Why do interviewers want to know your weaknesses?
On the surface, it seems counterproductive to finding a good candidate for a new position by digging into someone’s weaknesses. However, interviewers ask because they’re trying to ascertain whether you have any level of self-awareness, can reflect upon your own performance, and are willing to change things that need improvement.
Self-awareness
Interviewers are interested in understanding how well you know yourself and your own limitations. Acknowledging and discussing weaknesses in a job interview demonstrates a level of self-awareness, which is considered an important quality in a professional setting.
On top of that, many organizations value humility and honesty in their employees. Discussing weaknesses can provide insight into your personality and how you approach challenges, which can be important for assessing cultural fit within the organization.
Performance management
Addressing weaknesses requires problem-solving skills. Interviewers want to see how you approach challenges and whether you’ll work towards overcoming them. If you can articulate your weaknesses and discuss strategies for improvement, that showcases your ability to proactively identify and address problems.
It also hints at your aptitude for critical thinking. By being able to analyze your performance, identify areas that need improvement, and come up with strategies or plans to address them, you show off your ability to think critically, assess situations objectively, and make decisions based on thoughtful analysis.
Self-improvement
Weaknesses can be relevant to the job requirements and responsibilities. By discussing weaknesses in a job interview, you can demonstrate how you’re working towards improving specific skills or areas that are relevant to the job, showcasing your potential for success in the role.
Interviewers are also interested in candidates who have a growth mindset – an attitude of continuous learning and improvement. Demonstrating that you can openly discuss your weaknesses and possess a willingness to learn and grow shows that you’re open to feedback, adaptable, and have the potential to develop new skills.
How to discuss weaknesses in job interviews
Start by adopting the right approach and mindset. Now that you know what the interviewer is trying to learn, use that to guide your answer. With careful consideration and preparation, you’ll knock the answer out of the park.
Use these tips to answer the “what is your biggest weakness?” question:
- Be honest: Many times, you’ll see advice that says it’s okay to make up a weakness. This simply isn’t in your best interest. Honesty is crucial when discussing weaknesses in a job interview. Interviewers can often sense when a candidate isn’t being truthful, so it’s best to be sincere in your response.
- Make your response relevant to the job: This involves some preparation, like reading the job description to find out which skills the company seeks in a new employee. If you’re applying to be a teacher, admitting that you have a hard time with public speaking may not serve you very well here. It would be better to talk about something like being overly self-critical and holding yourself to standards that are sometimes too lofty.
- Tell a story: If you haven’t heard of the STAR method for answering interview questions, now’s the time to look into it. The basics are that you should describe a situation, talk about what was going on, and then discuss what you did and the results of your actions. You don’t want to drone on forever, though. Try to keep your response to one to two minutes, as you don’t want to detract from your overall interview performance.
- Talk about your action plan: While it’s important to be honest about your weaknesses, it’s equally important to demonstrate that you’ve taken steps to address them. Discuss the actions you’ve taken or the strategies you’ve implemented to improve in those areas. This could include seeking feedback, taking relevant courses or training, or seeking mentorship or guidance from colleagues. Highlighting your proactive approach to self-improvement shows that you’re willing to invest in your own growth and development.
- Highlight strengths: Yes, you want to be honest and use a real weakness, but you can spin that weakness into a strength by demonstrating confidence and self-assurance in your plan to improve the weakness. Since interviewers are usually more interested in how you fix a weakness than the weakness itself, emphasize your willingness to learn and continuously improve.