10 examples of strengths and weaknesses for job interviews (2023)

10 job interview strengths and weaknesses

It is very common for hiring managers to ask about your strengths and skillsweaknessesduring a job interview. Like any question, your answer has weight. The purpose of an interview is to assess your ability to perform the job. Consider this an opportunity to highlight your positive qualities and demonstrate a growth mindset.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Answering this question gives you the opportunity to provide a contextual example of this.AsYou use your strengths to shine andAsThey work to improve any weaknesses relevant to the role.

This article explains why interviewers ask this question, lists examples of strengths and weaknesses, and offers suggestions to help you respond wisely.

Why Interviewers Ask About Strengths and Weaknesses

Ocommon questionit's a useful tool for interviewers to understand your personality and work style. When hiring managers ask about your strengths and weaknesses, they weigh a few things:

• How to do a self-assessment

• If you are aware of your positive qualities and how you use them in the workplace

• If you can handle your weaknesses and how you worked to improve them

• How your skills and traits balance those of current team members

Keep reading: 15 Insightful Questions to Ask a Hiring Manager at Your Next Job Interview

Strategies for talking about strengths

It may be helpful to first look at this question from the hiring manager's perspective. What qualities or skills are you looking for in this specific role? Think about how you can use your strengths to align with a key job description competency.

Be confident when it comes to your strengths. Don't be afraid to brag a little. This is your chance to highlight why you're a great fit for the job. Name one or two of your greatest strengths and give examples of how you used them in the workplace. If you can prove it with measurable results, even better. As you formulate your answer, think about these two questions:

• BecauseAre you good at X?

• AsDoes X help you at work?

Here is an example structure for a response:

I am [STRENGTH]. I learned this through [HOW YOU DEVELOPED STRENGTH] and it allowed me to do [STRENGTH IMPACT] in my current/previous work/experience.

Keep reading: Interviewing Skills to Benefit Your Career

As you approach this question, think about the positive qualities you embody and the skills you possess that will serve you well in the workplace. Here is a list of strengths to consider:

• entrepreneur

• detail oriented

• Collaborative

• creative

• Confidential

• Passionate

  See Also

  Free Interview Templates & Boards | smart sheetLeitfaden für Interviewfragen (mit über 20 Beispielfragen)

• problem solver

• Flexible

• Patient

• Ehrlich

• dedicated

• Positive

• be able to lead

• Expert in a specific skill or software

Keep reading: What are interpersonal skills? And how to strengthen them

Sample responses to "What are your strengths?"

These examples can give you an idea of ​​the nature of the structured response. They show that you are confident in that strength and that you will use it to succeed in that particular role.

1. Collaborative

I'm very cooperative. I always liked to work in a team and this is one of my strongest qualities. In my previous role as a market research analyst, I led a multi-stakeholder project, focus groups and extensive field research, which taught me my ability to inspire others in stressful situations. The client used our insights to create a sustainable product (ecologically and financially).

2. Technical knowledge

I love keeping up to date with technology industry trends. From my current role, I know the ins and outs of SAP very well, so I can anticipate problems before they arise. I find tinkering with gadgets exciting in my personal life, and this trait has proven to be useful at work when I'm getting to know a software or program intimately.

3. Detail-oriented

As a content creator, I love creating new approaches to reach our consumers. But I'm best known for my attention to detail. I'm very careful with word choice because I believe that precise language can take a piece from good to great (and I never miss a deadline). My blogs and articles consistently perform well and reach the top of Google searches.

4. Positive attitude

My positive attitude is definitely one of my strengths. For the last ten years I have been a waitress, tutor and health care professional, all jobs that require a lot of energy and perseverance. I can look at a situation from multiple perspectives and empathize with my clients, students and patients to understand their needs at any given time.

5. Solve problems

I am a solutions oriented person and a fast learner. In my role as an electrical engineer, I learned how to perform well under pressure when designing devices, because our team wouldn't get a job if we didn't design quickly and with as few resources as possible. Under these circumstances, I am not afraid to ask questions to discover the challenge. I do extensive research for each client so that I can be particularly well prepared.

Strategies for talking about weaknesses

We all have weaknesses - that's just part of being human. But your ability to identify a weakness and work to improve can actually be a strength. The key to talking about your weaknesses is connecting confidence with an action and an outcome:

• what is the weakness

• What have you been doing to improve?

• How has this improvement positively affected your work?

Explaining that you are aware of a specific weakness and have taken steps to improve it is a sign of maturity and motivation that is attractive to employers. Here is an example structure for a response:

I used to have problems with [WEAKNESS]. I've been working to resolve this through [ACTION] and I've noticed that I'm getting better because of [IMPACT].

As you prepare to discuss your weaknesses, choose one that gives you the opportunity to demonstrate growth and enthusiasm for learning. Here are some weaknesses to pick for your answer:

• self critical

• insecure

• unorganized

• tend to procrastinate

• Uncomfortable to speak in public

• Uncomfortable with delegating tasks

• Risikoscheu

• Competitive

• Sensitive/Emotional

• Extreme Introversion or Extroversion

• Limited experience in a specific skill or software

Sample responses to "What are your weaknesses?"

It's normal to feel uncomfortable at the prospect of sharing your weaknesses with a potential employer. But remember, this is an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to be honest about your performance, respond positively to feedback and continually improve - essential qualities in almost any role.

The following examples may help you formulate your answer.

1. Self-criticism

I can be quite self-critical, which can lead to negative self-talk and eventually burnout. I've found that I can avoid this by recording my goals and major accomplishments and taking time to celebrate milestones and achievements, big and small. Not only does this help me focus on how I'm adding value to the team, it also helps me better prioritize my highest impact work.

2. Fear of public speaking

I'm a shy person by nature. Since I was a child, I always felt nervous when presenting to the class and this affected the workplace. A few years ago I was leading a large project and I was asked to present it to the board members. I was so nervous, but I realized that I had to overcome this fear. I signed up for Toastmasters to practice public speaking. This not only helped me get through the first presentation, but it also helped me feel more confident as a leader. Now I'm helping my own team develop presentation skills.

3. postponement

Procrastination has been a bad habit of mine for a long time. I think it comes from the fear of not being honest. In my last job as a realtor, meeting deadlines and critical paperwork was essential to success. I started using Google Calendar and apps like Trello to better manage my time. Crossing things off my to-do list makes me feel accomplished, and I've learned to tackle harder tasks earlier in the day when I feel refreshed and less likely to procrastinate.

4. Problems delegating tasks

I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I sometimes find it difficult to delegate tasks to my teammates. This led to overkill. As a manager, I try to consciously recognize the strengths of my team members and delegate tasks that match those strengths. It was difficult at first, but I realized that by communicating clear expectations and trusting my team, they rise to the occasion and I can manage projects more effectively.

5. Lack of experience with skills or software

I don't have as much experience with Python as I'd like. When I decided to take up data analysis, I knew I needed to use a statistical programming language to perform efficient analysis. I signed up for onepython for everyoneOf course, and I found that I really love it. I'm looking forward to applying the techniques I'm learning to make my workflow more efficient.

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