How to answer one of the toughest interview
questions....
What's your greatest weakness?
Without doubt one of the hardest questions to answer. Being too honest
can severely affect your interview. Everyone has something they can
work on, so saying you have no weaknesses makes you sound arrogant.
The best way to approach this is to think of a weakness that won't
impact your getting the job. Remember that this question is a work-related
question, so don't say that your biggest weakness is not helping enough
around the house or, the worst answer I ever heard, "chocolate
cake."
Tips:
1) Do not mention a weakness that will prevent you from being hired.
If you're going for a job as a telemarketer, don't say your greatest
weakness is speaking on the telephone!
2) No clichéd responses. "My greatest weakness is that
I am a perfectionist."
3) Do not avoid the question. The interviewer has asked you this question
and you need to answer it.
My advice is to provide a real work-related weakness and follow it
up with examples of how you are fixing the problem.
Example:
If you're asked this question, give a small, work-related flaw that
you're working hard to improve. Example: "I've been told that
I occasionally focus on details and miss the bigger picture, so I've
been spending time laying out the complete project every day to see
my overall progress."
Admitting a real weakness and then following up with what you're doing
to improve yourself is preferable. "My presentation skills are
not as strong as I'd like, so I signed up for weekend presentation
skills classes and also joined a Toastmasters club." Remember
that the specific job you are interviewing for will help to determine
how you answer the question.
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