It is commonly known to everyone that people usually want to do jobs. They do lots of hard work to get a job. But before getting a job, a candidate has to pass the test. Many companies and organizations conduct written tests as well as interviews. There are some other companies that only conduct interviews to hire. However, the interview is a common and preferred step in hiring a candidate in almost every recruitment. Interviewers ask various questions to the candidate to know about them and whether they are the right fit for the organization. Among various questions, there is one common question they ask “What are your strengths and weaknesses”? When you face this question, never answer that in a casual way. You might get rejection.
Read this article to know how to give effective answers to the question.
Why do interviewers ask “What are your strengths and weaknesses”?
In the interview, interviewers ask various questions to a candidate. One of the common and important questions they ask is, “What are your strengths and weaknesses”? They never ask any irrelevant questions to a candidate because they have to take many interviews within a day. For asking every question, they have a purpose. So they expect answers in that way.
By asking this question, they want to know you and how much you know yourself. They try to understand what kind of candidate you would be and how you would carry yourself in the role, are you a right fit for this job or not.
Moreover, with this question, they can easily learn how honest you are, how self-aware you are, whether you are well aware of your traits, how you can use your positive traits in the workplace, whether you can address your weakness and what steps you have taken to improve them.
So, be prepared to expect and face this question.
How to answer “What are your strengths”?
This question is a great opportunity to show the important qualities and abilities you would bring to the role, team, and company. Start by clearly and concisely stating your strength, highlighting your skills and experiences as your strength. Then make your answer impactful by providing context and telling a story. Tell your interviewer only those strengths that are relevant to the job position. Remember not to brag about irrelevant qualities.
Examples
“Well, to start with my strengths, I am good at teamwork and have excellent communication skills. In my previous job as sales manager, I motivate my teams to generate leads, build good relations with clients, set targets to hit, generate well revenue, and ultimately meet the customers’ needs.”
How to answer “What are your weaknesses”?
When you were asked about your weakness, never say, “I don’t have weaknesses,” because every human has weaknesses. You might get rejection immediately if you say this. Mention your weakness strategically in such a way that, in the end, you come out as an all-round personality and an eligible candidate for the organization.
Remember that you only tell about those weaknesses that actually do not impair your ability to perform the core function of the role. Admit your weakness, and reply in a brief explainable way that makes them feel you have worked hard to improve and are more competent now.
Examples
“To talk about my weakness, I do overwork and not delegating tasks, which sometimes makes me feel burnt out and decreases my productivity. As a manager, to manage my projects more efficiently, I have recognized the strengths of those in my team who can do that work.
Additional tips for discussing strengths and weaknesses
- Be honest about your abilities.
- Be crystal clear and concise about what you want to say.
- Only tell those strengths that support the job description.
- Don’t tell those weaknesses that prove you are unfit to perform the core function.
- Speak positively about yourself, including your relevant accomplishment.
- Don’t exaggerate your skills and strengths.
