Discussing Weaknesses in the Interview

by Sheila Curran, printed in Career Quest

Question:  If I'm asked in a job interview to list my weaknesses, how should I respond without damaging my chances of getting the job?

Answer:  Interviewers love this question! Obviously the intent is to find out your deepest secrets and make it easier for your potential employer to scratch you from consideration. The common advice is to find an answer that is accurate, isn’t a “red flag”, and could actually be considered a strength.  An example of this kind of response is telling the interviewer that friends have complained that you work too hard. Any interviewer would salivate over a candidate who will put in a lot of extra hours. Right?  Well, sometimes.  Most interviewers have heard such answers so many times that they’ll try other ways to get the dirt.  I know one employer who, after hearing an “I work too hard” answer, said “OK, give me another weakness”, and subsequently asked for a third weakness.  By that time, he was sure the answer was not rehearsed.
So what should you do?  My advice is not to answer the question, unless you have to.  This is easier than it sounds if the interviewer asks “what are your strengths and weaknesses”.  Always lead with your strengths, perhaps having three that directly relate to the job for which you’re applying. If an interviewer really likes what she’s hearing, she may not press you on your weaknesses. The most credible answer is one that could be verified, so if you have to answer, you might pick something that comes from a recent performance review.  Here’s an example:  “My supervisor told me that even though I’m good with figures, my lack of budget experience is a weakness.  I took advantage of that feedback to take a course in budgeting.”  In this situation, the candidate went one step further than what was asked, providing three pieces of useful information to the interviewer.  First, he acknowledged the feedback; second, he demonstrated that he understood that lack of budgeting experience could hold him back; and third, he did something about it.

Even though the “weakness” question is not a friendly question, it is rarely fatal.  Just make sure you don’t cite a flaw that is a critical requirement of your chosen position.  If it is, you might consider looking elsewhere!

Nothing good can come from your answer to this question; the best you can hope is that you give an answer that is innocuous enoughThey’re probably hoping that haven’t had the chance or the inclination to rehearse your answer 20 times in front of the mirror.