What's your go to answer to this classic job interview question?

[MaryBoBary]

What’s your biggest weakness?

I haven’t had a job interview for 6 years. I haven’t worked for 3 years (since having my son) and I now have an interview for my dream job next week. I am so nervous and trying to prepare but need some help answering this potential question. My biggest weaknesses are that I worry about things I can’t change (actually have anxiety and am on medication but clearly won’t be disclosing that!), have no self confidence and am very self critical, but how do I express these in a way that don’t make me look like a nightmare employee? Or is there a better answer I should use, even if it’s not strictly true?

How do you answer this question and still look like a desirable candidate? What other questions should I prepare for? Any and all advice really appreciated!

floribunda18 - Completely. Someone who knows they're right and infallible; and someone who is almost certainly not a team player. That can work well in some roles, but definitely not in a teaching/care position.

I haved used this question whilst interviewing candidates and it can give an insight into what kind of an employee the person would be. We sometimes frame the question as 'how would your colleagues describe you?'.

I have had some responses of how they are perfectionists but not how this is s weakness, just a poor attempt at giving a false negative answer.
A really good answer is someone who can show that they are self aware of their flaws and know or already have started working on them and can relate it to the role being interviewed for

I find it hard to delegate. It's something I discuss openly with my team and ask them to 'manage up', and have come up with ways to address it but it's still a weakness.

Twenty years ago I answered this with “Some people call me anal but I say I pay attention to detail”

Two of the interviewers burst out laughing and one sat there looking confused.

I was absolutely horrified, it just slipped out of my mouth.

It was a student placement and they didn’t give me the job as I was overqualified but they did offer me a job for the summer before the placement started so I did something right 😂

Stupid question though and most places don’t ask that now.

In the last interview I went to interviewer asked me to give her THREE things my COLLEAGUES would say are my weaknesses. This completely threw me because my (one!) prepared answer just didn't work when talking in the context of my colleagues. I ummed and ahhed for a bit, and gave one (too organised ) then just admitted that I couldn't think of another two! They were fine with it - I didn't get the job but came a close second and got excellent feedback.

I had a session with a career coach / recruitment consultant. She advised pick a part of the job that is not essential (e.g. excel knowledge) and then talk about how you would improve it in the job.

Honestly don't sweat it or give a life confession about all your inner skeletons. I am sure men don't do this in interviews - it is such a female thing to actually be honest!! Of course be authentic just be careful its not critical to the role.

how would your colleagues describe you?'

This however is a different question and requires more insight!

Will dig out the interview questions template she gave me and post tonight-interview gold.

Please don't use perfectionist as your weakness. It's such an overused cliche.

In the last round of interviews (for a junior role) every single interviewee said perfectionism was their weakness! I was willing them to say something else, but there were all as bad as each other on that question.

(I didn't set the questions FWIW).

I like the advice to pick something not important to the job.
How about I don't exercise enough, so try to go for a walk at lunch so I come back refreshed for the afternoon.

I usually say customer service but I do a job which requires zero interaction with customers so that works quite well.

Thank you again for all the responses, advice and good lucks - I’m feeling much more confident just for reading through then all.

@ADHDme that would be great, thank you.

In my last interview ( for my own job) I said I often start too many tasks at once. I said that if I'm not careful I can get overwhelmed so to combat this I now make a list and prioritise what needs doing and what the deadlines are. By having something visible I can re focus and concentrate in the job in hand rather than have a scatter gun approach.
I got my job and in the debrief afterwards I got told it was a good answer, they knew it was true ( as they are my managers akreadt) but over time had seen how my work had improved by using my method.
May be something like that?

Honestly don't sweat it or give a life confession about all your inner skeletons. I am sure men don't do this in interviews - it is such a female thing to actually be honest!!
It really isn't
11 makes and 10 females went for our own jobs last year.
Every single person sweated and kept on going through interview techniques. Livelihoods depended on it, everyone was bothered regardless of gender.

