Answer:
At some point during the interview process, you may be asked to describe your personal strengths and weaknesses. Many job candidates are unsure how to approach this question. However, by establishing the appropriate context, you can give hiring managers an honest, thoughtful answer that highlights both your self-awareness and professionalism.
Preparing ahead of time for this question is a valuable use of your time before the interview. Even if you aren’t asked about your strengths and weaknesses specifically, scripting out your response to this common question will give you a candid yet compelling description of what you bring to the table and how you wish to grow in the future. With these talking points at the ready, you’ll be able to confidently answer man
What Are Your Greatest Weaknesses?” Example
You may be asked about your strengths and weaknesses in one question or you may be asked about them in two separate questions. In the event that you are asked about strengths and weaknesses at the same time, discuss your weaknesses first so that you can end on a positive note.
When addressing your weaknesses, draw upon examples relating to either skills/habits or personality traits. You may want to choose which to focus on depending on the type of job you’re interviewing for. For example, discussing a skill/habit may be highly relevant for a technical position. For a sales or customer service role, your interviewer may be more interested in hearing about your personality traits. Neither choice is strictly wrong or right. Reread the job description for clues on what may matter most for this specific role.
The formula for your answer is easy to follow. First, state your weakness. Second, add additional context and a specific example or story of how this trait has emerged in your professional life. That context will give potential employers insight into your level of self-awareness and commitment to professional growth. In the example answers below, you’ll see the weakness followed by context sentences in italics.
