One candidate was asked, "What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? His response was: "My strength is that I am a hard worker and my weakness is that I get stressed if I miss the deadline because of someone else." This is an unimaginative response; as such a response is often heard in interviews.
When asked the same question, he had difficulty in responding to it. He says, "I really can't think of any weakness. Maybe I need more focus. My strength is probably lies in my capability to deal with people. I am a pretty easy going guy and I usually don't get upset." This response begins negatively and ends in vague words such as maybe, probably and usually.
Then what could be the right answer for such a question?
Assess your strengths
Assess your skills and you will know your strengths. This exercise helps you fare better at the interview. Make a list of your skills in three categories.
- Knowledge-based skills: Those acquired through education, training and experience. For example computer skills, languages, degrees, training and technical capabilities.
- Transferable skills: Those you have attained while working. Skills like communication and people skills, problem-solving and planning skills that you carry from one job to another.
- Personal traits: The qualities unique to you such as your dependability and flexibility, your being hard working, expressive, punctual, and formal, and your ability to work in a team.
Assess your weaknesses
This part of the question is most dreaded as most of us don’t want to admit them, especially at an interview. The best way to answer such a question is to focus on your positive aspects minimizing your traits. Point out a trait and give a solution to overcome this weakness. Avoid talking about personal traits and focus on professional qualities. For example you can say, “I usually visualize the complete picture and sometimes, I admit, miss some details. But I always have on my team one who has an eye for details.
Write down your answers
Jot down a positive statement that you can say confidently.
You can say thus:” I am flexible enough to handle a change. As a customer service manager at my last job, I was successful in turning a negative working environment into a supportive team. I am aware that my management skills need to be improved and I am constantly on my toes to improve them.
When you are asked this question at the interview, remember that the hiring manager is looking for a perfect fit. The interviewer is assessing you with the help of your answers. You may not miss the chance to get the job because of just a single answer; you miss the chance if that single answer is blatant. Concentrate on what you should say about your strengths. Focus on what you have to benefit the company. Let the interviewer know that though you aren’t a perfect fit, you are aware of your weaknesses and working on the areas that need to be strengthened.
