How to Answer “What are Your Strengths and Weaknesses” in an Interview?

Throughout a job interview, when candidates are requested – “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses”, more often than not they both decide to develop into too humble whereas answering this query or they develop into a braggart – and allow us to let you know each the approaches will not be ultimate or really useful one. In reality, a few of the candidates don’t even reply this query and like to maintain quiet and reserved contemplating the query not that essential which can be a flawed factor to do.

It is advisable to perceive when an interviewer asks a query about your strengths and weaknesses within the interview – he truly needs to evaluate your persona, significantly with respect to the corporate and the job function for which you’re making use of. Normally, the interviewer needs to determine in case you are a proper match for the job alternative or not, for those who would be capable of deal with your job duties or not, what are these persona traits of yours that might be actually useful in that individual job function, and many others. by realizing your precise strengths and weaknesses.

Therefore, you should take into account this query equally essential as others. Shifting additional, now let’s perceive what are these doubts or issues {that a} candidate, particularly more energizing, normally face whereas making ready an acceptable reply for such strengths and weaknesses associated interview questions:

• From the place to begin my reply to this query?
• How can I reward myself in entrance of interviewers whereas speaking about my strengths?
• The right way to make my reply sound genuine and pure?
• What if the mentioned weaknesses of mine make a unfavourable impression on the interviewer? and many others.

However…you should know for those who comply with the appropriate set of approaches, you’ll be able to simply resolve these above-mentioned points or queries. And for those who’re questioning about what are these appropriate approaches to arrange a powerful and achieved reply to the “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses” query and to face it in a greater manner – we’ll let you know on this article however earlier than that, let’s first check out a great pattern reply to this query to grasp issues higher:

Pattern Reply

“To begin with my strengths, let me let you know that I’m a disciplined, crew participant, artistic, and adaptable individual. Additionally, I can say that I’m a fast learner. *You possibly can point out these strengths of yours that you simply suppose will add worth within the explicit job function* There have been many situations up to now that made me really feel that these are a few of my core strengths. Only for an instance – *right here you’ll be able to decide to relate one or two such incidents the place you’ve truly used or utilized the mentioned strengths whether or not it’s throughout your earlier job or internships, faculty life, or some other place.* 

Additionally, I do guess that these strengths of mine are completely appropriate for this job function equivalent to *right here you’ll be able to decide to explain how your strengths can be an added benefit in that job place*

Furthermore, speaking about my weak point – *right here point out a basic and real weak point of yours that wouldn’t impression a lot on the actual job place* Nonetheless, let me let you know this as effectively *describe what you’ve executed or are doing to enhance the mentioned weak point*”

Now, that will help you out in compiling the right reply to “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses” – beneath we’ve offered the simplest approaches that you simply all can take into account:

Step 1: In the beginning, what you should do is learn the job description totally. Sure, for those who’re considering that the job description has nothing to do with this basic strength-weakness-related query then you might be completely flawed. After going by means of the job description, it is possible for you to to search out out what strengths or persona traits this explicit job expects from the candidate – after which you’ll be able to simply filter out your strengths and weaknesses accordingly to arrange your reply.  

Step 2: Now, you can begin your reply by mentioning your strengths. The strengths you’ll inform right here to the recruiter needs to be associated to the job profile – nevertheless, it doesn’t imply that you simply’re mandatorily required to say right here technical strengths or abilities related to the job profile, however you’ll be able to point out these real-life strengths that you simply suppose will immediately or not directly allow you to out within the job function for which you’re making use of. 

For instance, if the actual job function requires you to work in continuously altering working situations, you merely can point out ‘adaptability’ as your power. Do bear in mind to keep away from mentioning any pointless or irrelevant strengths equivalent to “I can do 100 sit-ups inside half-hour” until and till it’s associated to the focused job function equivalent to for those who’re making use of for a Gymnasium coach submit or another job that requires bodily power you absolutely can point out your pushups or sit-ups information.  

Step 3: Okay, when you’re executed with telling your strengths to the interviewer, now what…?? So, now you should give examples of these occasions while you truly used or utilized the mentioned strengths. Only for an instance, for those who’ve talked about ‘Self-discipline‘ as your power – you should describe what made you are feeling so. ​It may be throughout your earlier job or internships, faculty life, or some other place. The explanation behind it’s to justify to the interviewer that the strengths that you simply’re speaking about are real, and also you’re not faking it.
Additionally, for those who’re considering to skip this strength-justification half and giving an instance then allow us to let you know that there are numerous probabilities that the interviewer might ask you immediately about it within the subsequent query. Therefore, it might all the time be higher if you’ll get already ready for it.  

Step 4: Then, you’ll be able to decide to describe how are you going to apply the mentioned strengths or how they might be helpful within the job function you might be interviewing for. It’ll additionally allow you to to point out the recruiter how effectively you’ve researched for the actual job function and firm.  

Step 5: Now, transfer to the weaknesses half. Firstly, you should keep in mind that all of us have weaknesses, and it’s fairly a pure factor as no one is ideal. It is advisable to present that you’re self-aware with all of your persona traits whether or not it’s your strengths or weaknesses. Therefore, attempt to keep away from giving solutions like – “I’m a perfectionist”, and many others.  Additionally, you don’t have to masks your strengths as your weaknesses by saying one thing like – “I work too exhausting”, and many others. as it’s a very outdated and not-so-effective strategy. It is advisable to point out these real weaknesses that may replicate your honesty to the interviewer. And most significantly, you’re strongly really useful to not inform multiple weak point.

Step 6: So, it might be clear to you within the above level which you can admit your weak point in entrance of the interview and one weak point can be ample – now you should know what sort of weak point must you point out. Do keep in mind that, the weak point shouldn’t be associated to the core talent or requirement of the actual job function. Only for an instance – if the job function requires a technically sound individual, you’ll be able to’t say like “I’m a bit weak or sluggish in greedy technical issues” or if it requires good communication abilities, you’ll be able to’t say like “Public Talking isn’t my cup of tea”. You possibly can go along with a number of basic and real weaknesses like “I discover it tough asking others for assist”, and many others.  

Step 7: Lastly, you’ll be able to’t finish your reply simply by mentioning your weak point, however you should inform about these issues as effectively that you simply’ve executed or are doing to beat the mentioned weak point. For instance – for those who’ve mentioned that you simply’re not good with public talking and even when it might not make a big impression on the actual job function – nonetheless you’ll be able to add one thing like “I’m continuously making an attempt to enhance this space. I’ve even began out to present some seminar classes to my juniors to develop into proficient in it” in your reply. The principle level is when the interviewer identifies that you simply’re not capable of efficiently acknowledge your weaknesses, however you additionally take related steps to get higher at it – it actually creates a optimistic impression on him/her.

Key Factors to Keep in mind Whereas Answering – “What are your Strengths and Weaknesses”:

• Attempt to keep away from the usage of weak phrases like “most likely”, “possibly”, and many others. whereas telling your strengths and weaknesses – they depict the shortage of self-awareness within the candidate.
• At all times take a pause and be considerate whereas giving the reply. It ought to sound real and shouldn’t appear like one thing memorized.  
• Strive to not seem overconfident or too modest whereas giving the reply.  
• Customise your reply as per the job function and firm’s necessities from the candidate.

Now, after realizing the utmost significance, significance, and proper strategy to answering these strengths and weaknesses-based questions within the interview – nobody can cease to get ideally ready for this query and to excel in your upcoming interviews. And truthfully, it is going to actually allow you to to face out amongst different candidates and improve your likelihood of securing that job alternative!!