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“What Is Your Biggest Weakness?” OR “Why Shouldn’t We Hire You?”
There are two places that you get asked the question, “What is your biggest weakness?”
The first is when you’re in an interview trying to improve your career. The second is after that interview when you wonder what you should have said.
Today, we’re going to make sure that your main weakness isn’t preparation. And if you fail to prepare for this question in an interview for 7 days, does that make it a “weekness”?
Sorry - couldn’t resist.
So, do you know what your biggest weakness is? And would you admit to it in an interview?
Let’s talk about what you ought and ought not say to this question…
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WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS?
Normally, I’m an advocate for complete honest and full disclosure. But let’s admit it - this is a dumb question that is effectively asking you to disqualify yourself from a position. If everyone told what their biggest weakness really was, nobody would ever get hired.
In this instance, you’ve got to accept that they really aren’t looking for the full, unvarnished truth. And, in my humble, understated opinion, what they should be looking for is a new book on interviewing.
So, how do you prepare for the “What is your biggest weakness?” question?
STEP 1: THINK BUSINESS
A lot of folks think that this question is aimed at getting to know your character. Not really. In fact, listing a personal weakness is a sure way to get put at the bottom of the pile. Unless your answer is, “Chocolate!” (and you’re in an interview with a woman), there is no good personal answer to the “biggest weakness” question.
So, start the process of coming up with your biggest weakness by thinking about business situations. What is it that you honestly struggle with getting done or doing well? Paperwork? Intra-team communication? Keeping up with the technology in your industry? Not ogling your co-workers?
Whatever it is that you honestly have the most trouble with, let’s use that as a starting point. Perhaps you should bring two options if one of them is the “ogling” one…
STEP 2: DEFLATE THE HUMOR
Trying to be funny with this question rarely works. On the technical side, I’ve heard, “I don’t suffer fools easily” as several candidates’ biggest weakness.
Ha Ha NO!
For those guys, not it sounds like they’re elitist, annoying, obnoxious people who don’t want to have to work around anyone that doesn’t know everything they know about technology. Hey guys! Guess what? If you didn’t have above average skills in technology, you wouldn’t be interviewed. And your personality isn’t helping things!
I know you’re just trying to ease the tension, but there isn’t a joke answer to the “biggest weakness” question that won’t make you look bad. No, not that one, either.
Have you gotten all of the jokes out of your system? Good. We can move on.
STEP 3: WHAT HAS YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS COST YOU?
Now think about the problems that your weakness has caused you. I know it’s unpleasant and we all like to think that we don’t create trouble for other people, but now is the time to admit that you do.
Pick out some specific stories about how your biggest weakness was holding you back from getting along with your team, getting a promotion, or drinking beer because you constantly had to stay late in the office.
Adding in the story about what it cost you adds to the impression that you have enough self-awareness to see the trouble you cause yourself and others. This is surprisingly rare in the work world today.
Pull one specific illustrative story out of your career and use it in this answer.
STEP 4: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ABOUT YOUR WEAKNESS?
If you recognize this as your biggest weakness, what have you done to fix the problem? Keep in mind that in your interviewer’s mind, “weakness” = “deficiency”. And if your hiring manager and HR are going to have to deal with any issue over and over, this is going to be it.
The least you should have done is to try to improve yourself in this area. So, ummmmm….have you?
For instance, if you’re really bad about filling out paperwork (this is a bad one for me), did you devise some part of your schedule where you forced yourself to do it? Did you hire someone to do it for you (at your own expense)? Or do you just let it pile up?
If your biggest weakness is something that you’ve done absolutely nothing about, you should both ask yourself if you’re a serious professional in your job and then pick your number 2 weakness (or whatever number weakness that is one you’ve actually done something about).
STEP NEXT: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER - YOUR BIGGEST WEAKNESS TESTIMONIAL
Have you noticed that we’ve been putting together a testimonial here?
Look at what we have: “I have always had [this problem]. It was so bad, [story about what it cost you]. But I [what you’ve done to improve your situation]. And, while I still have [this problem], [what you did to improve your situation] has helped me to over come all of the bad effects of it.”
Remove a few slices of cheese from that testimonial, and that’s what your interviewer is looking for. You should not only be answering, “What is your biggest weakness?”, but also add in your self-awareness story and then tell what you did about it.
In answering the “biggest weakness” question this way, you not only tell the interviewer what they’re going to have the most trouble with you on, but that the trouble will be minimum because you’re already on the road to fixing it.
And that is the only good answer to, “What is your biggest weakness?”
Enjoy the Search!
-Dan
—–
Daniel R. Sweet
Chief Cook-And-Bottle-Washer / Technical Recruiter
FRACAT.com - Free Resume and Career Toolbox
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielrsweet
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Photo by: Sophia Scalpel
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August 2nd, 2007 at 6:35 am
Dan, as usual, this is solid advice! If I can offer one additional thought, it is to think about and prepare for this question BEFORE the interview, complete with your proposed formula.
I’m not a “preparer” and often sound bumbling at a question like this… even prepared you can plan for a pause, to “think about it,” but isn’t it much better if an interviewee is well-prepared with a sharp answer to this question?
Jason Alba
CEO - JibberJobber.com
:: self-serve career management
August 2nd, 2007 at 7:55 am
EVERY candidate should think about their answers to ALL of the standard questions that they’re going to run into in an interview, this one included.
From the interviewer’s side of the desk, it is painfully obvious when the candidate is just pulling something out of their … uh … hat and trying to bluff their way through the question.
Conversely, the candidate who has well-thought-out answers stands head-and-shoulders above the rest.
Dan
August 6th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
This is good stuff!! I wrote a similar post, and discussed reframing this question. Here is a quote, “re-frame the question and turn the conversation to areas you need to improve… Everyone has a weakness or an Achilles heal. The interviewers job is to find yours.”
I also love the testimonial portion. It will help give people the words to link their answer. As a coach, I find that to be the greatest challenge for people. “What words should I say?” Obviously, it is very important not to memorize your answers, but framing your answers, and linking the right words will ensure success when navigating the turbulent waters of any interview.