Interview Question: What are your Weaknesses? 3 EXAMPLE ANSWERS!

Life Work Balance
28 Nov 202110:43
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this Life Work Balance YouTube video, Abby offers valuable advice on tackling the common interview question about weaknesses. She emphasizes five key 'don'ts': avoid personality traits, claiming perfection, disguising strengths as weaknesses, selecting job-related weaknesses, and unrelated skills. Abby then introduces a CAR-like formula for constructing responses: Context, Action, Result. Through three practical examples, she illustrates how to effectively communicate awareness of one's weaknesses and the steps taken to improve them, ultimately presenting a strategy for job applicants to demonstrate self-awareness and growth potential.

Takeaways
  • 🚫 Do not describe your weakness as a personality trait, as it implies something unchangeable.
  • 🚫 Avoid claiming perfection or lack of weaknesses, as it signals a lack of self-awareness.
  • 🚫 Don't mask a strength as a weakness, especially using common clichés like 'perfectionism'.
  • 🚫 Refrain from choosing a weakness that is directly related to the job you're applying for.
  • 🚫 Don't select a skill unrelated to the job as a weakness; it provides no insight into your areas for improvement.
  • ✅ Identify a weakness you're actively working on and ensure it's not a constant issue.
  • ✅ Use the CAR (Context, Action, Result) formula to structure your response about weaknesses.
  • ✅ Begin with a specific context where the weakness is evident and describe your actions to address it.
  • ✅ Conclude with the positive results of your efforts to improve the weakness.
  • 📝 Make a list of potential weaknesses, eliminate those unrelated to the job, and choose one that shows self-awareness and improvement.
  • 💡 Be genuine and authentic in your response, showing vulnerability can set you apart from other candidates.
  • 🎥 Consider joining Abby's Twitch streams for real-time career and job search advice.
Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is how to effectively answer the interview question about one's weaknesses.

  • What should you avoid when discussing a weakness in an interview?

    -You should avoid discussing a weakness that is a personality trait, claiming to have no weaknesses, disguising a strength as a weakness, choosing a weakness directly related to the job, and picking a skill unrelated to the job.

  • How can you frame a weakness in a way that shows self-awareness and improvement?

    -You can frame a weakness by using the CAR formula: Context, Action, and Result. Describe the situation (Context), the steps you've taken to address the weakness (Action), and the positive outcomes or improvements (Result).

  • Why is it a red flag to say you have no weaknesses in an interview?

    -Saying you have no weaknesses can signal a lack of self-awareness, which is undesirable to hiring managers as it suggests you may not be open to feedback or personal growth.

  • What is an example of a weak response to the weakness question?

    -An example of a weak response is claiming to be a perfectionist or saying that you work too hard, as these are often seen as disguised strengths and can appear insincere.

  • How can you identify a weakness that you're actively working to improve?

    -You can identify such a weakness by making a list of concerns or areas you're working on, and then narrowing it down to those that occur in specific contexts and are not constant personality traits.

  • What should you do before listing your weaknesses in an interview?

    -Before listing your weaknesses, review the job posting or description to ensure that the weakness you choose does not directly conflict with the required skills or responsibilities for the position.

  • How can you demonstrate that you're working on improving a weakness?

    -You can demonstrate this by describing the specific actions you've taken to address the weakness and the positive changes or results that have come from these actions.

  • What is the purpose of using the CAR formula in answering the weakness question?

    -The CAR formula helps structure your response in a way that shows you are self-aware, proactive about personal development, and able to turn weaknesses into strengths through conscious effort.

  • Why is it important to relate your weakness to the job you're applying for?

    -Relating your weakness to the job shows that you understand the role and have thought about how your weaknesses could impact your performance, and it demonstrates your commitment to improving areas relevant to the position.

  • How can you ensure your weakness does not come off as a personality trait in the interview?

    -You can ensure this by phrasing your weakness as something that occurs in specific situations or contexts and by emphasizing that you are actively working on it, thus showing it's not a fixed trait.

Outlines
00:00
🎤 Introduction and Advice on Addressing Weaknesses

Abby introduces the video, welcoming viewers to the Life Work Balance YouTube channel and setting the agenda to discuss how to answer the interview question about one's weaknesses. She encourages viewers to like the video, subscribe, and turn on notifications for regular Sunday advice. Abby also invites viewers to join her on Twitch for real-time interaction and career advice. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and improvement, outlining five things not to do when answering the weakness question in an interview.

