October 2, 2011

Handling the 'weakness' question from a position of strength

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about some ways to address a question about salary requirements during an interview. That is always a tricky subject, but it is a reasonable request with a number of effective responses. There is, however, at least one question in the hiring manager quiver that seems designed to make you fail.

"What do you consider your greatest weakness?"

It's a diabolically difficult query that has twisted the tongues of countless unprepared job seekers. It's like asking Superman to hand over the keys to the kryptonite reserves to Lex Luthor. It almost forces you to be dishonest. In fact, many interviewers have stopped asking the question after hearing so many canned or evasive answers.

But the "weakness" question does serve a legitimate purpose, so job seekers should still prepare for it before every interview, just in case. Here are some tips about how to tiptoe through this potential minefield.

Recognize that there's no right answer -- Hiring managers who ask this question are not necessarily sadists. They're not trying to play "gotcha" with trick questions, either. What they're doing is testing you to see how you respond to pressure and difficult situations. They also want to see how sincere you are in your self-assessment. Your demeanor and your candor are often more important than the actual response. However you choose to respond, make sure you answer is confident and succinct.

Be honest -- Some career coaches will recommend that you mask your weaknesses as potential strengths, with answers such as, "I'm too much of a perfectionist," "I'm a workaholic" or "I care too much about my job." This attempt to turn the tables, however, often backfires. Interviewers have heard every possible variation on this kind of self-serving response and they'll know you're dodging the question. The hiring manager is not expecting you to throw yourself under a bus, but he or she doesn't want to be lied to either. When you admit to a weakness, be truthful and make sure it's a realistic one.

Tell a story -- When you describe your weakness, be sure to explain to the interviewer how you have worked to overcome it. If you had a problem delegating tasks to other co-workers, describe how you realized this shortcoming and were able to meet with your team to ensure that the workload was shared equitably. Talk about how you had gaps in your job skills but were able to take training courses to get up to speed. As long as you can provide a brief, appropriate narrative about how you have recognized your limitations and have taken the initiative to improve your performance, you are demonstrating to the interviewer that you are a responsible professional.

Have a backup plan -- Once you've practiced a response that illustrates how you have conquered your weakness, don't be surprised if the interviewer throws you a curve. I recall one interview years ago when I was asked about my weaknesses. I described how I had trouble speaking in front of crowds but was able to slowly improve with practice. While the interviewer nodded during my story, he said, "Well, yes, that's a weakness that probably 95 percent of the planet has," and then asked me for another example. (Gulp.) I can't recall what stuttered response I came up with, but I know I didn't get the job. Nothing knocks you off-guard like an unexpected question, so be sure to come up with at least two examples you can use.

Make it relevant -- As you tell your story, take note of the job description for the position. Think back to the words that were used to describe the skill sets needed. If you can tell a "weakness" story about how you obtained the specific skills mentioned in the job description -- and can also show how this knowledge helped your previous employer -- you're on your way to pulling off the greatest interviewing trick: Turning an actual weakness into a legitimate strength.

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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etiquette, interviewing, skills