12 Unimaginable Solutions to “What Is Your Best Weak point?” — That Aren’t “Perfectionism”

So, you have lastly received your foot within the door at your dream firm. You’ve got submitted the good resume and made an enduring impression in the course of the cellphone display screen. All there’s left to do now’s to win over the hiring supervisor within the face-to-face interview.

As a well-informed candidate, you are doing all your analysis on the corporate and getting ready your solutions to crucial and widespread interview questions you possibly can consider — probably the most infamous of all of them being: “What’s your best weak spot?”

You do not wish to reply, “I are inclined to work too laborious,” or “I’m an excessive amount of of a perfectionist.” That may simply come throughout as scripted and insincere at finest and missing in self-awareness at worst.

Alternatively, you do not wish to reply with weaknesses that may forestall you from succeeding within the function. As an example, if you happen to’re making use of to be a challenge supervisor, you do not wish to admit that you just’re “not excellent with time administration.”

Fortuitously, there are methods to reply this query that may enable you reveal your worth as a candidate. Right here, we have cultivated some unimaginable solutions to the mainstay, “What’s your best weak spot” query — and don’t be concerned, these solutions aren’t “perfectionism.”

You too can hear right here.

Greatest Reply for What’s your weak spot?

Interviewers who ask “What’s your best weak spot?” wish to understand how trustworthy and self-aware you’re.

They’re additionally in search of proof that you’ve got a drive to enhance upon your weaknesses. As you concentrate on the most typical weaknesses, ask your self:

• What are your weaknesses?
• How did you discover this weak spot in your self?
• How did you react to that realization?
• What steps are you taking to note that behavior within the second?
• What are you doing to vary this conduct?

The very best solutions to this query sincerely clarify a weak spot and supply an instance of how you’re actively engaged on being higher. In the event you’re undecided the place to begin, take a look at this listing of typical interview weaknesses:

Frequent Interview Weaknesses

• Managing missed deadlines.
• Balancing work and private life.
• Having restricted expertise in a selected talent or specialization.
• Having communication points or issue working with totally different personalities.
• Struggling to say “no.”
• Challenges asking for assist.
• Having hassle adapting to new processes or applied sciences.
• Being disorganized.
• Striving for perfection.
• Being hesitant to talk up or advocate for your self.
• Being late often.
• Discovering it laborious to let go of tasks.
• Delaying duties unnecessarily.
• Missing self-assurance.
• Having issue delegating duties.
• Avoiding taking accountability for errors.

You do not wish to share simply any weaknesses in response to a job interview query. As a substitute, take into consideration the job necessities and the forms of solutions that make hiring managers wish to work with you. Then, select probably the most trustworthy reply to the query that will not make the hiring supervisor query your match for the function.

Listed here are a number of the finest examples of the way you would possibly reply “What’s your best weak spot?” and why they work.

1. Lack of Persistence

This reply works as a result of the weak spot — the shortcoming to be affected person when working with a group — does not hinder your means to carry out nicely within the function, since it is a job that does not depend on teamwork to succeed. Moreover, you show an eagerness to develop methods to fight your weak spot, which is a essential talent within the office.

Associated Assets:

2. Lack of Group

Loads of individuals have messy desks. This reply works as a result of it is a relatable and fixable weak spot. You observe that disorganization does not intrude along with your means to do your job, which is essential, however you additionally acknowledge it would make you much less environment friendly. To make sure you’re acting at 100%, you point out private steps you have taken to enhance your group expertise for the sake of self-improvement alone, which suggests a degree of maturity and self-awareness.

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3. Hassle with Delegation

This reply means that you can reveal a capability to pursue a brand new talent when a job requires it and suggests you are able to flexibility, which is essential for long-term progress. Moreover, you’ll be able to showcase a degree of initiative and management whenever you point out the profitable implementation of a brand new course of that enabled you to reach your previous function, regardless of your weak spot.

