- Tips to answer “"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
- Tips to answer strength and weakness in interview (for freshers)
- Let us begin with “What are your strengths?”
- Now, let’s move on to “What are your weaknesses?”
- Following are our profile-wise customised answers to the interview question “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
Interviews are all about honesty and confidence but they also need preparation. One question which regularly crops up in the interview script is “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” In this blog post, we have come up with some of the best answers to this frequently asked question on strengths and weaknesses.
Get prepared for some of the most frequently asked HR interview questions and answers.
Tips to answer “"What are your strengths and weaknesses?"
Answering "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" requires preparation, honesty, and strategic thinking. Here are some tips to help you craft strong responses:
Strengths
- Be Relevant: Choose strengths that are relevant to the job you're applying for. Review the job description and identify qualities that align with the role.
- Provide Examples: Use specific examples to illustrate your strengths. This makes your claims more credible and memorable.
- Be Honest: Choose genuine strengths. Authenticity is crucial as hiring managers can often tell when you're being insincere.
- Be Concise: Be clear and to the point. Highlight one or two key strengths rather than overwhelming the interviewer with a long list.
- Align with Core Skills: Mention strengths that align with core competencies required for the job, such as teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, or technical skills.
Example Response for Strengths:
"One of my key strengths is my problem-solving ability. In my previous role as a project manager, I often encountered complex challenges that required quick and effective solutions.
For instance, we once had a major supply chain disruption, and I led a cross-functional team to identify alternative suppliers and streamline our processes, which allowed us to meet our project deadlines.
This experience highlighted my ability to stay calm under pressure and find creative solutions."
Weakness in interview
- Choose Real but Workable Weaknesses: Select weaknesses that are genuine but not critical to the role you're applying for. Ensure it's something you can improve on.
- Show Improvement: Demonstrate how you are working to overcome the weakness. This shows self-awareness and a proactive attitude.
- Avoid Clichés: Steer clear of overused weaknesses like "I'm a perfectionist," unless you can provide a unique spin and evidence.
- Be Honest but Strategic: Choose a weakness that won't hinder your ability to perform the job effectively. Avoid mentioning weaknesses that directly conflict with key job requirements.
Example Response for Weakness:
"A weakness I've been working on is my tendency to take on too many tasks at once. While I thrive in fast-paced environments, I realized that this approach sometimes leads to burnout and decreased productivity.
To address this, I've been using time management tools and prioritization techniques to ensure I focus on high-impact tasks. For example, I now use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize my tasks and have seen a significant improvement in my efficiency and work-life balance."*
General Tips:
- Practice: Rehearse your answers but avoid sounding overly rehearsed. Practice helps you articulate your thoughts clearly and confidently.
- Stay Positive: Frame your weaknesses in a positive light by focusing on your growth and efforts to improve.
- Be Balanced: Provide a balanced view by discussing both strengths and weaknesses. This shows that you have a realistic self-assessment.
By following these tips, you'll be able to present your strengths and weaknesses in a way that highlights your suitability for the role and demonstrates your self-awareness and commitment to personal and professional growth.
Tips to answer strength and weakness in interview (for freshers)
Answering "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" can be slightly different for freshers (recent graduates or those with little to no professional experience). Here are some tailored tips for freshers:
Strengths
- Highlight Academic and Extracurricular Achievements: Focus on strengths developed through your education, projects, internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, and extracurricular activities.
- Emphasize Transferable Skills: Since freshers may not have extensive professional experience, emphasize transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership.
- Provide Academic Examples: Use specific examples from your coursework, group projects, or any relevant experience that illustrate your strengths.
- Show Enthusiasm: Freshers can stand out by showing enthusiasm and a willingness to learn and grow. Highlight your eagerness to bring fresh ideas and energy to the company.
Example Response for Strengths:
"One of my key strengths is my ability to learn quickly and adapt to new environments. During my final year at university, I took on a research project that required me to learn a new programming language in a short time frame.
I dedicated extra hours to self-study and online courses, which enabled me to complete the project successfully. This experience highlighted my dedication and ability to handle new challenges effectively."
Weakness in interview
- Acknowledge Limited Experience: It's okay to acknowledge your limited professional experience as a weakness, but balance it by highlighting your readiness to learn and adapt.
- Focus on Skills Improvement: Choose weaknesses that are common for freshers and explain how you are actively working to improve them. This demonstrates self-awareness and a proactive approach.
- Use Academic Context: Discuss weaknesses within an academic or extracurricular context, showing how you addressed them in that setting.
- Avoid Critical Job Skills: Avoid mentioning weaknesses that directly conflict with essential job requirements. Instead, focus on areas that can be developed over time.
