A new way to answer the question “What is your greatest weakness?” Interview question

Job seekers say that one of the most difficult questions an employer can ask is, “What is your greatest weakness?” Unfortunately, many clients seeking interview coaching have failed to correctly answer this one a question. Terri is a Baby Boomer who noted that she asked this question when interviewing people, but stumbled when a prospective employer asked her to identify a critical weakness. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of not being able to give a solid answer and instead telling the employer why they should NOT hire them.

This question of weakness is a difficult one. Unpreparedness can overtake anyone. However, as I prepare people for their interviews, a new approach works very well when responding to an inquiring employer.

First, consider the question carefully. There are a few different things you can pay attention to when answering. It is critical that you choose an answer that demonstrates to the employer how the weakness does not affect job performance. A new approach that is quite effective is to illustrate a skill gap you had and how you overcame it. Adecco, a large staffing company, conducted a survey that found that as many as 92 percent of executives believe that American workers are underqualified. According to Payscale.com, the number one skill people lack is data analysis. Here is the formula for answering the question using the lack of skill.

For starters, pick something you’re not good at based on the fact that you haven’t done it, not on the fact that you’re terrible at it. For example, understanding a budget may be something you struggle with. However, it won’t be the weakness you chose. Instead, pick something you haven’t done or need more training to improve. You want the result to show that you have mastered this skill.

Smart answer

Let’s review an example to better understand how this approach is used to answer the questions. So, data analysis is what we’re going to outline. It’s a skill you’ve had little or no experience with. During your conversation with the hiring manager, here’s a powerful and positive way to answer the question, “What is your biggest weakness?”

ANSWER: “When I first took my last position, I had no experience doing data analysis, and that was a major weakness I had in performing my new directorship. I quickly realized that this was a necessary skill to acquire. However, it wasn’t something I could pick up easily, and creating a dashboard was overwhelming. So, I researched to determine the best way to learn how to analyze data.

“I started reading a few articles, making sure they came from reputable sources like a top magazine, newspaper or thought leader. I then found and watched several video tutorials on how to perform data analysis. They were helpful as I could see the steps and how the process worked. I then took a course so I could become proficient. I also sought out a mentor who excelled in data analysis. She showed me her method of accomplishing this task. I then practiced creating dashboards after gathering data from many different sources, realizing that the goal was to prepare the information so that it could assist senior management and myself in making more informed decisions. I ended up reaching out to someone in our organization who was a data scientist. I got some practical training from him. The data collection part was very complicated, but I learned this new skill between classes, tutorials and personal training.

“Today, I apply this ability quite often, and my boss recently made several positive comments about my ability. So even though data analysis started as a weakness, I tried to master it.”

Now you realize that this answer will require some thought to choose the right skill you need. This is what you identify as your weakness. Then you explain how you learned the skill by mentioning tutorials, books, online articles, or classes. Finally, finish the answer by stating that you have learned it. It’s great to cite that a boss or co-workers noticed that you excelled at this task. This answer turned out to be a very effective way to answer the question. This is a new way of responding and is well received by employers.

Create a convincing answer that you will use as you will not get a second chance. Be honest, genuine and authentic in your answer. Write your answer and edit it until you think it is the perfect answer. Then, before you meet face-to-face with an employer, practice answering this challenging question. Practice until you feel confident and get your nervousness under control. The more prepared you are, the better you’ll do when you sit down with the hiring manager.