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4. Timidity

This reply works since you’ve defined the way you had been capable of flip a weak spot right into a energy by way of real-world expertise. Usually, timidity may be seen as a flaw within the office, significantly if a job requires somebody to provide suggestions to others. On this case, you are capable of present how timidity can be utilized as a energy, by way of considerate reflection and follow.

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5. Lack of Tactfulness

Oftentimes, sides of our personalities may also help us in sure areas of our work, whereas hindering us in others. That is pure. Nonetheless, you need to reveal a capability to acknowledge when your character interferes with the features of your function, and how one can clear up for that.

On this instance, you first clarify how your blunt nature means that you can achieve success in sure conditions. Then, you point out that you just perceive your bluntness may be seen as a scarcity of empathy and supply examples of how you have tried to unravel this challenge. In the end, your consciousness of the way you is perhaps perceived by others exhibits a degree of emotional intelligence, which is a essential asset for a group chief.

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6. Concern of Public Talking

On this instance, you point out qualities that aren’t relevant to the function, however which you nonetheless have been working to enhance. This exhibits your need to satisfy extra enterprise wants than needed in your present function, which is admirable. Moreover, it is spectacular if you happen to can present you are keen to contact your supervisor with areas you wish to enhance, as an alternative of ready on your supervisor to counsel these areas of enchancment to you. It exhibits a degree of ambition {and professional} maturity.

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7. Weak Information Evaluation Expertise

On this instance, you are capable of present your need to go above and past a job description and actively search out expertise that could possibly be useful to the success of your organization as a complete. The sort of company-first mentality exhibits the interviewer you are devoted to creating your self a invaluable asset, and making an attempt your finest to grasp the wants of the entire division, fairly than simply your function.

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8. Indecisiveness

This job interview reply works since you’re demonstrating you could each observe a frontrunner and sharpen your management expertise. It is alright to not know what to do within the second. Admitting that you just relied on robust management exhibits you could be a follower when wanted, however understanding when to step up is essential, too. With this reply, you are displaying that you’re going to step up if a state of affairs requires decisiveness.

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9. Harsh Self-Criticism

This reply works as a result of your interviewer might relate; all of us have harsh internal critics. It is also efficient as a result of 1) It exhibits that you just’re keen to work in your weaknesses outdoors of labor, not simply throughout enterprise hours, and a couple of) It demonstrates your internal critic might have legitimate factors. Discerning when to dismiss it’s key to forestall burnout and enhance productiveness.

Realizing how the internal critic might inhibit good work ethic exhibits your willingness to develop and be an efficient employee.

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10. Micromanaging

This reply works finest if you happen to’ve been in a management place earlier than and are making use of to a managerial function. Nonetheless, you possibly can nonetheless apply it to previous experiences the place you probably did have to point out management. This reply exhibits that when you could also be used to working your crew or group a selected approach, you are keen to confess when your methodology is not the best. Displaying your flexibility demonstrates your means to develop.

Associated Assets:

11. Talkative

This reply works as a result of it exhibits you are conscious of how your talkative tendencies could also be distracting within the office. It takes plenty of braveness to confess that. It additionally exhibits you’re keen to develop a relationship with coworkers however not at the price of productiveness.

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12. Hassle Sustaining a Work-Life Steadiness

At first, this would possibly look like a “energy” weak spot — pouring your self into work is nice, proper? Which means you like your job. But when it impacts your productiveness and your relationships with coworkers, that isn’t so nice. This reply works as a result of it does not simply say, “I work loads, so my dwelling life suffers.” It says, “I work loads to the purpose of burnout, and I’ve realized that I must construction my day.” In the event you’ve struggled with work-life steadiness points previously, it is essential to state the way you’re restoring that steadiness and the way it has impacted your work.

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Methods to Establish Your Best Weak point

As we already talked about, your reply have to be trustworthy whereas additionally not jeopardizing your probability at getting a job supply. So, how precisely do you determine which weak spot to speak about? Listed here are some suggestions:

1. Rule out any expertise which can be listed within the job description.

Scan by way of each element of the job itemizing and ensure weak spot is not included within the required expertise and tasks.

