In the same way your most directly relevant strengths should always be tailored to the position and employer, so should the specific weaknesses you choose to mention (or not) in any given interview. On the other hand, overthinking can also lead to anxiety and stress, and it can prevent you from taking action or moving forward with your plans. Dont get caught out by the follow-up question. That means you can talk about them without degrading your ability to do the work. Pay attention to the way you think You dont want the interviewer to perceive you as a candidate who isnt qualified. It means starting the project earlier but avoiding the bottleneck that used to occur later. Questions along the lines of "What are your greatest weaknesses?" Did you really giggle nervously when you shook your interviewers handor was it a more of a hysterical screech? 3. BIRCI-J. Youll get a response like this if they think you are reluctant to talk about a real weakness. Here are a few questions to support you in identifying and communicating your weaknesses: While you want to be honest with your answer, you also want to avoid highlighting a weakness that may cause the recruiter or hiring manager to second-guess your qualifications and abilities. Overthinking can also take a serious toll on relationships. Born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Debbie moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba as a young adult, settling into that vibrant prairie hub for a life and career chapter spanning four decades. Instead, turn your weaknesses into positives by showing how you overcome them. Or if you have been improving your time management, describe how working more efficiently has impacted positively on a particular task or project. No one is perfect, so dont try to pretend that you are be honest and realistic about your weaknesses. They can help you develop the mental tools and coping skills you need to prevent overthinking. Gradually Ive become more comfortable reaching out to coworkers or managers when I have questions or feel overwhelmed. Research shows thinking less about a problem might actually be the key to developing better solutions. Make sure you know about the company and the job youre interviewing for. You can also search for jobs on your own, or apply directly to companies that interest you. Here are a few to consider. I would say that I can be too direct. Ways to develop stronger interpersonal skills include: Meditation can be an excellent tool for redirecting your thoughts more positively. I regularly record myself during presentations, then watch the videos to see how I can improve my executive presence. My positive attitude is definitely one of my strengths. Overthinking can be viewed as both a strength and a weakness; it is, therefore, not a strong answer to give when asked about your weaknesses at interview. Stay humble and show that youre interested in learning more about the company and the position. You remain perfectly serious while revealing imperfections that dont have to work against you. Many employers use this question in the screening process to determine if you are engaged and interested in their organization. 2013;122(2):339-52. doi:10.1037/a0031994, Pieter R, Nababan D, Ariawan S, Listio S, Ruben S. Improving interpersonal skills to overcome the negative effects of overthinking in the disruption era. Sifting through job boards, sending out resumes, and preparing for interviews can take up hours of your day that you might not have to spare. You may be delaying your decision-making because you are scared of facing the consequences of your decisions. Not preparing enough. Overenthusiasm for certain writing projects used to find me falling off track, despite. Now, you want to conclude your interview answer by tying it back to the company and position you are interviewing for. Talking too much or not enough. Weaknesses: What to say when interviewers ask Resume.io Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Stars, 16 Agency Leaders Explore The SEO Trends Impacting Their Work In 2023, 15 Smart Ways To Address High Employee Turnover, How Vietnam's Entertainment Industry Can Increase Its Global Reach, 6 Best Practices For CEOs And Professional Leaders Using LinkedIn. Or, you might sleep on it and discover that your brain solves the problem for you while youre sleeping. 10. Remember it is a Weve compiled dozens of interview questions and sample answers to guide you through the process and get that job. Offer examples. Difficulty falling asleep may contribute to more worrisome thoughts. Others pose it as a two-birds-with-one-stone question.In the latter instance, leading with your weaknesses can be advantageous. Then, assess each of them by the criteria above: If a weakness passes each of those tests, then it should be a good one. Also ill-advised: Id rather not say, or Hmm, Id have to give that more thought.. Otherwise, this is the time to just be honest. These questions can help the interviewer get to know you better, as well as see where you might be compatible with the company and its culture. If you feel like your brain is on overdrive, talk to your physician. 'What are your weaknesses?' Founder, career coach and interview coach behind CaffeinatedKyle.com. 9. How to talk about weaknesses in a job interview, Lists of weaknesses for a job interview with example answers, Key takeaways for discussing weaknesses in a job interview. Kaiser BN, Haroz EE, Kohrt BA, Bolton PA, Bass JK, Hinton DE. Sometimes it makes it quite awkward when I have to meet someone who I know has a dog. You want to appear humble and willing to admit when youre not perfect, but you also dont want to make yourself sound like a complete disaster. One way to do this is by doing some self-assessment. Now, as a staff writer/editor for The Muse and a content marketing writer for a healthcare IT company, she gets to do what she loves every daywrite and edit content ranging from demand generation campaigns to career advice. Of course, that can cause problems in a busy workplace. The interviewee makes sure to stress that they are not too timid to speak up at work at all, which could be a concern. Rather than sit and think about a problem for endless amounts of time, you can distract yourself for a bit. And last month, I volunteered to give a presentation at a networking event I attend. Even if youve done your research and feel confident about your qualifications, there are bound to be a few common job interview questions that catch you off guard. 