How to Talk About Strengths and Weakenesses in a Job Interview

In most cases, a job interview is the most important part of winning a job offer. For this reason, it's important to come to this meeting prepared with well-honed job interview skills, including being prepared to give great answers to some of the most common types of interview questions. One such frequently-asked type of question is a request to applicants to describe, in some form, one or more personal strengths and weaknesses. While this question can generate potential pitfalls, it can also be an excellent opportunity to impress.

The Basic Question

While some employers will ask you to list or describe your strengths and weaknesses in general terms, it's also quite common to be asked to tell a story about a specific situation in which you demonstrated a strength or showed mastery over a weakness. In addition to deciding before the interview how you want to answer the basic question, it's a good idea to pick a few fitting anecdotes you can tell so that you don't get stumped if this one comes up.

Tailor To The Job

While you may have your own ideas of your greatest strengths and weaknesses based on your own personal values, for the sake of an interview it's a good idea to choose qualities that are more tailored to the job in question. For example, while you may believe that your abilities as a parent are your most valuable strength, if you're applying for an accounting job, it would be more appropriate to mention qualities such as being a perfectionist or taking pride in consistent work.

Being Humble

When mentioning your strengths, be sure to phrase them in a way that suggests you take pride in them, but have a sense of humility. Say things like, "I feel I'm good at..." rather than, "I'm good at..." or inform your interviewers that you value certain work ethics and strive to make them a part of your output.

Equal Numbers

Your interviewer may ask for an exact number of strengths and weaknesses, but if she does not, state an equal number of each. This will make you appear balanced in your understanding of your abilities.

Weaknesses That Are Really Strengths

In your list of weaknesses, try to include at least one "problem" that really indicates dedication to your work, such as, "I'm too critical of myself," or "I can be a workaholic."

Self-Improvement

Mention a genuine weakness, but be sure to also discuss the ways in which you're working to improve on it. Also, subtly mention the ways in which you like to have coworkers and bosses help you with this issue. This will get your interviewers imagining you in the position.