How to Answer the Dreaded Interview Question

We've heard it in every job interview we've ever been in. It's the ultimate dreaded question no one wants to answer.

What is your biggest weakness?

While we all might like to think we are without flaws or weaknesses, the fact of the matter is this is an incredibly important question to take seriously in a job interview.

So how do you answer this question in a way that doesn't rule you out of the job yet still makes you a real person? Here are a few simple tips and tricks to follow.

Why Do Employer's Ask This Question?

In the grand scheme of things, the employer isn't near as interested in what you say to answer the question, but rather how exactly you answer the question.

This question is honestly asked in an attempt to throw you off. The employer is looking to see how you react under pressure or difficult situations. They also want to see how honest you are about your work performance and what kind of standards you hold yourself to. The more transparent and honest you are in your answer, the more likeable you are going to be as a hire.

You DO Have a Weakness

The first step to answering this question is truthfully answering it. The classic "I don't have a weakness" will have an employer writing you off just as fast as an embezzlement case would.

Being transparent and admitting that you have a weakness is one of the biggest keys to answering this question successfully.

Preparation

They say practice makes perfect, and the saying couldn't be truer when it comes to answering this question come interview time.

The best way to be ready for this question when it is thrown at you is to prepare yourself for it long in advance. This may be very difficult for most people, but getting ready for this question means taking a hard look at your skills and finding areas where you can truly improve upon in your professional life.

If you find multiple weaknesses in your professional life, find the strongest ones that can still be worked in as a bit of a strength in order to make you a much more valuable asset.

Make Your Weakness Applicable

Do you sometimes oversleep? Sure. Do you eat too much chocolate cake for dessert on the weekends? Yep, we all do. The key to picking out your weaknesses to answer this question in a job interview setting, however, is to make sure it applies directly to the work field.

Do you have specific examples where a weakness showed up in a real situation and how you were able to combat that and turn it into a positive at your previous jobs? Be sure to bring up stories like this as the employer will appreciate seeing the initiative you were able to take when getting past your shortcomings.

Follow these simple tips for answering this question and you will be able to handle it with no trouble at all.