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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Interview weakness question AIBU

33 replies

Pombearsandnaiceham · 14/08/2017 22:43

Have an interview coming up and just thinking about what kind of answer to use for 'what is your biggest weakness'.

The particular role that I'm applying is entry-level. It places quite a bit emphasis on teamwork, so I'm just wondering whether I should use a quality like leadership as a weakness?

So perhaps I could say something like 'Although I have some leadership experience, I need to work on my leadership skills'?

OP posts:
UnderCrackers5 · 14/08/2017 22:46

My main weakness is that I never know when to quit I just keep going. My husband calls me Duracell because I keep going when other give up

Lucyccfc · 14/08/2017 22:47

Don't repeat the word weakness, as its negative.

Respond by saying that you have some areas for development. Leadership is too vague - think about specific areas of leadership. It could be managing performance or delegating. Don't choose an area for development that is an absolute key skill for the role.

ThePinkOcelot · 14/08/2017 22:50

I was always told to think of a weakness but then turn it into a positive, if that makes sense! I can't think of an example at the moment though.

Moanyoldcow · 14/08/2017 22:56

I'm afraid I have to disagree with PinkOcelot - I've heard that this question is to find out how self-aware the candidate is and if they can identify a true weakness abs how they've overcome it.

For me it's reluctance to delegate and I overcome it by breaking projects into discrete tasks and assessing which of my team are best placed to complete them.

HundredMilesAnHour · 14/08/2017 23:01

This is such a cliched question and I really don't rate interviewers who ask it. Whatever you do, don't give the cliched answer of "I'm a perfectionist". If your interviewer does ask such a shockingly poor question, try to give an honest answer. What you need to show is self-awareness and the steps you're taking to mitigate the particular weakness.

Original poster
Pombearsandnaiceham · 14/08/2017 23:08

Thanks everyone :)

That's a good point Moany - I agree with that.

In that situation, if I'm being totally honest, I am (and have been for a while) very self-critical.

Would it be suitable to perhaps use being overly self-critical as a weakness?

I wonder if I could frame my answer as something like:

'I can be very self-critical. One way that I've learned to effectively manage this in the workplace is to prioritise my work and to divide my workload into small and measurable tasks in order to ensure that it is completed to a high standard and in a timely manner.'

OP posts:
fbradf01 · 14/08/2017 23:09

I interview a lot and don't particularly ask this question but often ask 'what are your development areas and what have you done in the last year to address them?'
I genuinely look for people to be honest, we all have things we aren't good at and I'm looking for people to admit them and show they have tried to work on it, often the more honest the more I warm to them!
I'd pick something where you can say, this is an area I've not had as much experience in and here are a few things I've done to get better at it. Good luck for the interview xx

user1471548375 · 14/08/2017 23:15

Eugh. Hate this question - sign of a poor interviewer and an organisation operating ten years behind the curve.

"I don't apply for jobs where my weaknesses would be issue, let me tell you about where I've improved on the relevant skills over the past year though" is my go to for that question.

Tanfastic · 14/08/2017 23:18

I've had two interviews recently and was not asked this question. I was however asked what my strengths were and what I could bring to the role.

Sorry I know that doesn't answer your question.

toddlermumoftwo · 14/08/2017 23:23

A good way of answering is giving an example of something you might not be strong at but turn it around and explain how you're working to be better at it. For example not liking public speaking so did some training then volunteered to give a presentation to your team.

LellyMcKelly · 14/08/2017 23:31

I'm an academic, and I got asked that question at an interview early in my career. I said, 'Admin. I hate doing admin. It's the bit of the job I like the least, but you just have to get on with it'. Luckily, the job I was going for had fairly minimal admin type tasks, and I think they appreciated my honesty (also, most academics hate admin, so there were a few smiles and nods of sympathy).

Perhaps, you could think of a small part of the job you're going for, and explain that you need to be motivated in that area, though you still get the job done on time and to the required quality. Of course, you still have to demonstrate that you'd be brilliant at the rest of it Grin

MyPatronusIsAUnicorn · 14/08/2017 23:36

I got asked this recently. I said having to speak in front of a group of people and being the sole focus of attention (job didn't require me to do this thankfully). They laughed and said "so a situation like this then?" (A panel of 3) and I said yes and one agreed and said it was hers too. Next interview they didn't ask it. DH has done interviews and said he hasn't asked this although it is on the list of questions.

OneStepForwards · 14/08/2017 23:40

Sorry OP, no helpful advice to give, but you've reminded me of something that made me laugh recently:

Interviewer: what's your biggest weakness?

Interviewee: honesty.

Interviewer: I don't think honesty is necessarily a weakness...

Interviewee: I don't give a fuck what you think!

Sorry, I'll get my coat...

WhichJob · 14/08/2017 23:41

It is an awful question because no-one every answers honestly if they expect to get the job!

Actual answer: "I'm always late and find it hard to concentrate on tasks that bore me which makes me prone to disturbing others so I am entertained."

Interview answer: "I just care too much about getting things right." Yeah right.

