The Right Way to Turn your Weaknesses into Strengths

For many people, one of the most difficult interview questions to answer is “what is your greatest professional weakness?” Answering this question honestly can be difficult, because you’re telling the interviewer that there is something you’re not good at. The key to answering this question honestly and effectively means taking your weakness and turning it into a strength. There is one very good strategy for doing this, and one strategy that is often used but best avoided.

Many people think that by choosing a weakness that makes them sound good, they’ll be able to avoid answering the question honestly. They may say “I’m a workaholic”, or “I’m a perfectionist” or something similar, hoping to convey the impression that their weakness makes them a good candidate for the job. Answering this question in such a way often comes across as arrogance, and you’re not really answering the question at all.

When an interviewer asks this question, what they really want to hear is that you are self-aware—that you know your limitations, and you know how to minimize the negative effects of your weakness.

Second, you must demonstrate that you are working to either overcome that weakness, or at least to improve your performance in that area.

For example, suppose your greatest weakness is that your organizational skills are not the best. This might seem like a very big problem, but it’s possible to turn that around and give it a positive spin. One possible answer is to say that organization is not something you are naturally good at, and because of this you make the extra effort to stay well organized.
 
Another good strategy is to answer this question in terms of the job you are interviewing for. If you lack an important skill that is relevant to the job, you can follow this up by explaining that you are committed to obtaining that skill quickly. This is a good strategy for young job seekers, especially those looking for their first position.

The important part is that you admit your weakness, but follow that up with your strategies for overcoming it. Interviewers will be impressed by your honesty, and by the fact that you have the dedication and self-motivation necessary to improve your work habits.

Also, please review our Free Interview Tips section.  If you need more help, please consider using a Career Counselor.