What do you do if you're unsure how to discuss your strengths and weaknesses in a job interview?

While this is an old, outdated interview question (I encourage hiring managers to draw a big black line through this question with their jiffy marker), it is still asked. The best way to handle it is to prepare, in advance what you're going to say. Make a list of your professional strengths and a list of the things you'd like to get better at when sharing how you'll perform in the role you're interviewing for. Rather than asking this question, I encourage hiring managers to inquire more about key successes and results in each of the job seeker's previous roles. You'll learn more about how they've performed in the past, which is key as you're getting insight into how the candidate will perform in their next job.

If you're unsure how to discuss your strengths and weaknesses in a job interview, take time to reflect on past experiences, connect strengths to job requirements, be honest and authentic, focus on growth, and practice with a friend or mentor. The goal is to demonstrate self-awareness, a growth mindset, and a willingness to learn and develop. By preparing in advance and approaching the topic with honesty and positivity, you can impress the interviewer and showcase your potential as a candidate.

Keep in mind this is about self-analyzation skills and are you doing it and are you responding to your own identification of a weakness with a resolution. Are you reading a book to better your skill set? Are you going to training events? Or are you recognizing an issue and hoping it gets better? When you talk about your strength, talk about how you developed that skill, use that as a segway into an area where you have not had much experience ( a weakness) and talk about how you're going to use similar techniques to improve that skill set.

Tailor your discussion of strengths to align with the requirements of the job you're applying for. Highlight qualities that are directly related to the position and would make you an asset to the company.

First, you need to engage in some honest self-reflection. You’ll want to identify genuine areas for improvement. Comment on weaknesses that are real yet not detrimental to the core competencies of the job. Authenticity is always going to be a breath of fresh air for an interviewer, since so many offer the same disingenuous answers.

Consider a weakness that you’ve either already corrected or are in the process of correcting. That way, your answer will be honest and genuine. Ultimately, that’s what will connect with the interview panel - making a real human connection.

Finding your strengths is easy enough. Talking about weaknesses can leave you feeling vulnerable - we don't like to admit we have weaknesses. But we do all have them! Likely, you will know your weaknesses, but that won't be enough for you, you are probably doing something about it! So, if you mention any weaknesses in an interview setting, let the interviewer know what you have done about addressing this, for example, if you have been doing some training to shore up this area and let the interviewer know how you are getting on with your efforts - even if you have a way to go before you feel it is no longer a weakness. We all have weaknesses, but how you frame it will make an impact - good or bad!

It's okay to admit to areas where you have room for improvement. However, choose weaknesses that are not critical to the job you're applying for, and demonstrate self-awareness and a willingness to learn and grow.

1. Reflect on areas where you have received constructive feedback or struggled in the past 2. Assess Skills Gaps: Identify skills or knowledge gaps that may be relevant to the job you're applying for 3. Ask trusted colleagues or mentors for honest feedback 4. Consider Growth Opportunities: Acknowledge areas where you have limited experience or expertise but demonstrate a willingness to learn & develop 5. Emphasize Solutions: Discuss steps you're taking to overcome your weaknesses, such as seeking training or mentorship, to demonstrate your proactive approach to self-improvement Provide Context: Offer context or examples to illustrate how your weaknesses have affected your work in the past and what you've learned from those experiences

I've learned that it's not just about identifying areas of improvement but understanding how these weaknesses have spurred personal and professional growth. For instance, recognizing my tendency to take on too much helped me learn the value of delegation and focus. To navigate this, I've engaged in targeted training and sought mentorship, which has significantly improved my project management skills. Framing weaknesses as areas of development and showing proactive steps to address them can demonstrate your self-awareness and commitment to continuous improvement.

Concise and compelling are the key words here - you don't want to be waffling on but a some humble bragging is always good. Showcase your talents and remember that weaknesses are only ways to highlight how you are up-skilling yourself.

Use Metrics and show RESULTS Example Strengths Response: "I excel at problem-solving, demonstrated when I implemented a new system that streamlined our processes, reducing errors by 20%. My ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with team members was crucial in achieving this success." (Be genuine and mention what are you doing to improve) Example Weaknesses Response: "I sometimes struggle with delegation as I tend to take on too much responsibility. However, I've been working on improving my delegation skills by prioritizing tasks and trusting my team members to take on more responsibilities, which has resulted in better efficiency and teamwork."

Take time to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses beforehand. For strengths, highlight specific examples of past achievements and how they align with the job requirements. For weaknesses, acknowledge areas for improvement and discuss steps you've taken to address them. Practice articulating your responses to feel more confident during the interview.

Crafting effective responses about strengths and weaknesses involves a balance of honesty and strategy. For strengths, focus on those that align closely with the job's requirements, and support them with concise examples. For weaknesses, choose areas that are genuine but not critical to the job, and explain how you're working to improve them. For example, if your strength is problem-solving, describe a situation where you resolved a complex issue. If a weakness is public speaking, mention how you're taking courses or joining groups to gain confidence. This approach shows self-awareness, professionalism, and a growth mindset.

