Absolutely correct. When asked in an interview, your weakness should always be something that resembles a strength in an idealistic world. For example, "I trust people easily" or "I find it hard to deal with people who are dishonest," etc.
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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How about 'I get very attached to my work..' it is both strength and weakness.. Isn’t it?
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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yes...but then in that case you will have to support this with an example from your experience where you exemplified this trait of your personality
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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Of course, your weakness should also be presented in such a manner that may indicate indirectly like your strength.
From India, Delhi
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394From India, Delhi
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Dear Kaavyaa, In my views, you can indicate your weakness about work in the words, "I can’t bear with keeping my official work pending for the next day."
From India, Delhi
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From India, Delhi
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A weakness should not present negativity. It should be presented in such a way that the person/team across should feel it as if it is in the organization's favor. Very rightly quoted examples above like "I get very attached to my work" or "It is very difficult for me to deal with dishonest people" but with examples from your past experiences.
Regards,
Sanjay Arora
Happiness always...
From India, Ambala
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Regards,
Sanjay Arora
Happiness always...
From India, Ambala
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You would definitely impress your interviewer with such answers if YOU WERE LIVING IN THE LAST CENTURY. (Forgive my harshness but here's why)
Imagine YOU are the interviewer, why would you ask someone his or her weakness? It would probably be because you want to know if the candidate is able to "first" self-assess him or herself. Self-assessment is a compass for those heading towards success. Now imagine the candidate says "I am a workaholic" or "I get attached to my work". One of two things will pop into your mind,
1. why did this person leave his previous job if he gets so attached to his work/why are the candidate's scores not high enough for someone who loves his work (for freshers)
2. Doesn't this person know that we, the interviewers, read stuff off the internet and know these are cliché answers.
Either way, you as the interviewer will feel that the candidate is (for lack of better words) "Trying to kiss my a**).
The "second" reason you would ask the candidate this question is whether he is working on improving himself. If yes, then you would be curious to know in what way the candidate is improving himself.
Therefore, the "ideal" answer is an HONEST one. If your communication skills are poor, say "I won't say it is my weakness, but I am working on improving my communication skills (or technical skills or learning to manage my time better or any other soft skills)". Don't use the word "weakness" in your answer since it could mean that this weakness is your limitation or worse, "permanent weakness," which means that you are never going to improve in that area. Instead, use "area that I need improvement" or "something I'm working on improving".
The other weaknesses you can mention are those that "don't affect your professional life", e.g., I can't cook anything besides tea and Maggie noodles. Or I am allergic to cats (for those who don't work with cats) or I'm afraid of heights (for those who work at ground level).
Like I said, be honest. So identify any areas you need improvement and start working on it. Don't try to deceive for you never know who reads these forums. :-)
Avinash Tavares Trainer, Consultant & Life Coach youthempowermentsolutions(dot)org
From India, Pune
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Imagine YOU are the interviewer, why would you ask someone his or her weakness? It would probably be because you want to know if the candidate is able to "first" self-assess him or herself. Self-assessment is a compass for those heading towards success. Now imagine the candidate says "I am a workaholic" or "I get attached to my work". One of two things will pop into your mind,
1. why did this person leave his previous job if he gets so attached to his work/why are the candidate's scores not high enough for someone who loves his work (for freshers)
2. Doesn't this person know that we, the interviewers, read stuff off the internet and know these are cliché answers.
Either way, you as the interviewer will feel that the candidate is (for lack of better words) "Trying to kiss my a**).
The "second" reason you would ask the candidate this question is whether he is working on improving himself. If yes, then you would be curious to know in what way the candidate is improving himself.
Therefore, the "ideal" answer is an HONEST one. If your communication skills are poor, say "I won't say it is my weakness, but I am working on improving my communication skills (or technical skills or learning to manage my time better or any other soft skills)". Don't use the word "weakness" in your answer since it could mean that this weakness is your limitation or worse, "permanent weakness," which means that you are never going to improve in that area. Instead, use "area that I need improvement" or "something I'm working on improving".
The other weaknesses you can mention are those that "don't affect your professional life", e.g., I can't cook anything besides tea and Maggie noodles. Or I am allergic to cats (for those who don't work with cats) or I'm afraid of heights (for those who work at ground level).
Like I said, be honest. So identify any areas you need improvement and start working on it. Don't try to deceive for you never know who reads these forums. :-)
Avinash Tavares Trainer, Consultant & Life Coach youthempowermentsolutions(dot)org
From India, Pune
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Hi Avinash,
I really like your explanation about turning your weakness into a strength or a positive point. How about a weakness such as "doing the same tasks or following the same routine makes me feel dull; I thrive on new challenges and opportunities to learn, as they motivate me."
