WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES?

Let’s break this question into two parts:

1. What are your strengths?

During the course of different interviews I have conducted, I have come to realize that candidates always seem to have a number of things to tell you their strengths are. Though I have come across one or two people who could not say what their strengths were. All I can say to those people is, how are we supposed to hire you when you can’t even tell what advantages you have? This matter is for another day.

Let’s come to candidates who know or claim to. For entry, fairly past entry level candidates, strengths like: I learn fast, I am a team player, hardworking, may be okay even though there is really nothing special about them as you get to hear these from so many candidates. 

But for higher levels such as mid-level and particularly senior level candidates you can’t be saying things like I work well in a team, I learn fast etc. Hell No! Those are unacceptable strengths at your level. It is expected that you should already be a great team player with the capacity to learn fast etc.

You need to put forward strengths that show you as strategic, with depth of reflection and needed expertise as a candidate. Let the recruiter know you have developed both technical and behavioral worth for your level and the role. Even if you'll be mentioning that you are a team player, state it in a strategic light.

2. What are your weaknesses?

This is the notably problematic area to most candidates. A number of candidates will tell you they know no one is perfect but just can’t say a weakness in particular, as they have not observed any yet or no one has pointed any out to them yet. Wow! Some will just out rightly say they don’t have any. Like really?? Mr. /Miss/Mrs. Perfect. Hellooo!

Or those that say I am a perfectionist or I get angry/unhappy when people don’t work as much as I do/at my rate.  Superhero You, right? Ditch these weaknesses. Stop subtly trying to sell yourself as Superheroes. If you get angry when people don’t work at your pace you might have anger issues, start working on them. You should state other weaknesses instead.

Perfectionism might actually be a weakness but the thing is it’s been overused. Recruiters are tired of hearing it from every Tom, Dick and Harry. So even if it’s a real weakness of yours, you need to state another weakness of yours at this point or at least before you mention it. The thing is, "perfectionism" subtly presents you as someone who is highly detailed and concerned about work quality so which employer does not want that.

What is the real essence of this question? 

Being aware of your weaknesses in itself is a strength. This shows that you are aware of your not-strong areas. It is expected that your awareness of this areas will help you control them better & spur you to continuously work at improving them. The question is not meant to be your downfall instead its meant to help present your level of self-awareness.

However, it is also important to note that presentation is key. State the weakness and immediately go on to how you are working at improving that part of you/have been putting it in check so far.

Also be careful not to go off with weaknesses that put an instant end to your chances at the job. One who states he doesn’t do well with interacting with people, might have just killed his chances of getting a job as a Relationship Manager.

In conclusion, the question of what your strengths and weaknesses are should not scare you, it should instead be an opportunity for you to show yourself as one who is truly self-aware and right for hire.

Good luck in your Careerlity!