How to Answer the Interview Question: "What Is Your Biggest Weakness?"
Reply to this inevitable interview land mine with aplomb and get one step closer to landing your dream job.
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Land the job of your dreams by knowing how to answer even the toughest interview questions.
You Will Need
- List of skills you need to attain
- Eagerness to learn
- Focus on growth
Steps
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Step 1
Avoid generic answers
Avoid the most obvious, overused answers, like "I'm a workaholic," or "I don't have a weakness." Employers have heard them many times and are able to see right through your ploy.
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Step 2
Don't be too honest
Don't be too honest. Employers don't want hear that you have trouble with authority or that you're not a team player.
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Step 3
Look for areas of improvement
Look for areas of your work life that could use improvement or skills you would like to hone but didn't get a chance to at your previous job.
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Step 4
Show eagerness
Show your prospective employer how eager you are to attain new skills and explain how they could benefit their company. For example, "I never got a chance to give presentations at my previous job, so I'd love to have the opportunity to develop the public speaking skills that your company can use."
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Most hiring managers are looking for your ability to learn and grow.
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Step 5
Focus on growth
Focus on your personal growth by explaining how you overcame a weakness in your previous position. For example, you used to struggle with meeting deadlines until you took time-management classes to overcome it. Package a strength with your weakness, and you'll have the interview in the bag.
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Forty-nine percent of hiring managers surveyed cited speaking negatively about a current or previous employer as one of the most detrimental mistakes made during a job interview.