I read in a newspaper article recently that to say your biggest weakness is that you think you're a perfectionist is a huge mistake and doesn't go down well even though you qualify it.

I sometimes ask this (though I prefer to ask them to describe a failure and what they took from it).

Basically, I want people who are self-aware, know they have development needs and are already addressing the areas where they’re not so strong. Anyone who can’t sit in front of their prospective manager and set out what they need to work on and what they’re already doing about it has potential to be a nightmare to manage and won’t improve while in the role.

I’ve said before that I’m an introvert and I need to push myself to speak out sometimes. However my line of work needs a good amount of emotional intelligence so I’ve also said sitting back allows me to read people and I can get the best from other introverts in a group and ensure everyone is heard.

Good luck

Ok these are just suggestions for interview prep from a coach:

Research website, values etc. Google news about them. Research interviewers if possible. Know job spec thoroughly. Prepare STAR examples. What is the process - tests?

Know your previous roles in depth, think about achievements in each role, know the job spec, so you can relate past experience/learning to the role

Tell me about yourself - brief synopsis of recent years

Questions about your CV - motivations for moving to each role, what did you learn, what skills did you need

Why do you want this job - 3 reasons you want the role (what they do, values, info from external sources-don't mention benefits or location), 3 facts about the organisation, enthusiasm for role and organisation

What your colleagues, boss, friends say about you? How people see you in workplace/how you work with authority/external stakeholders

What are your strengths? 3-4 strengths and brief example for each one

What qualities do you think an X needs to be successful?

What are your weaknesses? What areas do you need support? What areas do you feel you need development in to be successful in this role?

Where do you see yourself in 2/5 years time?

What is your greatest achievement to date?

How do you measure personal success?

What has been your biggest challenge/failure to date?

Competency Questions

Skills/personal attributes/qualities listed on job spec.

Use STAR. Describe Situation Task Action Result. Use I not We. Include processes/considerations/any challenges, complexities, dilemmas/outcome/learrning

Examples related to job spec

Also Teamwork, problem solving approach/examples

What challenges do you foresee in the role

Prepare a few questions for them - development, training. Nothing obvious on job spec.

Be 5-10 mins early. Be aware of and try to engage everyone. Don't play with phone in reception. Interact with receptionist etc. When approached stand, firm handshake, smile, eye contact. Interact on way to interview roon. Accept water. Smile throughout and look at all interviewers. Don't fidget, hair etc. Mention competencies in your answer so they can be ticked off. Thank for time, smile and state your interest in role at the end.

Nerves

Breathe. You have the skills, knowledge and experience. You are prepared, there are no trick questions. They are people, they want you to do well. It is a 2 way prrocess. If you are not sure ask them to clarify the Q, be honest if you don't know. If you are still nervous tell them.

Thank you so much @ADHDme. I’m going to write these all out with answers to keep reading through (I have a terrible memory and need to write things down to remember them). I really appreciate you bothering to post all of that.

And thank you everyone else for all of the input too.

I went and got myself an outfit and a bit of new make up today, and had my haircut yesterday to try and feel more ready!

After my last interview the best advice I can give you for the interview is dont rush to answer. Thst was a mistake i made in my younger days, i tried to get everything in and quick as i could! Think what they are actually asking and compose your thoughts.
I took a blank paper and pen into my interview and was able to jot a few key words down as they popped into my head.

During the interview I would remember something to add from an earlier question and towards the end said something like on the second question you asked me about... ..... I' d like to add that.... '

Good luck.

Great advice on this thread, it has been really useful. Thanks for starting it Mary and best of luck! A haircut is always a good plan .

This is what I've always wanted to say . . .

Witchy

Toostressy I wonder what they would say

'i find it hard to switch off, knowing I sometimes have to leave a task unfinished in order to also work on something else to allow for multitasking I sometimes find that hard but writing a task list or an order of importance list can help ease that anxiety of knowing a task isn't complete'...worked well so far