Handling the Weakness Question
An Article by Colleen Clarke, Career Specialist & Corporate Trainer

Many of us like talking about ourselves in an interview. Clients tell me all the time, “Just get me an interview and I can get the job.” But, when one is being grilled about one’s shortcomings or weaknesses most people tend to get a little nervous and often don’t know how to respond. Not being prepared can kill a job opportunity. There are several different ways you can handle the weakness question keeping in mind that all your answers need to be turned into positive responses.

1. Give a weakness that is not related to the job description.
   Eg. An Admin Assistant could say, “My accounting skills are not up to par though I do balance my own chequebook very well.”
2. Tell something that was a weakness and how it is now a strength. Eg. “I used to be afraid to speak up in staff meetings, but since I’ve been going to Toastmasters I even chair some of the meetings.” This one may require a back up of a still existing weakness.
3. Use an obvious physical disability. Eg. “My left hand prosthesis doesn’t allow me to type as fast as I’d like, however, my accuracy is 99% and I do 55 wpm with my right hand.”
4. Use humour if you are a humourous person. “My weaknesses are George Clooney and chocolate.” If they don’t laugh maybe you wouldn’t want to work for them. I recommend you follow that with a legitimate work related weakness.
5. A maximized strength becomes a weakness. If you are TOO anything it may be construed as a weakness. Never say you are a Workaholic or you pay too much attention to detail. These indicate you waste company time and money and may not have a healthy work/home balance.
6. Transference. Your weakness is frustration or impatience but it is due to someone else’s lack of productivity. Eg ”I get frustrated when a team member doesn’t complete their part of a project, leaving others to do their work at the last minute.”
7. Mention a skill, which you would like to improve. Eg. A warehouse worker or corporate executive may say, “My computer skills aren’t quite what I’d like them to be. I am taking classes now to upgrade.”
8. It is perfectly acceptable to say “I don’t have any weaknesses that relate to the job description, though I will have to familiarize myself with company policies and applications to be right up to snuff.”
9. Do not use a personal attribute or characteristic as a weakness, it is not your personality being judged here, it is your work skills. Stay away from, “I am quite shy.”

Pause after the weakness question is asked. If you answer too soon you may appear rehearsed. Keep your answer short and to the point. Don’t over explain or make apologies. If you don’t understand what they are actually asking, ask for the question to be rephrased.

Be sure to tell your references what weakness answer you want them to use during a reference check. Remember, we all have weaknesses, don’t be ashamed or cocky when telling your weakness. Be sure you don’t mention a weakness that is a skill required by the advertised position.

Article by: Colleen Clarke, Career Specialist & Corporate Trainer
www.colleenclarke.com
Author of Networking How to…

More Career Articles