Interview

[Lilyargin]

Any ideas on how to answer the ‘what are your strengths and weaknesses?’ question? I’m a terrible timekeeper but don’t want to admit to that.

Yikes I wouldn’t admit that! How about saying you’re a bit of a perfectionist, put lots of effort into everything but sometimes need to accept that things can’t actually be perfect? That’s not really a bad thing is it?

Yes! I have a good one for you that works really well for me in interviews. Effectively, I spin any characteristic/trait to be both a strength and a weakness. This shows that you have self awareness.

For example - if you are very conscientious, this is a strength, but you could argue it also can be a weakness if you take too much time to complete tasks. Or, if you are enthusiastic maybe, this is great as you may volunteer to help others, but knowing this, you try to ensure it doesn't impact your ability to meet your own assigned deadlines, and know how to handle your workload accordingly.

Good luck!

Examples of strengths: working with people so team player but also able to work alone, loyal, hardworking, tenacious (just. Wont. Give. Up!!), good at managing time and prioritizing, efficient, organised, able to work on own initiative. I am no good at the weakness one!! I once said I was a perfectionist and would check and recheck before sending something and they said what if it was priority and I said oh I'd still have to check it and they said but really urgent and I just couldn't say I wouldn't check it even though they were really leading me there. I didn't get the job

We all have weaknesses, what the interviewer is trying to establish is how you are able to navigate this, so by perhaps state that you are a perfectionist, but manage this by endeavoring to give sufficient time ahead of deadlines to complete the check/recheck process.

Whether or not its a weakness, it is all about how you handle this in the workplace.

Hi there - just following up - how did the interview go?