When you’ve been at a job interview, have you ever dreaded the question, “What are your weaknesses?”
Regardless of the time and energy you have spent in researching an organization or getting ready for an interview, it only takes one question to ruin an interview. Most job seekers dread candidacy weakness questions because they don’t want to attract attention to their negative attributes and spoil their chances for the job.
Yes, sometimes it’s a difficult one to answer, but it’s safe to say that even the most confident people have some sort of weakness, and this doesn’t have to impede your job search.
In this blog post, we outline four ways to answer the question ‘What’s Your Biggest Weakness?’ in a job interview and spin it into an area of untapped potential rather than a personal deficiency.
Let’s dive into the top four ways to answer “What are your weaknesses” and turn these 4 common job-hunting weaknesses into positives:
Weakness 1: I am assertive
A number of people view assertive people as arrogant and dominating. Assertive people tend to exude self-assurance and confidence that may be misconstrued as being bossy.
You may want to tell your prospective employer that you consider your assertiveness as a desirable communication skill where you honesty and respectfully interact with your co-workers.
When you assert your views, you solve problems and take responsibility. Assertiveness is a healthy alternative to submission and aggression.
Weakness 2: Lack Of Experience
Lack of experience is a top weakness among job seekers. If you’re lacking experience for a job, you should major on your skills and attributes that prove that you are a fast learner. Everyone starts as a beginner at some point in life.
It’s important to list your accomplishments on your resume., point out the projects that you have successfully implemented. Inexperience is common, particularly for people seeking to change careers. In such instances, you can look for your takeaway skills that can be customised to suit your new job.
Lack of experience can also be an advantage because skills can be taught, so be sure to convey your willingness to learn in the interview.
Weakness 3: Disparity in your work experience
In today’s unpredictable employment climate, you may find yourself without a job for longer than you expect which can result in a gap on your CV. If the recession left you without a job, you should be able to account for what you did during this period.
You may have volunteered or taken classes to keep you busy. Most employers will look for this information because, by being engaged in different endeavours, you show your commitment to your career. Therefore, it’s important to indicate this on your CV.
Weakness 4: Job hopping
It’s undeniable that employers prefer job seekers with a stable work history. However, people change jobs for a myriad of reasons. Employers may be uncertain whether you will be with them for long.
You may have changed jobs because your spouse was transferred or you relocated to assist your elderly parents, it’s appropriate to indicate this on your cover letter. No one expects you to work with one employer from internship to retirement, but changing jobs quickly can make employers think that you fear commitment.
You can spin this by focusing on the prevalent themes of your work, and these can be categorised under a common heading. This is bound to make you look more experienced rather than the hit-and-run type. Pointing out your accomplishments and successes along the way can help your job search process.
Don’t allow commonly perceived weaknesses to keep you down when it comes to a job interview. Go ahead and look for the silver lining in any weakness you may have and boldly declare the positive spin during an interview. Be confident, as confidence goes a long way when it comes to landing a job.
About Allen Recruitment
Allen Recruitment is an international recruitment consultancy business with offices in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, France, Sweden, Belgium and Poland. A full-service recruitment consultancy offering temporary, permanent, contract and contingency roles in a variety of industries such as IT, Tech, Finance, Telecom, E-commerce, Engineering and more.
Posted in: Job Seeking Resources