05:01
🚫 Common Mistakes in Answering Interview Questions

This section details the common pitfalls to avoid when discussing personal weaknesses in an interview. Abby advises against describing a weakness as a personality trait, claiming perfection, disguising strengths as weaknesses, choosing a weakness relevant to the job, or selecting an unrelated skill as a weakness. The paragraph stresses the need for honesty and authenticity in interview responses, and provides guidance on selecting appropriate weaknesses to discuss.

10:02
📝 Formula for Answering 'Weakness' Questions

Abby introduces a structured approach to answering questions about weaknesses, using a modified CAR (Context, Action, Result) formula. She explains how to provide context for the situation, describe the action taken to address the weakness, and the resulting improvement. The paragraph includes three examples of how to apply this formula, demonstrating how to turn a potential weakness into a narrative of personal development and growth. Abby concludes by encouraging viewers to apply this strategy to craft their responses for future interviews.

💬 Additional Resources and Closing Remarks

In the final paragraph, Abby reiterates her availability for providing career advice, job search tips, and interview guidance through her Twitch streams and YouTube channel. She encourages viewers to follow her on Twitch and subscribe to her channel for regular updates. Abby also invites viewer engagement through comments and promises to respond personally, ending the video on a positive note with an anticipation of the next week's content.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Weaknesses
In the context of the video, weaknesses refer to personal or professional areas where an individual may not perform as effectively as desired. The video emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and working on these areas for self-improvement, especially during job interviews. It provides guidance on how to discuss weaknesses without appearing as a liability to potential employers.
💡Interview Questions
Interview questions are the queries posed by employers to candidates during job interviews to assess their suitability for a role. The video specifically addresses how to answer the question about weaknesses, highlighting that it is a common yet critical part of the interview process where candidates must demonstrate self-awareness and a commitment to personal development.
💡Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand one's own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values. In the video, it is presented as a desirable quality that hiring managers look for in candidates, as it indicates a person's capacity for personal growth and improvement.
💡Personal Development
Personal development involves improving one's skills, abilities, and understanding to reach one's full potential. The video encourages viewers to identify and work on their weaknesses as part of their personal development journey, particularly in the context of career advancement.
💡Job Search Advice
Job search advice encompasses a range of tips and strategies to help job seekers find and secure employment. The video offers specific advice on handling a challenging interview question, which is a crucial component of the job search process.
💡Career Trajectory
Career trajectory refers to the path or progression of an individual's professional career over time. The video suggests that understanding and improving upon one's weaknesses can positively influence their career trajectory by making them a more competitive candidate for job opportunities.
💡Twitch
Twitch is a live streaming platform where users can watch and interact with their favorite broadcasters in real time. In the video, Abby uses Twitch as a platform to offer live career and job search advice, providing an interactive and engaging way for viewers to receive guidance.
💡CAR Formula
The CAR formula stands for Context, Action, and Result, a structured approach used to answer behavioral-based interview questions effectively. It helps candidates provide a comprehensive and coherent response that demonstrates their ability to recognize and address their weaknesses.
💡Job Description
A job description is a document that outlines the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills required for a particular job. It is crucial for job seekers to review the job description to understand what the employer is looking for in a candidate and to tailor their responses in interviews accordingly.
💡Analysis Paralysis
Analysis paralysis is a state of indecision caused by overthinking or over-analyzing a situation, often leading to the inability to make a decision or take action. In the context of the video, it is used to describe a common weakness where an individual focuses too much on details and struggles to see the bigger picture.
Highlights

Abby shares tips on answering the interview question about weaknesses.

Avoid describing a weakness as a personality trait that cannot change.

Do not claim to be perfect or unaware of any weaknesses.

Do not disguise a strength as a weakness in your response.

Choose a weakness not directly related to the job you're applying for.

Do not select a skill unrelated to the job as a weakness.

Create a list of weaknesses you're actively working to improve.

Use the CAR (Context, Action, Result) formula to structure your response.

Describe the context where you've noticed your weakness.

Explain the actions you've taken to mitigate the weakness.

Discuss the results of your efforts to improve.

Example 1: Trouble asking for help and over committing.

Example 2: Lacking confidence and its impact on contributions.

Example 3: Focusing too much on details at the expense of the big picture.

Abby offers live career advice on Twitch.

Subscribe and hit the bell for weekly life work balance advice.

Engage with Abby's content by liking the video and commenting.

Transcripts

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InterviewTipsWeaknessesHandlingSelfAwarenessCareerAdviceJobSearchPersonalDevelopmentTwitchLivestreamsHiringManagersBehavioralInterviews