The results are in! We took an informal poll via our social media channels and in the office, and the least favorite question an interviewer asks is, “What is your biggest weakness?” As recruiters, we ask our candidates if they encountered any tough or uncomfortable questions during the interview. The answer they gave to the “biggest weakness” question is often the one that undermines a candidate’s confidence in their overall interview performance. Why?
Most candidates tell us that they don’t think there’s a right way to answer the question. For instance, if you tell your interviewer that you’re not very good with details, but you’re working on it, it might give them the impression that you’ll miss things that other job applicants would catch. Or, it might lead your interviewer to see that you’re honest, aware of your weakness, and appreciate your candor and professional awareness. As a candidate, there’s no way to know how your interviewer feels about your answer unless you get the job and can follow up at a later, appropriate time.
Another reason this is the most hated interview question is that it can prompt a candidate to disguise a weakness as a strength, and therefore come across as being insincere. Giving an answer like, “I’m a perfectionist,” can make you sound like you don’t want to identify something you could work on, or worse, that you don’t know what you should be working to improve.
So what’s the “right way” to answer this dreaded question? In our professional opinion, we think you should avoid both scenarios we addressed. Be honest, but give a specific example of when you thought you could have handled a situation better, or performed a task more effectively. Don’t appear like you’re shying away from the question, but don’t get into too much detail. Also, make sure you show the interviewer that you’ve taken steps to improve in this area.
Remember, the goal of a first interview is to give the best impression of you as a person and candidate to get asked back for second interview. Prepare as much as possible so you can paint yourself as the ideal candidate for the job . Rehearse your answers to common interview questions so you know how you’re going to sound when you’re asked a specific question. Lastly, don’t be afraid to ask for advice. If you have trouble with a different question, ask a trusted friend or mentor about the best way to answer it.
We are hoping that even if you have to answer the dreaded question in an interview, we’ve armed you with enough advice to navigate past the question and are on your way to a second interview!