Although I did hear of one interviewee who answered 'spelling and grammar' to this question and the job was as a proofreader Shock

TheresSomebodyAtTheDoor · 14/08/2017 23:52

Be honest with yourself. What is your biggest weakness??

Then.....as it's an area you know you need to strengthen, what are you actively doing/focussing/exploring to support yourself??

Mine is organisation. I'm inherently shocking at it. I have learnt to be anal with lists. I have a fresh post it note on my laptop every day. I don't necessarily think this is a great example to give at interviews, but I've always felt I'd rather be truthful and I generally am successful in interviews :)

Remember to smile, and reply to small talk initially, it puts the interviewer at ease (they're often nervous too!)

jo10000 · 15/08/2017 00:01

Be prepared for a twist. I've been asked twice separately what I failed at, I lost the first because I just couldn't answer, and the second because although I'd manage to dredge one up (now prepared for the question) I didn't have a good enough answer about how I'd turned it into a success! My jobs aren't really like that and neither were the ones I was going for!

Ellisandra · 15/08/2017 00:16

Genuine one for me, I'll share in case it helps - I don't like putting my hand up and just saying I don't know something, and prefer to try to work out the answer for myself. I generally tend to pride myself on this, and find that the seeking out leads to a deeper understanding and also means that I might learn something else on the search. Add into that, I previously held subject matter expert roles where - even if the question wasn't my area - I wasn't to maintain that perception of informed expert.

The weakness? It takes time that the business may not be able to afford, for me to go research. Also, it doesn't model to my peers that it's OK not to know everything - and whilst it's fine if I can find my answer out for myself, it creates a really bad a stressful environment for others if they don't think it's OK to just ask.

Two years ago I moved into a really fast paced role (answer needed now) and also one where the answer could be quite technical / system based - no amount of using my own time in the evening on our intranet was ever going to answer it!

So basically, I was forced into saying "I don't know X, I need help".

Result?

I've learned the sky won't fall in. I still work stuff out for myself but crucially, when the pressure is on to know now, I act and ask. I still have a great perception from my team as being an expert, but I think I am now seen as more approachable. Asking for help has made me develop more internal relationships. And I like to think the whole team feels more open about asking whenever they don't know - a big plus for knowledge sharing, understanding the development areas I need to address in the team, lowering the stress, speeding up business actions.

Ooooooh - I want this question now Grin

pp2017 · 15/08/2017 01:16

I don't ask the question like this, but I might ask "what constructive criticism have you received in the past and how did you use that to develop?" or "if you could change something about your style and approach what would it be/why?"

As others have said it's about finding out whether you are self aware and able to develop yourself.

I would far rather people answer honestly (even if it's something critical to the role) and be able to acknowledge it and work on it, than someone who shys away from the answer/doesn't answer honestly.......

CoughLaughFart · 15/08/2017 01:19

A candidate once answered this question in an interview I was holding with 'Sport'. Not relevant to the job in the slightest, but broke the ice a bit Grin

HurryUpAndWait · 15/08/2017 01:58

Surely this has never actually been asked outside of The Office.

I think my answer would be, "I can't bite my tongue when I ,eet a stupid interviewer" and leave.

I'd be tempted to answer

me: I'm too honest

interviewer: I don't think that's a weakness

me: I don't give a fuck what you think

lljkk · 15/08/2017 03:18

"what are your development areas and what have you done in the last year to address them?"

gosh I wouldn't even understand that question. WTF is a development area?

to answer OP: I would say that "I used to be reluctant to ask for help or admit when I didn't understand something (or how to do something). But I am getting a lot better about this." The elaboration is that I thought I should know things and shouldn't have to ask for help; I have learnt that it's a strength to admit to not knowing things, though, you grow & gain more faster.

chestylarue52 · 15/08/2017 06:15

I always answer honestly to this one and say, I'm naturally a person who likes to get on with people, and earlier in my career I found it difficult to tell people things they didn't want to hear. Then I give an example of when I procrastinated about giving my boss some bad news and the effect that had on the team schedule. Then I say I've learnt from that and now I'm good at giving people bad news (including having made people redundant) and I have strategies to cope with it, which include thinking about what will happen if I procrastinate, and being brief and honest and compassionate.

It's ok to have natural weaknesses, we all do. They just want to see that you can work to overcome them.

BadLad · 15/08/2017 07:59

Choose something that isn't the end of the world, and that you are trying to solve.

Never choose something that is an attempt to disguise a boast as a weakness. "I work too hard to meet my deadlines". You might as well say "I spout bullshit all the time".

DSHathawayGivesMeFannyGallops · 15/08/2017 08:34

I've always been asked "where do you need to develop or improve", so I just respond with skillsets I know I need to work on and what I know I need/intend to do- and how I'm doing it. I usually base this answer on my last internal review, so if you've had similar recently, see if there's anything that can help you deliver a good answer.

Madwoman5 · 15/08/2017 08:46

I have two. I don't make the coffee often enough and I have high work standards and expect others to have the same which can lead to frustration. Also, change it to "what would I like to improve?" Then bringing up your leadership aspirations fits nicely.

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