Example Response for Weaknesses:
"As a recent graduate, one of my weaknesses is my limited professional experience. While I have gained valuable skills through internships and academic projects, I recognize that there's a lot to learn in a real-world professional setting.
To address this, I have been actively seeking opportunities for professional development, such as attending workshops and networking with industry professionals. I'm eager to apply my knowledge and continue learning on the job."
General Tips for Freshers:
- Research the Company and Role: Tailor your strengths and weaknesses to align with the specific company and role you're applying for. Demonstrating an understanding of the company’s needs can make your answers more impactful.
- Practice Common Interview Questions: As a fresher, practicing common interview questions can help you feel more confident and articulate during the actual interview.
- Be Authentic: Authenticity is crucial. Employers appreciate honesty and self-awareness, so be genuine in your responses.
- Demonstrate Willingness to Grow: Emphasize your willingness to learn and grow. Employers often look for candidates who are eager to develop their skills and contribute to the company’s success.
By focusing on these tips, freshers can effectively showcase their potential and readiness for the professional world, making a strong impression during interviews.
Let us begin with “What are your strengths?”
Possible Answer #1
“I am a team player. It is a skill I picked up in school as a member and captain of the football team. I enjoy working in teams and have been often told by both supervisors and peers that I am the motivator of the group during stressful situations. In college, during a group presentation, one of the team members did not submit his bit of work. Given the short deadline, everybody was worried. Analyzing the situation, I called for a short meeting. I asked everyone to take equal parts of the unfinished business and we managed to hand in a great presentation.”
Possible Answer #2
“I am a quick learner. Over the past 2 years, I have worked in 3 different workplaces and this has worked well for me to improve my skills. I have honed my skills in copywriting, editing as well some core principles of Graphic Designing and Digital Marketing. I am quite comfortable with Microsoft Office Suite and I have basic knowledge of certain tools like Adobe Photoshop and Pixlr Editor. It is my motto to keep learning every day and I actively seek feedback to keep growing.”
Possible Answer #3
“I am very persistent and I love to negotiate. These are my core strengths I believe. From a persistence point of view, my performance has been praiseworthy for 3 years in a row now. Also, my manager would surely vouch for the fact that I am a consistent performer. I have received a bonus in every quarter, and this is a proof of my abilities. Besides, as I said, I have great negotiation skills. While negotiating, I can understand my own interests, why I want something and what I actually want; along with this, I can easily perceive the interests of the other party, which makes me a good negotiator!”
Possible Answer #4
“My greatest strength is experience enhancement. In other words, I love attending to people and making their experience better. Last year I underwent a rigorous 6-month long training which included problem solving workarounds in a real-world scenario. Within a very short span of time, I became permanent and was placed in direct client interfacing roles.”
Possible Answer #5
“I have the ability to work effectively with different kinds of people. Hence, I would say that organizational skills are one of the strongest points about me. I had to meet strict deadlines and coordinate with several departments simultaneously in order to deliver a project. I was ultimately able to deliver the project on schedule. In the end, this experience made me realise that I possess good organizational skills. But the entire episode also helped me to polish my time management skills and multi-tasking abilities side-by-side.”
Now, let’s move on to “What are your weaknesses?”
This question is generally asked with the intention of putting you on the spot. Do not try to hide behind a strength disguised as a weakness. Be genuine about your weaknesses and outline a plan of action you have taken to improve on the same.
Possible Answer#1
“I am not very good at computer applications and shortcuts. But I have obtained enough skills to do meaningful work at present. Although I deliver my work bang on time at the last moment, I must admit that my speed is slow. However, I have been taking classes and practising hard to sharpen my skills so I can work more efficiently. I really want to be a fast programmer in the future and have a better coding speed than my peers.”
Possible Answer#2
“I struggle to manage my time sometimes and cut too close to the deadlines. To overcome this, I have started using post-its and hourly entries in my calendar to remind me of my tasks. To add to this, I have begun organizing my time into daily tasks, weekly tasks, and long terms tasks in order to prioritize.”
Possible Answer#3
“I am a very shy person and often cannot question authority in group meetings. When I spoke of this with my manager, he suggested that I send in questions via email post the meeting. I decided to extend the opportunity to everybody else at the workplace. So if anyone had any questions they would write to me. I would then collate them and send them to the required authority. I was able to set a new practice in office!”
Possible Answer#4
“My communication style can be sometimes blunt and harsh. Feedback is amazing but constructive feedback can make miracles happen. Hence, I am learning to reserve my judgment and write down my blunt criticism before I say it aloud. This has allowed me to communicate well and build strong professional relationships.”
