Can you please answer this job interview question?

Question

What should you say at a job interview when the interviewer/manager asks you what is your greatest weakness?

Also, what should you say is your greatest strength? What can you say to "Wow" them so that you will get the job by answering both of those questions.

Thanks!

Answer 1

the strength and weaknesses question is a classic interview question. i ask it of the people I hire. But it is also a trick question because who really wants to know what your weaknesses really are. I ask it to see how people asnwer it rather than what they say.

perhaps like this:
my strengths are my communication, follow through, and ability to work with people. simple enough. the strengths usually are. its the weaknesses that are tough.
try this: say something as a weakness that isnt really a weakness. like, i tend to put my all into my work and as a result sometimes i take on too much. Thats a decent answer but not complete until you turn it back into a strength. like, i have been working on that though and have proven at my last job that I am able to deligate effectively and still get the work done. that may not be the perfect answer for you but that is the concept. never say a real weakness, use a thinly veiled strength and always bring it back to being a strength.

oh and one more thing, never and i do mean never, say you dont have a weakness. no employer wants to hear you answer the question that way. that is a cop out answer to a tough question.

Answer 2

Be honest. What is your greatest weakness? Mine is inability to say no, and then getting buried in work because my co-workers have no trouble asking "Can you please.....?". But , I told them in the interview, I'm working on it. It's not they want to know your weakness, they want to discover if you are aware of any weaknesses, and have the self-starterness (is that a word?) to correct it. What is your greatest strength? Again, be honest. Mine is organization. I am an organization diva. You want it, I have it and know where it is. Toot your own horn a little. But make sure the horn you toot is an asset to the business. A strength of making new friends fast is not a strength to a company where long hours in a cubicle with revolving work schedules means you don't see the same people all the time. It might be an asset in realestate, where being a people person is a plus. But even more important is appearance. Dress professional, nicely, not formally. And sit forward in your chair to appear eager, cover tatoos, unless your interviewing in a tatoo parlor. Don't babble, shows unorganization in thoughts, that probably transfer to the job. Remember, your resume got you in the door, Your personality, appearance, will get you the job. Forbes magazine says most interviewers make up thier mind within the first 3 minutes. Last, the next day after the interview, send a thank-you card, thanking the interviewer for the interview and restate your strenghts that fit the companies needs. This keeps you fresh in thier minds. 78 percent think they should send a thank-you card, only 25 percent do. Be one of them.

Answer 3

Well if you are going to social climb, you have to lie basically, unless you have social ties. Basically if there is a job interview, they are interviewing other candidates too. If you are exceptional in something, certainly you state that. If you have a weakness, be careful how you state that. This is a cut throat market. If you want a job, you have to put your best foot forward. Other people you are competing with are gonna lie. So you have to too. Sad, but that is the way it is, unless you want to be honest and good hearted and take the road less taken....in which case....I like you already. I would pick something that is a weakness to some and to some a strength. It is a nasty question for them to be asking you to begin with. Basically anything you say can and will be used against you. If they are asking that without you being prepared for that question, they don't want you to begin with. They are looking for skill and entertainment value. If you are a worker, they are gonna slam you if it is for more pay. Good luck

Answer 4

The gretest strength really depends on what the job requirements are - you don't want your strength to be a fast-moving decision maker if the job requires a lot of nitpicky detail work. Working well in a team, good organizational skills, and good writing skills are universally applicable strengths if you need an all-purpose fallback item.

Weaknesses should be things that can also be viewed as strengths - "I'm a perfectionist, so quality of work is really important to me"; "I hate to leave a messy desk at the end of the day, so I tend to work longer hours."

Good luck!

Answer 5

I wouldn't say you have any weaknesses. Instead say something like, I don't see any qualities I have as weaknesses, if I notice something I am doing needs improvement I work on it right away. As for strength, it would depend on the job you are interviewing for.

Answer 6

For the weakness say something like you can sometimes be a perfectionist or an over-acheiver. For the strength you can pretty much just tell them any strong point about your character. Punctual, bright, fast learner, friendly, understanding, hard-worker, very motivated....

Answer 7

In any job interview the easiest answer is:

Weakness - I do not have any previous experience in your company so I don't know your policies and procedures and the work atmosphere.

Strength - I am willing and able to learn quickly and I have a strong work ethic.

Answer 8

For weakness, say something like I'm a perfectionist and love details, so i end up working for longer hours.
For stength, say something like depending on the job i'm being hired for, although i'm depndable, friendly and a good team player
.

Answer 9

The weakness one i`d say you don`t have any now but mention something that you did have and say you`ve really improved on it so it`s nw not a weakness.

Answer 10

The answers to these questions would be up to each individual. Be honest but keep your answers so those that would apply to the job you are applying for.