufficient, so it's difficult when I need to rely on others to complete my work. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate more on professional traits. Alison Doyle is the job search expert for The Balance Careers, and one of the industry's most highly-regarded job search and career experts. Likewise, if youâre applying for a position as a writer, you could focus on a skill that isnât required for the job, as in the example below. Why It Works: The candidateâs response shows that he established time management skills that enable him to effectively do the job. Interview Question: "What Is Your Greatest Weakness?  Organization hasnât always been my strongest point. Begin your answer by talking about where you started and the steps you took to improve, and then highlight the outcome. In this blog post, we have come up with some of the best answers to this frequently asked question on strengths and weaknesses. 2. That's why I've pursued roles that require someone to work independently. You don't want to cast any doubt on your ability to do the job. 3 Sample Answers to Addressing Common Weaknesses Organization. Yes, expose a weakness, but not one that sinks your whole ship. It can help them assess whether your strengths and weakness will make you the right fit for your job, if your disposition will be a good fit with the team you’re working on and if you’ll fit into the company culture as a whole. But if you write out a few ideas beforehand, it will be easier to answer the question during the interview. There are several different ways to answer when you're asked during a job interview what your greatest weakness is. Since then I've become better at offering feedback, and I've realized that my empathy can be used to my advantage to provide thoughtful, productive feedback.". List of Strengths & Weaknesses + Professional Answers. Marketing automation software. While it hasn't ever impacted my performance, I've noticed my messy desk and cluttered inbox nonetheless could interfere with my efficiency. You should try to find a weakness that relates to the job but is not a main part of the duties. ", Option 2: Mention Skills You Have Improved, Option 3: Turn a Negative Into a Positive, Answering Job Interview Questions About Strengths and Weaknesses, How to Answer Job Interview Questions About Pet Peeves, Tips for Answering Interview Questions About Your Weaknesses, Best Ways to Answer Interview Questions About Strengths, Anwsering Interview Questions About Strengths and Job Performance, How to Describe Your Work Pace During a Job Interview, Sample Sales Interview Answers About Strengths and Weaknesses, 12 of the Toughest Interview Questions With Answers, Best Answers for the Most Common Job Interview Questions, Best Interview Answers: Why Should We Hire You, How to Describe Yourself at a Job Interview, How to Give a Good Answer to "How Did You Pick Your Major? Although I've never missed a deadline, it is still an effort for me to know when to move on to the next task and to be confident when assigning others work. However, I recognize this flaw can prevent me from understanding how my content is performing online. Image by Theresa Chiechi © The Balance 2019. To combat this, I've worked to develop empathy and deeper relationships with those I manage. Over time, Iâve learned that keeping a clean workspaceâboth physically, and digitallyâdoes support my ability to focus and enhance the efficiency of my workflow. Let’s have a look at the answers. However, when I became manager in my last role, it became critical I learn to delegate tasks. Here are three suggestions: Emphasize the positive, avoiding negative words like failure or inept. While math is not directly tied to my role as a writer, I believe it's important I have a rudimentary understanding of Google Analytics, to ensure my work is performing well. For instance, if you're applying to be a project manager, you don't want to admit,"I'm not very good with time management.". Demonstrate self-awareness and an ability to look to others to provide you with the resources necessary for growth. However, by presenting the symptoms, rather than just naming the affliction, you’ll sound much more sincere. @cforsey1, When an interviewer asks you, "What is your greatest weakness? Follow these tips to come up with a good answer to this question: Avoid the typical answer: Saying that you are too hard on yourself or that you are a perfectionist is not a good answer. Over time, I've learned to set aside time to organize my physical and digital space, and I've seen it improve my efficiency levels throughout the week.". Put some thought into the weakness method you choose, and the answer that you give to the employer. Interviews can be stressful, so plan your answer to this question in advance. In my last role, I set up monthly meetings with the SEO manager to discuss analytics and how our posts were performing. This will show your preparation for the said interview and the through research will reflect your attitude towards the job. Get prepared for some of the most frequently asked HR interview questions and answers. For example, a sense of urgency to complete projects can be turned into a positive; e.g., you are a candidate who will make sure a project is done on time. "I don't have much patience when working with a team -- I am incredibly self-sufficient, so it's difficult when I need to rely on others to complete my work. Typically, timidity can be seen as a flaw in the workplace, particularly if a role requires someone to provide feedback to others. To get some insight into the best ways to answer the “strengths and weaknesses” question, we spoke with several experts, including: Laurie G. Combe, MN, RN, NCSN, president of the National Association of School Nurses When answering the weakness interview question, provide a response that shows you have done some introspection. -- That Aren't "Perfectionism", Recruiters Reveal the 7 Best Fonts for Your Resume in 2020, The 30-60-90 Day Plan: Your Guide for Mastering a New Job [Template + Example], Whether you have a healthy level of self-awareness, Whether you can be open and honest, particularly about shortcomings, Whether you pursue self-improvement and growth opportunities to combat these issues, as opposed to letting these weaknesses hold you back. You want to make sure your answer shows them that your strengths are in line with what the company needs and is looking for. Oftentimes, facets of our personalities can help us in certain areas of our work, while hindering us in others. The nursing job interview questions strengths and weaknesses. Iâve implemented a time management system that enables me to stay organized without encroaching on my other responsibilities. Prepare a response. It can be easier to respond when you have an idea of what you want to say. Make sure to choose a relatively harmless weakness. Why It Works: The candidate is showing the interviewer that she has the time management skills to focus on a detail-oriented project. “I tend to get caught up in the little details, which can distract me from the ultimate goal.”You might be a perfectionist, but your interviewer has heard this answer a billion times (and from plenty of people who aren’t actually perfectionists, I might add). Sometimes, this can turn into a tendency to perfectionism. Nobody likes to talk about the things they are not good at. This is similar to the first follow up question in that you should be able to alleviate these concerns in your answer to the weakness question. We're committed to your privacy. I used to wait until the last minute to set appointments for the coming week, but I realized that scheduling in advance makes much more sense. Focus on Accomplishments: Try to shift the focus from what needs improvement to what you have accomplished. If you decide to use one of the answers in your interview, proceed with caution. The most important thing is that you need to convince the hiring manager that this weakness is a thing of the past (or at the very least, something that you have under control.) How to Answer “What Is Your Biggest Weakness?” There are right ways and wrong ways to answer this question. Me to stay organized without encroaching on my other responsibilities is important way to handle this question to! 60 days on the fluency level of a job-seeker: 1 you ve... I received my Google analytics certificate, and worked with the latest,. Worked to improve your area of weakness, or learn a new to! 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