Crafting responses to discuss your strengths and weaknesses in a job interview requires careful consideration to present yourself positively while being honest and authentic. Here are some tips: Use the STAR method: When discussing strengths, consider using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your response. This helps you provide a clear and structured explanation of how you've applied your strengths in real-life situations. Showcase growth and learning: Emphasize your willingness to learn and grow by discussing steps you've taken to address your weaknesses. This could include seeking out training, setting goals for improvement, or leveraging feedback from peers and supervisors. Practice, practice, practice

The point here is to be sound fluid and sincere but not rehearsed and canned. Find the words that people you are speaking to don't always hear clearly. For example, many people misunderstand/mishear when I say the word "compensation". 50% hear it as "competition". My NYC Speed-Mumble doesn't help! Top 3-4-5 You have a limited amount of time in which to get you message(s) across. Pick 3-5 points that you think "if someone know these things about me, then they'll know what value I bring". This way, if you don;t move ahead in the process, you are pretty clear you took your best swing AND they are hiring someone else who offer what you do not.

I've found that practicing responses in a mock interview setting, especially with a mentor or peer, helps refine my ability to articulate my experiences clearly and confidently. It also allows for feedback on not just what I say but how I say it—ensuring my body language and tone convey confidence and sincerity. This rehearsal has been crucial in making me feel more prepared and less anxious about the real thing, allowing for a more authentic and engaging presentation of myself.

When preparing for an interview, make sure you perform some analysis on the job description to see what the most likely areas of focus will be. Paste the text into a Word Cloud generator, the largest words are the main areas of focus - then prepare your responses around these areas. Many competence based applications will be quite clear about the competence framework. You should have a back up response prepared - it is a lot of work to do so, but the interviewer may be extra-thorough on the key areas. Better to be prepared and not need a response than to need a response and not have one!

Situation: In my previous role as a project manager our company was tasked with launching a new product with a tight deadline Task: My task was to oversee the entire project from conception to launch Action: To meet the deadline I established clear timelines & milestones, delegated tasks based on strengths, conducted regular meetings to track progress & address any obstacles. I maintained open communication channels with stakeholders to ensure alignment & address any concerns asap Result: Despite the challenges, we successfully launched the product on schedule & exceeded sales targets by 15%. The project's success was attributed to our strategic planning, effective teamwork & my ability to lead & coordinate efforts towards a common goal

When you're talking about your strengths and weaknesses in a job interview, try using the STAR method. It's simple! STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result. First, describe the Situation or Task you faced. Then, explain the Action you took to handle it. Finally, share the Result or outcome. This method helps you tell stories about your experiences in a clear and organized way. So, next time you're in an interview, remember STAR to shine bright!

This approach helps me provide concrete examples rather than abstract descriptions. For instance, when highlighting a strength, I describe a specific Situation, the Task at hand, the Actions I took, and the Results achieved. Similarly, for a weakness, I detail a scenario where it was exposed, steps I've taken to address it, and the positive outcomes of those efforts. This method ensures my answers are clear, memorable, and demonstrate my growth and problem-solving capabilities.

Even when discussing weaknesses, maintain a positive and proactive attitude. Frame your weaknesses as opportunities for growth and development rather than as insurmountable obstacles.

Attempt a psychometric test,assuming you do not know yourself fairly well, this test will mirror you with not only your personality type but go beyond and list down your strengths and weaknesses. Now it is left to you to simplify these strengths and weakness with synonyms and connect with words which you can exemplify in front of interviewers. Once you get to know about your strengths and weaknesses and correlate both with an example each,you are almost there. In case of you do not agree with the test result,it still gives you an opportunity to come close in identifying yourself and list down your strengths and weaknesses and be ready with examples to explain it to the recruiters at the most opportune time of an interview. Best wishes!

Seek feedback from mentors or peers on how to improve your interview skills. Utilize online resources and practice mock interviews to refine your answers further. Remember to maintain authenticity and demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow from your experiences.

Understanding what hiring managers and recruiters are looking for when they ask questions about strengths and weaknesses may make answering those questions easier. On the other side of the desk, they are looking for the way you answer the question, not the specific answer. These questions are designed to elicit self-reflection, situational awareness, and the ability to apply strengths and learn to work past or correct your weaknesses. Pick a strength that ties in to the job. Strengths can be task or skill related, or they can be personal traits that help you succeed. Weaknesses should be something you have recognized, and have a plan in place to work on.

When discussing weaknesses, be honest but tactful. Choose a weakness that is not central to the job requirements and explain how you're actively working to improve in that area.

Creo que como dice el dicho "por sus obras los conocereis", la mejor forma de mostrar las fortalezas y debilidades es contar tus historias (desde la autenticidad y la vulnerabilidad). En las narrativas está la clave de tus aprendizajes. Como sorteaste un momento de dificultad, como celebraste el triunfo, como has tratado a un equipo en una situación estresante. Conectar con las emociones de los momentos vividos, reconocer áreas en las que has podido actuar mejor y reconocerte a ti mismo las fortalezas de alcanzar una meta son los caminos más seguros para que tu entrevistador entienda a la "persona detrás de lo resultados" y que tanto encaja con el perfil del cargo.