Strengths and Weaknesses in an Interview
Questions about your strengths and weaknesses are universal to most job-interview processes. With any job, companies want to know if you have the skill set, experiences and interests required to perform successfully in the position. Understanding how to effectively answer specific questions by identifying your strengths and weaknesses honestly, but strategically, gives you an advantage in a job interview.
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Types of Questions
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Common questions used to address strengths and weaknesses include: "Tell me about your strengths (or weaknesses)?"; "What is your greatest strength (or weakness)?"; and "Give me three of your strengths (or weaknesses)?" Regardless of the wording of the question, the purpose of the interviewer remains the same. He wants to understand what you bring to the table and to determine if you have an honest self-acceptance and confidence.
Strategize
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Preparing for common interview questions, including those about your strengths and weaknesses is a must, according to the Job Application and Interview Advice website. You have no excuse not to sense you know, almost without a doubt, these questions are coming. Although your actual strengths and weaknesses do not change, it is OK to adjust your presentation of them in an interview for a specific job. Do your research, understand the position and responsibilities, and sell yourself accordingly, but with honesty.
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Addressing Strengths
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Similar to selling a product, your job is to sell the matching of your talents and abilities to the job needs of the company with which you you interview. Although you do not want to make up strengths that do not exist, you want to specifically reference those strengths that apply directly to the particular job. Research the company and prepare two to three specific strengths you want to present ahead of time. These include experiences, skills and personal qualities, advises the Job Application and Interview site.
Addressing Weaknesses
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Discussing your weaknesses effectively in an interview is usually more challenging. Interviewees often wonder if they will lose the job by being honest about weaknesses. Dave Taylor, MBA and MS Ed., an entrepreneur and professional business blogger, says that one of the of the worst responses is to say you have no weaknesses. Everyone has them and you appear to have little self-awareness if you say otherwise. He also advises against exaggerating a perceived strengths as a weakness -- for example, saying you "work too much." Instead, be honest, but brief in identifying a weakness that you have worked to improve.
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References
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