How to Answer: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Department of Juvenile Justice job interview.
12. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
How you answer this question will give the interviewer insight into your self-awareness and how you identify your merits and growth opportunities. This question tests your honesty in the interview process by gauging the consistency of your answers. Keep your answers varied but consistent. Your consistency in how you present yourself will show the interviewer that you'll be consistent in your work performance, should they choose to hire you.
Written by Kevin Downey on April 20th, 2022
How to Answer
Provide the personal strengths you feel make you an excellent candidate. Try to align your self-perceived strengths with the merits they're looking for in a viable candidate. Strengths can be skills or qualities that allow you to follow through and overcome difficult circumstances or accomplish challenging tasks. Talk to the interviewer about your strengths and why those will aid your success. Frame your greatest weakness as an asset in its own right. Being a perfectionist can be a weakness.
Written by Kevin Downey on April 20th, 2022
Answer Example
"I think my greatest strength is my eagerness to please, but my greatest weakness is not being great as saying no. In the past, I've bitten off more than I can chew and struggled with how to communicate 'no' functionally. Since then, I learned that not communicating what's possible within my well-managed time and taking on more than I can lead me to underperform. I've gotten a handle on this. But being a people person who is not easily offended and rarely takes things personally, saying no can be hard for me. This trait is something of a strength and weakness. I'm starting to learn how to strike a harmonious balance between the two."
Written by Kevin Downey on April 20th, 2022