For instance, say you are making use of to be a senior product advertising supervisor. The job description says that the corporate is in search of somebody who’s a talented storyteller, can interpret information and market analysis, and is self-driven and adaptable to vary.

As a result of these are important expertise for the function, you would not wish to point out them as your weak spot. Doing so would make you appear much less competent and threat your probabilities of getting the job.

2. Think about weaknesses that you’ve got overcome.

Whereas getting ready your reply, replicate on what you have realized and improved whereas working in your present function.

Speak about your early struggles in studying or enhancing upon a talent and clarify to the interviewer what you probably did to beat it.

For instance, early on in my profession, I struggled with analyzing and decoding advertising information. With a purpose to enhance these expertise, my supervisor mentored me and gave me weekly assignments that allowed me to follow information interpretation.

Inside just a few months, I went from being a content material marketer who was averse to information to at least one who embraced it.

3. Discover inspiration by wanting by way of previous efficiency critiques.

In the event you’re having hassle pondering of a selected weak spot instance, learn by way of previous self-assessments and efficiency critiques. These paperwork supply examples of your accomplishments in addition to the areas you possibly can enhance upon, making them an awesome supply of inspiration.

Relying on how lengthy you’ve labored at your present firm, chances are you’ll be reminded of previous weaknesses that you just now take into account strengths. This may also help you craft a solution that exhibits your willingness to work on your self.

1. Select a weak spot that won’t forestall you from succeeding within the function.

When an interviewer asks, “What’s your best weak spot?” they wish to discover out:

• Whether or not you’ve a wholesome degree of self-awareness
• Whether or not you may be open and trustworthy, significantly about shortcomings
• Whether or not you pursue self-improvement and progress alternatives to fight these points, versus letting these weaknesses maintain you again

In the end, you may wish to use this query to reveal how you have used a weak spot as motivation to be taught a brand new talent or develop professionally. Everybody has weaknesses — your interviewer does not count on you to be good.

In the event you’re making use of for a copywriting place with little necessity for math expertise, you would possibly admit, “I battle with numbers, and do not have a lot expertise with information analytics. Whereas math is just not straight tied to my function as a author, I consider it is essential to have a rudimentary understanding of Google Analytics to make sure my work is performing nicely. To sort out this weak spot, I have been taking on-line programs in information analytics.”

A solution like this exhibits the hiring supervisor that you just acknowledge your areas for progress and are capable of act on them with out being advised to take action. This type of self-starter perspective is a plus for nearly any group.

2. Be trustworthy and select an actual weak spot.

The reply “perfectionism” will not lower it when speaking about your largest weak spot as a result of it is not an actual weak spot. Perfectionism can by no means be attained — it is a fear-based sample that results in short-term rewards like getting the job carried out early and exceeding expectations. Nonetheless, within the long-term, making an attempt to achieve perfectionism results in burnout, low-quality work, and missed deadlines. Burnout is among the largest contributors to decreased productiveness, turnover, and low worker engagement — all of which value an organization cash, time, and expertise.

As a substitute, select an actual weak spot. Beneath the need to do good work might lie a weak spot of belief. Maybe you do not belief that you’ll make errors on the group, so that you try to do all the pieces completely. That is an actual weak spot you could positively overcome.

3. Present an instance of how you have labored to enhance upon your weak spot or be taught a brand new talent to fight the problem.

Hiring managers do not count on you to beat your weaknesses utterly in a single day. Everybody has areas they have to always work on to maintain them sharp. Consider it this manner — if you happen to’ve devoted six months to understanding, you will not be capable to cease sooner or later and keep your progress. It is an ongoing course of that it’s important to work at.

