What's Your Biggest Weakness? Best Answer to This Interview Question ✓

Brigette Hyacinth
7 Feb 202121:44
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script offers valuable advice on tackling the common interview question about weaknesses. It advises against clichéd responses and emphasizes the importance of honesty and self-awareness. The speaker provides a formula for answering, including identifying and selecting appropriate weaknesses, crafting a story of improvement, and showcasing results. The video aims to equip viewers with the skills to turn perceived weaknesses into opportunities for growth and self-improvement, ultimately presenting themselves as strong candidates in job interviews.

Takeaways
  • 🚫 Avoid clichéd answers like 'I'm a perfectionist' or 'I work too hard' as they can seem insincere.
  • 🤔 Reflect on your weaknesses honestly, without oversharing or revealing major flaws.
  • 🛠️ Choose weaknesses that are genuine and work-related, not personal shortcomings.
  • 📋 Prepare a list of potential job-related weaknesses in advance.
  • 🔍 Review the job description to ensure your weakness doesn't clash with the role's requirements.
  • 📈 Select weaknesses that are improvable and not inherently linked to the job's success.
  • 💡 Highlight improvements made in your weaknesses to show growth and learning.
  • 📖 Use storytelling to illustrate how you've overcome a weakness in a past situation.
  • 🎯 Emphasize the steps taken to improve your weaknesses and the positive outcomes.
  • 🌟 Showcase results and recognition from others to reinforce your progress.
  • 🌈 Use the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers effectively.
Q & A
  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is about how to effectively answer the common interview question, 'What is your biggest weakness?'

  • Why should candidates avoid stating they are not a morning person as a weakness?

    -Candidates should avoid stating they are not a morning person because it shows a lack of professionalism and does not demonstrate a genuine effort to improve or adapt to work requirements.

  • What does the video advise against when answering the weakness question?

    -The video advises against giving cliché answers, disguising strengths as weaknesses, being overly honest to the point of sharing too much information, and claiming to have no weaknesses.

  • What is the purpose of interviewers asking about candidates' weaknesses?

    -Interviewers ask about weaknesses to assess the candidate's honesty, self-awareness, continuous learning ability, personal accountability, fit for the organization, and to identify any serious flaws that might affect job performance.

  • How can candidates prepare to identify their weaknesses before an interview?

    -Candidates can prepare by self-reflecting, making a list of potential job-related weaknesses, reviewing past performance reviews, and considering feedback from supervisors or colleagues.

  • What types of weaknesses should candidates avoid sharing in an interview?

    -Candidates should avoid sharing weaknesses that are deal breakers for the job, highly personal, or that could make them appear untrustworthy or difficult to work with.

  • What is the STAR technique mentioned in the video?

    -The STAR technique stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. It is an effective method for structuring answers to interview questions by detailing a specific situation, explaining the task, describing the actions taken, and highlighting the results achieved.

  • How can candidates turn their weaknesses into a strength during the interview?

    -Candidates can turn weaknesses into strengths by focusing on behaviors that can be changed, showing a willingness to learn and grow, and sharing stories of how they have successfully overcome or improved upon their weaknesses.

  • What are some examples of hard and soft skills weaknesses mentioned in the video?

    -Examples of hard skills weaknesses include limited knowledge of particular software, while soft skills weaknesses could be talkative or avoiding necessary conflict.

  • What should candidates do if they are unsure about their weaknesses?

    -If unsure about their weaknesses, candidates can ask close friends or family members for honest feedback, take personality type quizzes online, or review the job description to identify areas that do not align with the required skills.

  • How can candidates demonstrate they have improved upon a weakness?

    -Candidates can demonstrate improvement by discussing specific actions taken, such as taking workshops or classes, reading books, using tools or apps, working with a mentor, and showing the positive results or feedback received from others.

Outlines
00:00
🤔 Avoiding Common Pitfalls in Answering Interview Questions

This paragraph discusses the importance of not falling into common traps when answering the interview question about one's biggest weakness. It advises against using clichéd responses, disguising strengths as weaknesses, and being overly candid. The speaker emphasizes the need for honesty and professionalism, and shares tips on how to handle the question effectively, including owning up to weaknesses and working on them.

05:01
🧐 Identifying and Preparing for Interview Weakness Questions

The speaker provides guidance on how to identify personal weaknesses and prepare for answering questions about them in interviews. Tips include self-reflection, reviewing job descriptions to ensure weaknesses are not job-related, and understanding the company culture. The paragraph also highlights the importance of choosing a weakness that has been improved upon and aligns with the job's requirements.