Regards,
Shree
From India, Hyderabad
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I really like your explanation about turning your weakness into a strength or a positive point. How about a weakness such as "doing the same tasks or following the same routine makes me feel dull; I thrive on new challenges and opportunities to learn, as they motivate me."
Regards,
Shree
From India, Hyderabad
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What is the objective of asking such questions about strengths & weaknesses? Is the interviewer expecting an honest answer or a very polished (diplomatic) answer? Could anyone answer the question?
Thanks,
Rashee
From India, Delhi
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Thanks,
Rashee
From India, Delhi
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Hi, everyone.
We are generally very much aware of the situation. We are so busy trying to impress others that even if we are not like that, we still mention only those aspects. For example, "I can't bear keeping my official work pending for the next day." Just imagine if most people reply with such an answer, what will the interviewer think?
Yes, you can mention this weakness, but it should be relevant. Instead, you can state your own weakness but frame it positively. That is the mantra. This way, the interviewer will feel that you are genuine.
I have faced many interviews. Do you know what happened? All my friends mentioned the same weakness. Can you guess the result, right? So, try to identify yourself.
From India, Hyderabad
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We are generally very much aware of the situation. We are so busy trying to impress others that even if we are not like that, we still mention only those aspects. For example, "I can't bear keeping my official work pending for the next day." Just imagine if most people reply with such an answer, what will the interviewer think?
Yes, you can mention this weakness, but it should be relevant. Instead, you can state your own weakness but frame it positively. That is the mantra. This way, the interviewer will feel that you are genuine.
I have faced many interviews. Do you know what happened? All my friends mentioned the same weakness. Can you guess the result, right? So, try to identify yourself.
From India, Hyderabad
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Hi Shree,
The statement you've given, "the same work or same routine makes me dull, I need new challenges and new things to learn, to motivate myself" implies that you like to work with new things, not necessarily that the old stuff makes you dull. I assume you brush your teeth the same way since the time you started and will continue as long as you have teeth. :-)
We need to rephrase our statements so that it simply cannot be taken in a way that proves you are not fit for the job. If I were you, I would rephrase your statement and say, "I believe routine work is essential in any job. People may say it's boring to do routine jobs, but I keep myself motivated by learning new things such as... (give examples) and taking up challenges that help me grow and be better overall."
There is no negative statement in it, except for the one about a boring job. That too, I don't say that the job is boring, people do. (Something I learned from Barkha Dutt in her interviews) ;-)
Regards,
Avinash Tavares
Trainer, Consultant & Life Coach
youthempowermentsolutions(dot)org
From India, Pune
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The statement you've given, "the same work or same routine makes me dull, I need new challenges and new things to learn, to motivate myself" implies that you like to work with new things, not necessarily that the old stuff makes you dull. I assume you brush your teeth the same way since the time you started and will continue as long as you have teeth. :-)
We need to rephrase our statements so that it simply cannot be taken in a way that proves you are not fit for the job. If I were you, I would rephrase your statement and say, "I believe routine work is essential in any job. People may say it's boring to do routine jobs, but I keep myself motivated by learning new things such as... (give examples) and taking up challenges that help me grow and be better overall."
There is no negative statement in it, except for the one about a boring job. That too, I don't say that the job is boring, people do. (Something I learned from Barkha Dutt in her interviews) ;-)
Regards,
Avinash Tavares
Trainer, Consultant & Life Coach
youthempowermentsolutions(dot)org
From India, Pune
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I somewhat agree with what Avinash is trying to bring out. If you insist on spelling out weaknesses like "I trust people very easily" or "I cannot keep office work pending", etc., come on, man, who are we dealing with? Do you want your so-called "for the sake of the interview" weakness to become a threat for you?
If you are really honest, why refer to it as a weakness? Why not a challenge? Say that your biggest challenge is to stop "your habit of planning office tasks for the coming week during the weekend, week after week, lest you get burnt out. I want to learn to let go and take a break for a day" or "your getting so attached to your team that any member relocating or moving out makes you feel that maybe had you convinced him/her more he/she would have stayed; knowing that change is the only constant".
In case you are unsure, the safest bet is to stick to issues that are not job-related. This sort of question is more for reading body language since though you may have rehearsed the answer before the interview, you actually are not sure how it will be appreciated.
Look into the eyes and just answer honestly. As you keep moving towards senior levels, the dimensions will keep changing.
Regards,
Ashok
From India, Pune
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If you are really honest, why refer to it as a weakness? Why not a challenge? Say that your biggest challenge is to stop "your habit of planning office tasks for the coming week during the weekend, week after week, lest you get burnt out. I want to learn to let go and take a break for a day" or "your getting so attached to your team that any member relocating or moving out makes you feel that maybe had you convinced him/her more he/she would have stayed; knowing that change is the only constant".
In case you are unsure, the safest bet is to stick to issues that are not job-related. This sort of question is more for reading body language since though you may have rehearsed the answer before the interview, you actually are not sure how it will be appreciated.
