There are few interview questions with as many layers of meaning as the greatest weakness question. It is a question you will have to handle at every interview and it can be the most intimidating question in the entire process.
How are you supposed to objectively evaluate your greatest weakness? Believe it or not, your greatest strength comes in analyzing your greatest weakness.
It Is A Sort Of Trap Question
If the greatest weakness question seems like a trap, that is because it is used as a trick question by interviewers. The key thing to remember is that you should not be intimidated by the question and you should give an honest response. Every person has a weakness and it is the strongest people who can recognize that weakness and own up to it.
It Is Not An Attempt To Disqualify You From The Interview Process
Some candidates feel that the greatest weakness question is used by interviewers to eliminate those candidates from the interview process. After all, asking someone to admit they have a weakness should be the same as saying that the person is not the best candidate, right? No, that is absolutely incorrect.
Every candidate gets asked this question and every candidate is expected to have an honest answer prepared. This question is asked to see if you are able to evaluate your own performance and give an honest appraisal of your skills. If you are not able to admit to having weaknesses, then it would be impossible for the company to help you to improve as a professional.
So What Do They Mean When They Ask About Your Greatest Weakness?
The greatest weakness question is designed for you to identify your greatest professional weakness and admit that you have areas you need to work on in your career.
Once again, it is not a trick question and it is not an attempt to remove you from the interview process. The interviewer wants to see if you are able to accurately identify your weakness and present it as something that you work to improve.
The Interviewer Does Not Know The Right Answer
When you are faced with the greatest weakness question, it is your chance to shine. It is your opportunity to point out the one area of your professional develop that you feel has been lacking and then indicate the ways in which you have attempted to improve it. The interviewer will appreciate your honesty and may even see ways that the company can help you to become a better professional.
LiveCareer has interview and resume resources that you can use to prepare for your job search and answer the most difficult questions. Go to LiveCareer and use its resources to enhance your job hunt today.
