How to answer job interview question: “What’s your biggest weakness?”

There is an art to telling a potential employer about your shortcomings without shooting yourself in the foot.

Job interview questions have barely changed in the past two decades, and one that employers still ask is: “What is your biggest weakness?”

This is not the time to say you take four weeks off work at a time or that you binge drink. Essentially, they want to know if you will be honest about some part of your life that is work related.

I used to say my weakness was that I take on too much, but then I would follow through with what my solution was for that.

For example, I have a to-do list and delegate and prioritise.

I make sure they know I will deliver regardless.

Amanda Rose says to avoid too much detail on negative points. Picture: Monique Harmer

Don’t just leave the weakness out in the open – instead, talk about what you have done to manage that.

Don’t ever admit to a weakness if you can’t explain what you are doing to manage it.

You don’t want to lie, but you have no obligation to drop your guard.

You still have got to protect yourself and present yourself in the most positive light.

A strategy could be to look at a positive weakness.

For example, if your weakness is that you micromanage, you can say that you are passionate about delivering quality work, but to address your weakness now you mentor people underneath you rather than micromanage.

Be careful what you say because the weakness could be the only thing about you they remember when you leave the interview.

Don’t talk for too long and keep it light rather than deep or detailed.

When talking about strengths, don’t be cocky. Picture: iStock

On the flip side, if an employer asks about your best qualities or greatest strengths, the key is to not be too arrogant and cocky.

Confident is different.

If you know what the employer is looking for, make sure your strengths align to what the role is about.

For example, if the role requires attention to detail and you have good attention to detail, make sure that’s a strength you talk about.

Tick the boxes in their head.

Your answer to this question will change from interview to interview.

Think about different strengths depending on the role you are going for.

It requires more effort but will put you to the top of the list.

Amanda Rose is a business consultant, workplace trainer, LinkedIn influencer and founder of six organisations – and now she is tackling your career questions for SMART Daily every week.

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Originally published as How to answer job interview question: “What’s your biggest weakness?”