What is your greatest weakness?
This question introduces you to some tricky terrain to navigate. On one hand, introducing weakness could potentially raise red flags for your interviewer. Making them think twice before hiring you. On the other hand, not exhibiting the right kind of self-awareness could betray you as well. As with so many other aspects of one's professional life, the key to answering this question is in striking a balance. First and foremost, you want to advertise a high degree of self-awareness and an ability to identify your own growth opportunities. Exhibit your experience level by offering a weakness that could also be interpreted as a strength. Being a perfectionist can be a strength, yet when fine tuning your work interferes with your ability to turn in work on time, that strength can turn into a weakness.
"I believe I could improve on some technical skills including Excel and PowerPoint. Currently I am at a beginner to intermediate level; however, I would be more comfortable at an advanced level. I have enrolled myself in an evening/weekend workshop for the next six weeks. We will see how stellar my skills are after that course!"
"Sometimes I have difficulty asking for help from co-workers. I like having control over my daily tasks and taking on new projects, but I'm not always willing to admit when I have taken on too much. When I made a mistake because I was juggling too many projects, I learned that it's okay to ask for help. I'm learning how to organize myself better and communicate what I need from my team. This skill has helped me be more effective at my job, and it's helped my team work together even better than before!"
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