Why?<\/strong><\/p>\n Generally, an interviewer is looking to see a few things when they ask you about your weaknesses \u2013 first, they\u2019re looking for self-awareness. Are you knowledgeable enough about yourself to understand and appreciate where you\u2019ll fit well within a role, and where you might need to develop? And are you comfortable enough with yourself to admit those areas?<\/p>\n This is one of the most well-known interview questions out there, so an interviewer may also be looking to make sure you care enough to have prepared to answer this question. If you don\u2019t have something ready for them, that could be taken as a red flag.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n How shouldn\u2019t you answer?<\/strong><\/p>\n First of all, you certainly do<\/em> have a weakness \u2013 so never say \u201cI don\u2019t have any weaknesses.\u201d It\u2019s not bold or confident; and will be exactly what an interviewer is looking for to eliminate someone from the process. Part of the strength of your answer will be your honesty \u2013 having the guts to admit that you may not have every single skill you need to dive into the job straight away. Employers aren\u2019t looking for someone to do the job perfectly immediately \u2013 they\u2019re looking for people who are able and willing to learn and grow into the role.<\/p>\n You also shouldn\u2019t be blunt \u2013 lines like \u201cI\u2019m not very good at keeping the lab clean,\u201d or \u201cI\u2019m not very organised\u201d without further justification are not going to do you any favours. Keep your answer honest, but make sure to explain it well and lead into how you\u2019re going to combat it.<\/p>\n Finally, don\u2019t pick a weakness that is obviously a strength. Working too hard or giving too much attention to detail aren\u2019t weaknesses unless you explain why \u2013 because, for example, you find it hard to switch off when the time comes, or because you find it difficult to see the bigger picture.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n How should you answer?<\/strong><\/p>\n The best answer to this question has two parts. First, the admission \u2013 state your weakness, explain why it\u2019s a weakness, and keep it realistic and surmountable. After that, you have to explain how you plan to overcome that weakness, if you haven\u2019t already. Use the question as an opportunity to explain how you hope to grow and develop in this new role.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s an example:<\/p>\n \u201cI tend to focus too much on the details, which means I sometimes get curious and distracted by the finer points of a project \u2013 I can end up spending three hours reading something that\u2019s only very slightly relevant to the project.<\/em><\/p>\n I think one of the best ways to combat this, though, is to be aware of it in the first place \u2013 when I notice myself getting dragged away from what I should be doing, it becomes a lot easier to pull back. In a job like this, I think it\u2019s very important to be organised and prioritise and I think that\u2019s something I\u2019ll be doing a lot of, so that will help with making sure I only focus on the finer points when I\u2019m able to.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n There you have it \u2013 an honest admission that\u2019s swiftly overcome by a solid plan that ends up demonstrating further value. This doesn\u2019t have to be a question that might trip you up \u2013 think about it as an opportunity to explain how you\u2019re hoping to learn and grow in a new role.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Suggested posts<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong>How to answer: What was the most interesting article you read this morning in The New York Times?<\/p>\n <\/a>How to answer: Why does a PhD want an admin based job?<\/p>\n <\/a>How to answer: What other jobs have you applied for?<\/p>\n <\/a>How to answer: Tell us something unusual about yourself<\/p>\n <\/a>How to answer the most hated interview questions This classic question has been tripping prospective employees up for years \u2013 whether they\u2019re applying for jobs at the local greengrocers or at Apple. There\u2019s no 100% guaranteed-to-land-you-the-job answer to this question, but there are certainly wrong ways to answer, and ways that will maximise your chances. The first step, as with many interview questions, is to understand why you\u2019re being asked the question \u2013 what is the interviewer looking for? After that, we\u2019ll examine how you shouldn\u2019t answer, and end on how you should. Read more<\/a> Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.nature.com\/naturejobs\/files\/2013\/10\/161350828_interview_itstockthinkstock.jpg\" "\\"hiring-naturejobs-blog\\"")
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\nTop 5 most hated interview questions<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"