4. Take into consideration weaknesses in your individual private life.

In the event you humanize your self within the interview, it’s going to permit your interviewer to attach and visualize working with you sooner or later. It isn’t nearly weaknesses that pertain to the job. For instance, if you’re an introvert and also you discover your choice for quiet time stops you from taking dangers, it is a relatable weak spot. While you reveal your self-awareness this manner, it exhibits you perceive that self-improvement correlates to work efficiency.

5. Consider the place you’d wish to be and what assist you should get there.

Total, progress is part of life. Take into consideration individuals you look as much as which may be associated to the sphere that you just’re in. Ask your self what character traits these individuals have and what work you would possibly must do as a way to get there. By offering an instance of the way you’re working to enhance your space of weak spot, you may give the interviewer a glimpse into just a few constructive attributes about your consciousness, together with that:

• You know the way to establish and mitigate points that come up.
• You’ve got discovered a useful resolution to an issue that you just and maybe others on the group face, which suggests you may be a direct useful resource to the group.
• You reveal self-awareness and a capability to take suggestions from others.

As a rule, you are going to must look outdoors of your self to beat a weak spot. Whether or not you look to your supervisor, the HubSpot Weblog, or a mentor for assist, the easy act of searching for assist demonstrates self-awareness and resourcefulness — two expertise which can be laborious to show, however invaluable to be taught. Tapping into your sources exhibits the interviewers you could clear up issues when the reply is just not but clear. That is a personality trait that has a spot on any group.

Briefly share an instance of a time whenever you requested somebody for assist in an space that you’ve got recognized as a weak spot. This offers the hiring group a transparent image of how you may work with the group to steadiness out that weak spot.

6. Do not be smug and do not underestimate your self.

An important factor you are able to do when responding to the query “What’s your best weak spot?” is exhibit confidence in your reply. (If insecurity is your weak spot, preserve studying.) Even if you happen to’re not probably the most assured individual, I’ll assume you are at the very least trustworthy with your self. In the event you’ve recognized an space of weak spot and also you’re certain about it, let that assurance shine by way of in your reply. There is not any must really feel embarrassed about one thing you are genuinely not good at so long as you are working to get higher.

Earlier than you begin expressing a real weak spot to your interviewer, get comfy with the forms of solutions that make hiring managers wish to work with you. Check out the next examples and discover just a few that suit your character and work fashion. Then, follow reciting them aloud so they arrive naturally to you.

Ideas for Speaking About Weaknesses in Job Interviews

Now that you recognize the best solutions and finest practices for selecting a weak spot, it’s time for the laborious half: Really delivering the reply to the interviewer. Let’s go over some suggestions for answering “What’s your best weak spot?” reside.

1. Observe your reply beforehand.

Observe doesn’t make good, but it surely definitely makes higher. Whereas it’s not assured that an interviewer will ask you about weaknesses, there’s a excessive chance that they are going to. You wish to be ready for that second by practising the tone and supply of your reply with a buddy or within the mirror.

There’s nothing worse than stumbling over an interview reply, particularly for this query about weaknesses. It’s completely okay to stutter a bit — all of us get nervous — however you need your reply to be as coherent and temporary as attainable. In the event you ramble, stumble an excessive amount of, or return in your phrases, you’ll appear unprepared or, worse, such as you’re mendacity.

When you’ve written up your reply, make sure you learn it out loud to your self a number of occasions, then retrieve it from reminiscence. Change your wording right here and there, and know that it’s okay to improvise as long as the bones of your reply stay the identical.

2. Look the interviewer within the eye and challenge confidence.

Because you’ve hopefully practiced a number of occasions, this could come naturally, however we are able to’t overemphasize it: When answering “What’s your weak spot?,” attempt to keep eye contact along with your interviewer throughout many of the reply, and challenge confidence when you converse.

“Undertaking confidence whereas speaking about my weak spot?” chances are you’ll ask. Sure! You wish to come clean with your most pressing alternatives for progress — not look like you’re cowed or intimidated by your individual shortcomings, or like your vanity has suffered dramatically. (Trace: It completely might have, and that’s okay, however your interviewer shouldn’t know that tidbit). You may take solace in that you just’re not alone. All of us have weaknesses to work on.

