Most people think they have to be cagey when it comes to answering the question, what is your major weakness. They’ve been told it’s best to name a weakness that is actually a strength.
Employers don’t want a clever answer. What they’re interested in is what you think you need to work on, and what you think is in the way of your success.
Remember you’re being asked to talk about a ‘”weakness”. You’re not being asked to say where you’ve failed or screwed up (although that could be the result of a weakness). You’re not being asked to lay your faults on the table.
What is a weakness?
- A weakness is a quality, mindset or belief that gets in the way of your success or effectiveness.
- A weakness is a tendency or pattern that doesn’t serve you in the workplace. It’s not a one-time thing.
- A weakness is an area where you can get caught, despite your good intentions.
- A weakness is a skill area where you could benefit from training, direction, support or extra time, care and attention.
What’s the value of talking about your weakness?
A weakness offers information about a skill area or behavioral pattern that you’re invested in improving or changing.
A weakness offers insights into the conditions and job duties where you can be successful.
A weakness offers information about where management support, direction or professional development can be helpful.
Being able to talk honestly about your weakness shows that you’re self-aware and that you’ve thought seriously about what you need to do to be effective in the workplace.
What’s a good, foolproof approach to answering the question of weakness?
First, drop the word “weakness”! Substitute in: an area, skill or quality that you would like to improve or shift. Think about what will help you be successful in the job you’re after and in the career you’re pursuing.
Talking about concrete skills is possibly the easiest – and safest – way to answer the question of a major weakness. Think about what you would like to do better or differently in your work. What would you like to improve that would have you be more successful and more effective?
Here’s a model you can use:
- Choose an area where you’d like to improve.
- Give an example of how addressing that area would make a difference in your performance.
- Explain briefly what makes it important in your work, where it would have been helpful in the past, how you see it helping you to be successful in the position you’re applying for
- Describe specific actions you have taken or will take to make an improvement in that area.
Talking about behavior patterns or qualities that get in your way is another approach to answering the question. But, it can be a stickier. If you choose this approach, think about a quality that you want to work on or where you’ve taken steps to improve. Don’t choose something (like time management) that indicates your work will be late or (that you’ll be hard to manage or work with)!
Remember, employers know that we are not perfect! What they want to know is, are we able to identify areas where we have room to grow or improve, or where we could use support… all with the aim of being more effective and successful at work!