How to Answer “What are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?”

During a job interview, when candidates are asked – “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses”, most of the time they either opt to become too humble while answering this question or they become a braggart – and let us tell you both the approaches are not ideal or recommended. In fact, some of the candidates don’t even answer this question and prefer to keep quiet and reserved considering the question not that important which is also a wrong thing to do. 

But you should take it as an opportunity to tell about your strong points and mild weaknesses so that the interviewer can assess you accordingly. It also helps in demonstrating self-awareness and helps in creating a good impact. So, in order to help you we have compiled an interesting yet knowledgeable article, which will help you in giving positive answers.

Why Interviewer asks “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses” in an Interview?

You need to understand when an interviewer asks a question about your strengths and weaknesses in the interview – he actually wants to assess your personality, particularly with respect to the company and the job role for which you’re applying. In general, the interviewer wants to identify if you are a right fit for the job opportunity or not, if you would be able to handle your job responsibilities or not, and what are those personality traits of yours that will be really helpful in that particular job role, etc. by knowing your actual strengths and weaknesses. Hence, you need to consider this question equally important as others. 

Now, to help you out in compiling the perfect answer to “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses” – below we’ve provided the most effective approaches that you all can consider:

Addressing Your Strengths

So, firstly we will talk about the strengths and how you should mention the same in your interview with the help of basic examples related to your previous companies or job role that you played. This makes you more clear about your achievements and helps in answering precisely.

1. Go Through the Job Description

First and foremost, what you need to do is read the job description thoroughly. Yes, if you’re thinking that the job description has nothing to do with this general strength-weakness-related question then you are entirely wrong. After going through the job description, you will be able to find out what strengths or personality traits this particular job expects from the candidate – and then you can easily filter out your strengths and weaknesses accordingly to prepare your answer.  

2. Relate Things to Your Job Profile

Always, start your answer by mentioning your strengths and weakness in the interview as it helps in creating a positive impact on the interviewer. But, make sure that the strengths that you are about to mention recruiter should be related to the job profile – however, it doesn’t mean that you’re mandatorily required to mention here technical strengths or skills relevant to the job profile, but you can mention those real-life strengths that you think will directly or indirectly help you out in the job role for which you’re applying. 

For example, if the particular job role requires you to work in constantly changing working conditions, you simply can mention ‘adaptability’ as your strength. Do remember to avoid mentioning any unnecessary or irrelevant strengths such as “I can do 100 sit-ups within 30 minutes” unless and until it is related to the targeted job role such as if you’re applying for a Gym trainer post or any other job that requires physical strength you surely can mention your pushups or sit-ups records.  

3. Give Examples of Your Work

Okay, once you’re done with telling your strength and weakness in the interview, now what…?? So, now you need to give examples of those times when you actually used or applied the said strengths. Just for an example, if you’ve mentioned ‘Discipline‘ as your strength – you need to describe what made you feel so. ​It can be during your previous job or internships, college life, or somewhere else. 

The reason behind it is to justify to the interviewer that the strength and weaknesses in the interview that you’re talking about are genuine, and you’re not faking it. Also, if you’re thinking of skipping this strength-justification part and giving an example then let us tell you that there are many chances that the interviewer may ask you directly about it in the next question. 

Hence, it would always be better if you will get already prepared for it. You can also, describe how can you apply the said strengths or how they would be useful in the job role you are interviewing for. It will also help you to show the recruiter how well you’ve researched for the particular job role and company.  

Addressing Your Weaknesses

When the interviewer asks “What are your strength and weakness?” it is important that you think carefully before speaking, and never relate your weakness with the core skills that you are about to perform in the company. Always watch before you say anything and things will be fine. 

1. Think Carefully Before Speaking

Firstly, you need to remember that we all have weaknesses, and it’s quite a natural thing as nobody is perfect. You need to show that you are self-aware with all your personality traits whether it be your strengths or weaknesses. Hence, try to avoid giving answers to questions like – “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” – “I’m a perfectionist”, etc.  Also, you don’t need to mask your strengths as your weaknesses by saying something like – “I work too hard”, etc. as it is a very outdated and not-so-effective approach. You need to mention those genuine weaknesses that will reflect your honesty to the interviewer. And most importantly, you’re strongly recommended to not tell more than one weakness.