You may enhance your degree of confidence throughout your reply by explaining the way you’ve been engaged on this weak spot. In actual fact, by focusing the core of your reply on the way you’ve already improved on this space, you’ll appear extra confident and actualized by default.

3. Be temporary and to the purpose.

We don’t wish to linger an excessive amount of on weaknesses; attempt to preserve your reply quick, between the size of thirty seconds and one minute. Even nonetheless, solely the primary assertion ought to straight state your weak spot, and the remainder of the reply needs to be devoted to the instruments and techniques you’re utilizing to beat it.

Alternatively, chances are you’ll give a short anecdote on what you realized from coping with that weak spot in your private life or at work.

Don’t suppose it’s important to over-elaborate, both. State, in as easy phrases as attainable, the steps you’ve taken to enhance. Your interviewer probably has rather more urgent job interview inquiries to ask about your direct expertise, and the reply to this query isn’t as essential within the total course of as all of us might imagine.

4. Perceive the interviewer’s purpose.

Your interviewer’s purpose is to not intimidate you, scare you, or create a “gotcha!” second. They’re additionally not seeking to disqualify you primarily based in your reply. The “What’s your best weak spot?” query is among the hottest behavioral interview questions. It’s merely one other approach for interviewers to get to know your delicate private {and professional} attributes.

They’re not seeking to discover out that you just “completely suck” on the job you utilized for — if you happen to utilized, you probably meet the {qualifications}. They’re additionally not seeking to discover out about your laborious skilled expertise and attributes; different interview questions and solutions are higher suited to that. Quite, they wish to know when you’ve got sufficient self-awareness to establish your alternatives for progress. Do you’ve poise when talking about your weak spot? Do you gracefully settle for suggestions?

Together with anecdotes about earlier suggestions you’ve acquired, projecting confidence, and making it clear that you just’re taking steps to enhance can be sufficient to fly with excessive marks throughout this query.

5. Don’t stress an excessive amount of over your reply.

Excellent news: Hiring selections don’t come all the way down to your reply to “What’s your weak spot?” Stunning, I do know! Generally it looks as if it, as a result of it may really feel like such a loaded query.

To not fear: You may relaxation straightforward. So long as you’re trustworthy and state the way you’re making an attempt to enhance, this query will probably be low in your interviewer’s notes, until you lie about your weak spot, use a “pretend” weak spot equivalent to “I’m too organized,” or just evade the query completely.

Even if you happen to stutter a bit bit, you’ll be okay. So, loosen up, make certain in your reply, keep self-aware, and easily take it as a part of the dialog between you and the interviewer. The opposite questions on your expertise and how one can assist their firm are a lot, rather more essential to their hiring determination.

6. Showcase your character whereas maintaining it skilled.

Is humor your fashion? How about dry wit? You may introduce a few of that in this query, however solely flippantly, and solely after you’ve gauged the corporate’s tradition and examined the interviewer’s character. In the event you’re interviewing for a extremely company job, we advocate maintaining humor to a minimal. However it doesn’t matter what, you possibly can all the time present your character in your inflection, tone, and supply.

Take, for example:

Examine that with:

Neither of those is best than the opposite, however they each present totally different character sorts, and you are able to do the identical.

There’s Energy In Each Weak point

No matter whether or not you are unhealthy with numbers otherwise you have a tendency to not converse up in group settings, there is a energy behind each weak spot. The energy is in how you’re employed to beat it.

Leaning in your teammates who excel in these areas is a good way to point out that you’re going to work nicely on the group and that you know the way to make use of your sources to unravel issues. Taking skilled growth programs exhibits that you just’re keen to work towards enchancment.

Irrespective of which of those solutions you share with the hiring group, they will be very happy that can assist you develop and exceed the expectations of the function.

Editor’s observe: This submit was initially printed in December 2018 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.