Possible Answer#5
“I struggle with maintaining a good work-life balance. This used to put immense stress on me. I have now taken up weekly dance classes and do pottery on the weekends. This has given me avenues to de-stress and maintain high productivity levels.”
Following are our profile-wise customised answers to the interview question “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
Possible Answer#1
A fresher’s answer to the question
“During the college years, I was heavily involved in college events and activities. My greatest strength is my ability to multi-task. I played on the Football Team, was on the organizing committee of the college cultural festival and the Economics Department Events Committee. With all the activities, I managed to keep an 8.5 GPA all through my final year! Talking about my weakness, I lack assertiveness. My inability to say no can put a lot of stress on my time and my ability. However, I am learning to be more vocal about my capacity and prioritize tasks.”
Possible Answer#2
Sample answer for a software tester
“My thirst for knowledge is my greatest strength. I have worked as a Software Tester for the past 4 years and completed various certifications. My ex-manager observed my curiosity and facilitated greater learning by making me Project Lead on 3 projects last year. My greatest weakness is public speaking. Over the years, my love for the computer has developed me into quite a nerd! Given how important communication skills are, I decided to join a theatre group to help me relax in group settings and lose my stage fright.”
Possible Answer#3
How an academician-cum-trainer will approach this question
“My ability to motivate people is what I consider my biggest strength. As a trainer, I have learned how to work with different groups of people and identify training needs. Similarly, as an academician, I have many people approaching me for guidance and I really pride myself on this. My greatest weakness is that I play by the rules too strictly. This can hamper my progress on a project because I focus on doing the job correctly rather than meeting my deadline. However, the habit of asking my peers to check in with me helps me expedite my own work.”
Possible Answer#4
HR professional’s answer to their weaknesses
“I am a very hospitable person. I have always personally believed that but this has been professionally validated by my supervisor in my annual report. People have this image of HR professionals as cold and indifferent personnel, so meeting me is like a breath of fresh air for most! My greatest weakness is my Finance skills. I have not had too much exposure of the Finance end of the business but decided to take a Coursera online program on HR Finance to equip myself.”
Possible Answer#5
What would a sales professional say his strengths and weaknesses are?
“My greatest asset is my persistence. This skill is really highlighted and celebrated in the field of sales and I love it! If a certain strategy is not working, I am keen to understand the obstacles and work on them. In the past 2 years as a sales executive, I have taken home a bonus every quarter and this drives me to perform better. About my weaknesses, I have spoken to my supervisor to help me understand my shortcomings. He advised that my writing skills and paperwork filing were lacking and I have consciously started working on this feedback.”
Possible Answer#6
Sample of the answer given by an academic counselor
“My analytical ability has developed as my core strength. In the field of academic counselling, I have the fortune to meet different kids every day with varied interests and dreams. The ability to analyze their situation, chart out an academic plan and counselling them is thrilling and rewarding. In the last 6 months, I have been able to send 50 kids to medical colleges in Russia and China and really count this as a remarkable feat given how difficult the field of medicine is. As for my weakness, it is definitely time management! I love working in this field and used to work long hours. But now I remind myself to take timely breaks through the day for snacks and a short walk.”
These sample answers should help you tackle the question “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”. So do not be intimidated by the hiring manager and give them no cause to worry. List your strength and weaknesses smartly.
All the best!
FAQs:
1. How do I identify my strengths and weaknesses?
Identifying your strengths involves recognizing your skills, abilities, and qualities that you excel in. Reflect on past experiences, feedback from others, and tasks you enjoy doing. Weaknesses, on the other hand, are areas where you may struggle or need improvement. Consider feedback, self-assessment, and areas where you feel less confident or competent.
2. How should I discuss my strengths and weaknesses in a job interview?
When discussing strengths, focus on relevant skills and attributes that align with the job requirements. Use specific examples to demonstrate your strengths in action. For weaknesses, choose ones that are not central to the job and show proactive steps you're taking to improve. Frame weaknesses as areas for growth rather than shortcomings.
3. Can weaknesses be turned into strengths?
Yes, weaknesses can be improved upon with effort and dedication. By acknowledging weaknesses and actively working to address them, you can turn them into strengths over time. This may involve seeking training, mentorship, or gaining experience in those areas.
4. How do I leverage my strengths and mitigate my weaknesses in my career?
To leverage strengths, seek opportunities that allow you to showcase and utilize them. This might involve taking on projects that align with your strengths or seeking roles where your strengths are valued. To mitigate weaknesses, develop strategies such as seeking support from colleagues, pursuing further education or training, or delegating tasks where you may be less proficient. Continuously self-assess and adapt to improve your overall performance.
