What employers are looking for:
Your best bet is being both specific and honest. For example, if you say you have leadership skills as a strength, be prepared to back that up with specific, verifiable examples. Tell them who you led, on what projects, and who they can speak with to learn more.
The same goes for weaknesses. Are there hard skills listed in the job description where you feel you can improve? Or soft skills, such as public speaking, that you don't have much experience with? Don't be afraid to name these, but offer a plan for improving your skills in these areas too.
Example Answers:
Strengths:
I consider my leadership skills to be one of my greatest strengths. During my time as a department head, I successfully merged two teams and organized training programs for all team members to ensure that everyone was confident in their new role. As a result, we were able to increase sales by 5% within our first month as a new team.
Thanks to my experience as an HR representative, I have gained excellent communication skills. I was responsible for facilitating informational workshops for staff members and mediated any conflict in the workplace. I have also completed a course on effective communication from UCLA.
I have 5 years of experience as a copywriter and consider myself to have strong writing skills. I was promoted to an editorial position after five years at the company, so I have also improved my editing skills thanks to my new role.
I am very honest. When I feel that my workload is too large to accept another task, or if I don't understand something, I always let my supervisor know.
My people skills are my greatest strength. I find it easy to connect with almost anyone, and I often know how to empathize with others in an appropriate way.
Weaknesses:
I find public speaking intimidating and have often struggled with presentations. As a result, I am currently taking a public speaking course at a community college to become more confident and learn to structure a speech more effectively.
I often struggle with delegating and choose to take on a larger workload to ensure that a task is completed perfectly. This puts more pressure on myself, so I have been using software to assign tasks and track their completion. So far this has helped me to trust my co-workers and focus more on my own tasks.
Shyness is something that I struggle with in large groups. I find it intimidating to ask questions or raise points, so I have often remained quiet in the past. I have been trying to be more vocal in smaller groups to become more confident.
I mainly used Python in my last position, so I don't have as much experience with Java. I did a course on Java for one semester at University, but I haven't used it since then.
I struggle with negative criticism and can become obsessed with perfecting my work after receiving notes from a supervisor. While I appreciate the guidance, I think I can learn to be less harsh on myself.
FAQs
The interviewer is looking for a genuine response that shows you know your worth, understand where you can improve, and a willingness to do so. Keep your answers short: Focus on 1–2 examples of strengths and weaknesses and add plenty of detail. Remember, the quality of your answers is what counts, not the quantity.
What is the best answer for what is your strength and weakness? ›
Your best bet is being both specific and honest. For example, if you say you have leadership skills as a strength, be prepared to back that up with specific, verifiable examples. Tell them who you led, on what projects, and who they can speak with to learn more. The same goes for weaknesses.
What are 5 strengths and 5 weaknesses? ›
List of common strengths and weaknesses
| Strength | Weakness |
|---|
| Creative Versatile Disciplined Proactive Honest Dedicated Fast Learner Self-aware | Self-critical Insecure Extremely Introverted Extremely Extroverted Too detail-oriented Too sensitive Impatience Difficulty delegating tasks |
Nov 24, 2022
How To Answer 'What Are Your Weaknesses?'
- Perform self-reflection. Prepare for this question by reflecting on yourself for a moment. ...
- Consider the position you are applying to. Make your answer relevant to the job you are applying to. ...
- Make it positive and actionable.
When answering, mention what your top strengths are, provide examples on how you've used them in the past, and finally, describe the results you've gotten. Be super specific with your answers. Don't just say “I'm good at X” - really dive deep and give the interviewer a comprehensive answer.
Why should we hire you? ›
Q1: How do I answer the question, "Why should we hire you? A: When answering, focus on your relevant skills, experience, and achievements that make you the best fit for the role.You should hire me because I am a hard worker who wants to help your company succeed.
How to introduce yourself in an interview? ›
To introduce yourself professionally in an interview, start with a polite greeting, state your full name, mention your educational background and relevant work experience, highlight key skills and strengths, briefly share your career objective, and express gratitude for the opportunity.
What is an example of employee strength and weakness? ›
Common strengths include independence, persistence, creativity, and ingenuity. Common weaknesses include procrastination, impatience, impulsiveness, and forgetfulness. Use the abilities that come to you easily – find out what you're naturally good at and exploit that skill for all it's worth.
What are weak points for an employee? ›
Employees who lack confidence in decision-making may hesitate or make indecisive choices. Building decision-making skills through training and mentorship can address this weakness. Resistance to Feedback: Employees who struggle with receiving constructive feedback may miss out on valuable opportunities for improvement.
What are your five greatest strength? ›
Before choosing one of these strengths, think of how you'll most likely be working with teams in this role.
- Accepting and incorporating feedback.
- Being dependable.
- Being willing to go above and beyond to help others.
- Communicating across functions.
- Having high emotional intelligence.
- Noticing when others need help.
Answer “what is your greatest weakness” by choosing a skill that is not essential to the job you're applying to and by stressing exactly how you're practically addressing your weakness. Some skills that you can use as weaknesses include impatience, multitasking, self-criticism, and procrastination.
What is an example of a positive weakness? ›
A good weakness refers to a weakness that can be seen in a positive light. For example, being too critical could mean that you pick up on mistakes that your colleagues would otherwise miss in a project.
How would you describe yourself? ›
Sample answers:
I am a hard-working and driven individual who isn't afraid to face a challenge. I'm passionate about my work and I know how to get the job done. I would describe myself as an open and honest person who doesn't believe in misleading other people and tries to be fair in everything I do.
Why do you want this job? ›
"I am excited about this job because it allows me to be part of a company culture that values teamwork, collaboration, and open communication. During my research about [company name], I was impressed by the positive work environment and the emphasis on fostering creativity and diversity of thought.
How do you respond to tell me about yourself? ›
The best way to answer "Tell me about yourself" is with a brief highlight-summary of your experience, your education, the value you bring to an employer, and the reason you're looking forward to learning more about this next job and the opportunity to work with them.
What are the strength of a person? ›
Physical strength – you may have incredible flexibility, coordination, or endurance. Mental strength – like embracing uncertainty, persisting through challenges, and bouncing back from setbacks. Character-based strengths – some examples include enthusiasm, courage, discipline, and a positive attitude.
How do I tell about myself? ›
- Use Storytelling and Practice Your Answer. ...
- Highlight Relevant Strengths and Experience. ...
- Share a Professional Story and Relevant Anecdotes. ...
- Exercise Research-Based Empathy in Your Response. ...
- Provide a Brief Highlight-Summary of Your Experience. ...
- Differentiate Yourself from Other Applicants.