10:01
💡 Transforming Weaknesses into Strengths

This section focuses on the strategy of turning weaknesses into strengths during an interview. It advises selecting a fixable weakness and emphasizing the steps taken to improve it. The speaker encourages sharing a story of overcoming the weakness, detailing the actions taken, and showcasing the positive results achieved from these efforts.

15:02
🌟 Showcasing Improvement and Success

The speaker emphasizes the importance of demonstrating the positive outcomes of addressing weaknesses. It suggests highlighting the results of improvement efforts and how they have led to success. The paragraph provides an example of how to articulate this transformation in a job interview context, using active listening and presentation skills as case studies.

20:05
🚀 Utilizing the STAR Technique for Effective Interview Answers

The final paragraph introduces the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique as an effective method for answering interview questions, including those about weaknesses. The speaker encourages preparation and practice before the interview, using the STAR technique to craft detailed and compelling answers. The paragraph concludes with words of encouragement for job seekers and a reminder to stay positive throughout the job search process.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Weaknesses
In the context of the video, weaknesses refer to personal or professional shortcomings that could potentially hinder job performance. The video emphasizes the importance of honestly identifying and addressing these weaknesses during job interviews. It provides guidance on how to discuss them in a way that shows self-awareness and a commitment to personal growth.
💡Job Interview
A job interview is a formal meeting where potential employers assess a candidate's suitability for a job. In the video, the focus is on how to navigate the common yet challenging question of discussing one's weaknesses in such a setting, turning a potentially negative aspect into an opportunity to demonstrate personal development and improvement.
💡Honesty
Honesty in the video refers to the candid and truthful disclosure of one's weaknesses during a job interview. It is important because it shows the interviewer that the candidate is self-aware and willing to acknowledge areas for improvement, which is a positive trait in an employee.
💡Self-Improvement
Self-improvement involves recognizing one's weaknesses and actively working to enhance skills or behaviors. The video stresses the value of demonstrating a commitment to self-improvement as it reflects positively on a candidate's ability to grow and adapt in a professional setting.
💡Active Listening
Active listening is a communication skill that involves fully concentrating, understanding, and responding to what is being said by others. In the video, it is presented as an area of improvement for a candidate who was previously talkative, and it is used to illustrate how a weakness can be turned into a strength.
💡STAR Technique
The STAR technique is a structured method for answering behavioral interview questions effectively. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and helps candidates provide clear, concise, and relevant examples of their experiences. The video suggests using this technique to craft detailed and impactful answers about overcoming weaknesses.
💡Personal Accountability
Personal accountability refers to the willingness to accept responsibility for one's actions and their consequences. In the job interview context, showing personal accountability for one's weaknesses indicates a mature and responsible attitude towards professional development.
💡Professional Development
Professional development involves activities and experiences that contribute to the growth of an individual's professional skills and knowledge. The video highlights the importance of ongoing professional development in addressing weaknesses and enhancing one's career prospects.
💡Interview Tactics
Interview tactics are the strategies and techniques used by candidates to effectively navigate the interview process. The video provides insights on how to use certain tactics, like the STAR technique, to answer difficult questions and showcase one's ability to recognize and work on weaknesses.
💡Candidacy
Candidacy refers to a person's status as a candidate for a particular position. In the context of the video, it relates to how a candidate presents themselves during an interview, including their ability to discuss weaknesses in a way that still highlights their suitability for the job.
Highlights

The video discusses the best approach to answering the common interview question, 'What is your biggest weakness?'

Avoid cliché answers like 'I'm a perfectionist' or 'I work too hard' as they can be seen as insincere.

Do not claim to have no weaknesses, as it is unrealistic and does not show self-awareness.

Instead, identify and own your weaknesses, and show a willingness to improve upon them.

The interviewer asks about weaknesses to assess character, personality, and the candidate's ability to handle feedback.

Prepare a list of potential weaknesses that are not critical to the job's requirements.

Choose a weakness that is genuinely something you struggle with to ensure authenticity in your response.

Select weaknesses that are fixable and have made improvements in to demonstrate growth.

Tell a story of overcoming a weakness to show resilience and adaptability.

Emphasize the concrete steps taken to improve the weakness, such as taking courses or reading books.

Showcase the results of your actions to improve, like increased employee engagement or recognition from peers.

Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your answer for a detailed and impactful response.

The video offers free job search masterclasses to help viewers improve their interview skills.

Avoid giving a strength disguised as a weakness, as it is a tactic that interviewers can see through.

Be honest but not overly candid; do not divulge too much personal information in the interview.

Interviewers may ask about weaknesses in various ways, so be prepared to tailor your response accordingly.

Focus on turning your weakness into a strength and show a willingness to learn and grow.

In conclusion, the video encourages job seekers to stay positive and persistent in their job search.

Transcripts
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