What is your greatest weakness?

What is behind the question? Do they really expect us to come up with something real bad about us? Something, which will really disqualify us for the job? Definitely nobody is expecting that even though it happens time to time.

40% of people sincerely believe they have no weaknesses. That is the trap #1 to avoid. People who put themselves into that category have big time problem getting a good job.

Trap #2 is a failure to come up with a fair answer. Lots of people would demonstrate certain sleaziness, they prefer to play games rather than to provide straightforward honest answer. The typical tricks used (and suggested to be used all over the Internet and in many books):

• turning weaknesses into strengths (workaholic, have to learn how to relax: cannot stop working until the result is achieved)
• Not answering the question (for example, talking about resolved weaknesses in the past, not the ones you have now)
• talking about obvious things (I have an accent or I have no work experience in the field)

Obviously at the time of job interview we should be talking about things, which are related to the position and the candidate performance. It is not about our hobbies or personal lives.

Tell them that there are two types of weaknesses:

• The ones we know about

• The ones we are not aware of

Knowledge is the power. If we know about specific weakness we are expected to be doing something to overcome that weakness. It is important to emphasize that:

• you are permanently working on eliminating your known weaknesses
• give an example of a weakness you eliminated in the past and what you did for that
• give an example of what you are working on now

If we do have weakness but we are not aware of it then the real problem comes. That is why it is important at the time of interview to mention that you really appreciate both formal and non-formal suggestions on the weaknesses you have. You are not going to feel bad about such a suggestion or to confront it. Your reaction is opposite - you use it to improve your performance.

• you want people to tell you about your weaknesses
• it is actually one of the questions you ask at the interview (please suggest areas for improvement)
• give an example of how you were suggested about the weakness in the past and what you did after

For example, I had a problem of saying NO to people. It was very difficult even if I know I have to say that. It really sounded to others like MAYBE rather than clear NO. It took me a couple of years to focus and concentration to do that comfortably. That is an example from the past.