2. Do not Relate Weakness with Core Skill

So, it would be clear to you in the above point that you can admit while answering questions like ” What are your strengths and weaknesses?” in front of the interviewer and one weakness would be sufficient – now you need to know what kind of weakness should you mention. Remember that the weakness should not be related to the core skill or requirement of the particular job role. Just for an example – if the job role requires a technically sound person, you can’t say like “I’m a little weak or slow in grasping technical things” or if it requires good communication skills, you can’t say like “Public Speaking is not my cup of tea“. You can go with several general and genuine weaknesses like “I find it difficult asking others for help”, etc. Try not to reveal too much specify the necessary information it help in creating a good impression.

3. End Answer on a Positive Note

Lastly, you can’t end your answer just by mentioning your weakness, but you need to tell about those things as well that you’ve done or are doing to overcome the said weakness. For example – if you’ve said that you’re not good with public speaking and even if it would not make a significant impact on the particular job role – you can still add something like “I’m constantly trying to improve this area. I’ve even started out to give some seminar sessions to my juniors to become proficient in it” in your answer. The main point is when the interviewer identifies that you’re not able to successfully acknowledge your weaknesses, but you also take relevant steps to get better at it – it really creates a positive impact on him/her.

Moving further, now let’s understand what are those doubts or problems that a candidate, especially a fresher, usually faces while preparing an appropriate answer for such strengths and weaknesses related interview questions:

• From where to start my answer to this question?
• How can I praise myself in front of interviewers while talking about my strengths?
• How to make my answer sound authentic and natural?
• What if the said weaknesses of mine make a negative impact on the interviewer? etc.

But…you need to know if you follow the right set of approaches, you can easily resolve these above-mentioned issues or queries. And if you’re wondering about what are the correct approaches to prepare an impressive and accomplished answer to the “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses” question and to face it in a better way – we’ll tell you in this article but before that, let’s first take a look at an ideal sample answer to this question to understand things better:

Sample Answer

“To start with my strengths, let me tell you that I’m a disciplined, team player, creative, and adaptable person. Also, I can say that I’m a quick learner.” *You can mention those strengths of yours that you think will add value in the particular job role* There were many instances in the past that made me feel that these are some of my core strengths. Just for an example – *here you can opt to narrate one or two such incidents where you’ve actually used or applied the said strengths whether it be during your previous job or internships, college life, or somewhere else.* 

Also, I do guess that these strengths of mine are perfectly suitable for this job role such as *here you can opt to describe how your strengths would be an added advantage in that job position*

Moreover, talking about my weakness – *here mention a general and genuine weakness of yours that wouldn’t impact much on the particular job position* However, let me tell you this as well *describe what you’ve done or are doing to improve the said weakness*”

Key Points to Remember While Answering – “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses”

1. Try to avoid the use of weak words like “probably”, “maybe”, etc. while telling your strengths and weaknesses – they depict the lack of self-awareness in the candidate.
2. Always take a pause and be thoughtful while giving the answer. It should sound genuine and shouldn’t look like something memorized.  
3. Try not to appear overconfident or too modest while giving the answer.  
4. Customize your answer as per the job role and company’s requirements from the candidate.

Summary

Now, after knowing the utmost significance, importance, and correct approach to answering these strengths and weaknesses-based questions in the interview – no one can stop to get ideally prepared for this question and to excel in your upcoming interviews. And honestly, it will really help you to stand out among other candidates and increase your chance of securing that job opportunity!!

“What are Your Strengths and Weaknesses” – FAQ’s

Q1. How to answer “What are your weaknesses”?

The good weaknesses are the honest ones that do not create a bad impression. Always reveal what is necessary or important and do not say anything extra that can act negatively for you. Eventually, in the end, it must be followed by ways in which you will improve the skill that you lack. 

Q2. What are examples of employee strengths?

These are the examples of strengths that employees can mention in an interview:

• Writing skills
• Empathy
• Self-motivation
• Leadership skills
• Honesty
• Initiative
• Teamwork

Q3. What is a weak interview answer?

Make sure that you give genuine answers and do not choose words that do not show real weaknesses of yours. Also, explain things properly so that you can get your dream job.