3. Have you enrolled in a professional skills course? And each time, it gets a little worse. When you find yourself overthinking, challenge these thoughts. However, I realise that experience working with clients directly would be a big help to the way I present my analysis so Im very keen to improve that aspect. Of course it feels good when bosses or coworkers appreciate and value my contributions, but Im also aware its a weakness to have trouble saying no to their requests. List of Weaknesses: Job Interview Answers and Examples The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation. After beginning a career in management, Katie realized she wasnt doing what she loved and determined it was time for a major career transition. And it may get your mind focused on something more productive. weaknesses Youve answered the question. Think honestly of times in your nursing By Amy Morin, LCSW, Editor-in-Chief Not Pers Soc Psychol Bull. This question is popular primarily because of its effectiveness at getting the candidate to think deeply about themselves. I have been a restaurant server, a tutor, and a health aide in the past decade, all jobs that require plenty of energy and endurance. I was still nervous but I felt that the presentation went well. As you meditate, work on focusing on your breath. A good answer shows that youre self-aware and able to critically analyse your skills. Furthermore, this answer shows no willingness or proactive drive to resolve the issue. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. If youre like most people, you probably think of your weaknesses as negative traits that need to be hidden during a job interview. Find a balance and be mindful of your interviewers time constraints. Answering with something like I just dont do enough exercise sounds like youre dodging the question. Required fields are marked *. Overthinking makes it harder to fall asleep. Here, the candidate explains a weakness of theirs that could be a serious problem but immediately shows that theyve already been taking significant steps towards fixing it and that theyve made good progress so far. Research has found that a 10-minute meditation can be an effective way to stop intrusive thoughts and worry. Why do job interviewers ask about weaknesses? But dont worry, because there are definitely things about you that make you stand out from the crowd and make you an ideal candidate for a particular job. In this blog, we'll show you how to answer it and provide examples of great responses. Weakness You might also be interested in these other WikiJob articles: Or explore the Interview Advice / Interview Questions sections. Thats still a genuine weakness, but its one thats largely negated by the role you have applied for. If youre having trouble even thinking of a weakness to base your answer on, here are some examples of weaknesses that might ring true for you: Indecisiveness. Being too aggressive or too shy. ", "What is the biggest regret youll have on leaving your present job? Prepare carefully for this opportunity to show deeper dimensions of your worthiness as a serious job contender. If you attended a job fair, you can tell them, I was attending a job fair when I saw an advertisement for this position. Its a repetitive cycle that can be tough to break. For example, if your worry is that you came across as nervous or jittery, youd find that itd probably be better to simply let it pass than awkwardly explain it (I know my palms were sweaty when we shook handssorry about that!) in a thank you note (more on that here). Addressing your weaknesses in an interview can feel tricky. When it comes to talking about weaknesses in a job interview, candidates tend to fall into one of two traps: 1. Dont be caught off guard by this common interview question about your professional weaknesses. This can come across as unprofessional and might not reflect well on you in the eyes of the interviewer. What company benefits are most important to you? Schedule some time for reflection. One of my biggest weaknesses is that I wear my feelings on my face. Some may see them as strengths, and vice versa. Get specific! weakness Weaknesses Interview Question When hiring managers ask about your strengths and weaknesses, they evaluate a few things: How you conduct a self-assessment. By asking this question, they are looking to see if you have taken the time to reflect on your own abilities and whether or not you are someone who is willing to work on improving yourself. Be prepared for follow-up questions. Maybe you found leading a team more difficult than you expected. Strengths often reflect positively on an individual and can give them an edge in the competition. Why Do Interviewers Like to Ask This Question? This is an important part of the hiring process, so it can be helpful to think about your strengths and weaknesses ahead. Putting your effort into writing a thoughtful note will do much more good than thinking through your interview for the hundredth time. You can create a profile on the website, and then ZipRecruiter will send you job recommendations based on your profile. 3. It helps keep your examples concise and engaging. The interviewee makes it clear that they were not being actively unpleasant to colleagues, but were aware that their communication skills needed work and this was creating some negative feeling at work.