Look into the eyes and just answer honestly. As you keep moving towards senior levels, the dimensions will keep changing.
Regards,
Ashok
From India, Pune
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Hello Avinash sir,
I really like your explanation on what to say during an interview when asked about weaknesses. What makes your answer unique is that you approach it from the perspective of an interviewer rather than an interviewee.
Thanks & Regards,
Deepak Yadav
From India, Delhi
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I really like your explanation on what to say during an interview when asked about weaknesses. What makes your answer unique is that you approach it from the perspective of an interviewer rather than an interviewee.
Thanks & Regards,
Deepak Yadav
From India, Delhi
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i absolutely agree with avinash, iam from fiji islands here in the pacific, most of you wouldnt now where this place is but i read these forums everyday. saiyad shah
From Fiji, Suva
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From Fiji, Suva
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Hi,
Thank you for the appreciation of my post. I hope it helps you all for your next interview. Saiyad, I do know where Fiji is (lucky you :-) ) because my favorite author has a hotel down there, Hotel Namale, and that is one place I will definitely visit. If you guessed this personality, you must read his books.
From India, Pune
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Thank you for the appreciation of my post. I hope it helps you all for your next interview. Saiyad, I do know where Fiji is (lucky you :-) ) because my favorite author has a hotel down there, Hotel Namale, and that is one place I will definitely visit. If you guessed this personality, you must read his books.
From India, Pune
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Hi,
Good to read all the content about weaknesses. But I have one doubt, if any HR professional says, "I trust people easily," does that give a negative impact? Or how can we say this in a positive way?
Please guide me as per my question.
Regards,
Anjali
From India, Delhi
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Good to read all the content about weaknesses. But I have one doubt, if any HR professional says, "I trust people easily," does that give a negative impact? Or how can we say this in a positive way?
Please guide me as per my question.
Regards,
Anjali
From India, Delhi
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When a person says "I trust people easily," there are two meanings to it. To him/her, all other people are positive, helpful, and friendly in their behavior until these other people betray him/her in any way. The second, more important one, is that the first impression of another person is generally positive. These two qualities are great to have for an HR professional. Would you join a company where the people we look up to during tough times (among other days) in the company are hostile and prejudiced? No, I didn't think so.
"In any environment, trust breeds trust and positivity breeds positivity; however, there are a few times when I've trusted people and they've let me down. People might call it a weakness, but because my inherent trust in people has led me to meet some wonderful people in my life and career. If along the way, I meet one or two people who let me down, well, I look at it as a learning experience and it makes you a better judge of character, doesn't it?"
Anjali, if you can relate to this, which I'm sure you can, you can put it in this way. Hope it proves useful to you.
Avinash Tavares
Trainer & Life Coach
YouthEmpowermentSolutions(dot)org
From India, Pune
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"In any environment, trust breeds trust and positivity breeds positivity; however, there are a few times when I've trusted people and they've let me down. People might call it a weakness, but because my inherent trust in people has led me to meet some wonderful people in my life and career. If along the way, I meet one or two people who let me down, well, I look at it as a learning experience and it makes you a better judge of character, doesn't it?"
Anjali, if you can relate to this, which I'm sure you can, you can put it in this way. Hope it proves useful to you.
Avinash Tavares
Trainer & Life Coach
YouthEmpowermentSolutions(dot)org
From India, Pune
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My Weakness is " Sometimes I push my people too hard in order to get the work done on time."
From India, Mumbai
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From India, Mumbai
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Hi Amit,
Do you believe that, or has someone told you that? If you get results for the company and the people who you "push" benefit, then that's okay... actually great! If the employees don't like it now, it's because they don't understand how it's benefiting them. If you are "not" getting the results, then your weakness is that you are pushing people the wrong way - that's not weakness, that's disastrous.
Assuming you are getting the results, if I were you, I would say:
"I GET RESULTS, and when I work for it, I push myself hard, and I push others hard as well. Some people might not like it, and there are times when I'm not able to help them understand how it will be beneficial to them. One can call it a weakness. Only when the job is done successfully and everyone gets appreciated for it, do they realize why I pushed them so hard."
From India, Pune
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Do you believe that, or has someone told you that? If you get results for the company and the people who you "push" benefit, then that's okay... actually great! If the employees don't like it now, it's because they don't understand how it's benefiting them. If you are "not" getting the results, then your weakness is that you are pushing people the wrong way - that's not weakness, that's disastrous.
Assuming you are getting the results, if I were you, I would say:
"I GET RESULTS, and when I work for it, I push myself hard, and I push others hard as well. Some people might not like it, and there are times when I'm not able to help them understand how it will be beneficial to them. One can call it a weakness. Only when the job is done successfully and everyone gets appreciated for it, do they realize why I pushed them so hard."
From India, Pune
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