Remove the classic “I’m a perfectionist” line (Image: Getty / Metro.co.uk)
It is the question that invariably makes us liars and liars, declaring ourselves perfectionists that we simply work too hard and love our work too much.
‘What would you say is your greatest weakness?’
If you’ve ever answered this with a deeply cheesy falsehood, you can comfort yourself knowing you’re not alone.
And as the battle for conservative leadership warmed up today, the candidates fell ill with this common question.
When asked at ConservativeHome-led leadership tests to describe a weakness, Rishi Sunak gave the most topical answers to the most topical questions in interviews: that he is a perfectionist.
Liz Truss said she’s too excited and works “too much,” and Penny Mordaunt … she didn’t care about any flaws, she just said she was a team player (she also mentioned Burmese cats, which was interesting).
It is a complicated question in the context of a political persecution, or, indeed, for a job interview, which is where most of us will come across this question.
You’re trying to sell yourself, so being totally honest doesn’t seem like an option to you: telling your potential boss that you can be prone to laziness doesn’t seem prudent, but removing the clichéd strengths disguised as weaknesses is transparent. No interviewer wants to hear another person say that their toughest battle is simply being too good at their job.
So how do you answer that question? We asked the experts.
How to answer “what is your biggest weakness” in a job interview
You may not even reveal that you are a great disaster … (Image: Getty Images / iStockphoto)
Practice
“This is an interview question that is definitely worth rehearsing,” says Jill Cotton, a professional trends expert at Glassdoor. “A well – honed response will show that you are willing to be sincere and prepared.
“A hiring manager will expect all candidates to have some sort of weakness; if the person has difficulty answering the question, the company’s alarms could sound.”
Be honest … a little
Don’t open up about your deepest, darkest secret or the emotional problem you’ve spent hours spending in therapy.
But raise a real struggle related to the work you’ve had, whether it’s dealing with the imposter syndrome, struggling to delegate, or finding it difficult to balance work and personal life.
However, this is the key: once you have said this honest weakness, you must …
Refer to a weakness from the past that you have overcome
Instead of raising an issue that is still baffling you, use this question as an opportunity to discuss a weakness from the past that you have overcome.
This is an opportunity for you to show how you face challenges.
Give a solid example of how you overcame this weakness
Now give an example of how you learned to deal with this weakness.
So, if you said it was hard for you to delegate, what helped you learn to distribute the work a little more fairly?
Could you give an example of a recent time at work where you were aware of this previous problem and made things better this time?
Or mention something you’re working on
Jill says, “Don’t pretend to be perfect, and it’s okay to say you’re still learning new skills needed for a role.
“Remember previous assessments and areas where managers have asked you to work. And be clear about what you are actively doing to strengthen your identified weakness. This could mean that you are looking for additional training or mentoring.
“Identifying the steps shows that you are willing to grow, which the hiring manager will look for.”
What not to say
“The question may seem like it’s trying to hook you, but it’s an opportunity for a job candidate to show their self-knowledge and professional growth,” says Jill Cotton (Image: Getty Images / iStockphoto)
“I have no weakness”
Well, that’s not true, right?
“Everyone has something that can improve,” Jill points out. Saying the opposite is not a good look.
“I’m a perfectionist”
Not only is it so exaggerated that you’ll probably get a look, saying you’re a perfectionist isn’t really a good thing.
Struggling to get good results is fantastic. Be so cheeky that you drive everyone crazy, not so much.
“Eating garbage / cats / another joking answer about a vice”
How does this help you get the job done? This type of response is a total loss of opportunity and is likely to irritate interviewers; think about why they ask you for your greatest weakness. They want to know how you overcome challenges, not about your love for chocolate.
Jill advises against mentioning anything unrelated to work.
More: Work
‘Addiction’
Seriously, now is not the time to talk about this.
If you’re kidding, it’s not funny.
“Manage a team / write reports / any skills that are key to the job”
“It’s a good idea to thoroughly research the company before the interview,” Jill suggests. “This will help you decide what skills are critical to the position you are applying for and therefore what you should avoid when answering what your weaknesses are.”
“I work too hard and I’m late all the time”
Is this true? Is that a good thing? Do you want to be employed by someone who values you more if you work to the bone and get tired?
No, no and no.
Do you have a story to share?
Contact us by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
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