How to Answer: What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Siemens Finance Excellence Program job interview.
2. 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. It's also a constant challenge for the interviewer to find out whether the person being interviewed is being forthright, or doing their best to tell them what they think they want to hear to land the job. 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 March 4th, 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 based on the information available online. Strengths can be skills or qualities that allow you to follow through and overcome difficult circumstances or accomplish challenging tasks, such as those of the Siemens 2-year program. Talk to the interviewer about your strengths and why those will help you to be successful in this role. Frame your greatest weakness as an asset in its own right. Being a perfectionist can be a weakness. Similarly, this quality can be seen as a benefit to Siemens.
Written by Kevin Downey on March 4th, 2022
What You Need to Know
How you perceive yourself may differ from how others perceive you, including the person interviewing you. Remain conscious of your body language throughout the interview process. Make sure your answers remain consistent with how you present yourself. There are many candidates who might divulge too much information about themselves when prompted by questions such as these. People are generally forthcoming about telling you who they are right off the bat. Sometimes lightly admitting that you have anger management issues, but framing this in a way that presents the person you're telling this to would be the exception to this rule, will only serve by offering them the exact red flag they're looking for.
Written by Kevin Downey on March 4th, 2022
Answer Example
"I'd say my greatest strength is also my greatest weakness. I push myself to the limit and am my own worst critic as a result of it. I rarely need to be disciplined because I am harder on myself than anyone else could be. So even though I am a perfectionist and put my all in, sometimes I can push myself too hard. It's like Nietzsche said, "be careful in casting out your demons, for you may be casting out that which is greatest within you."
Written by Kevin Downey on March 4th, 2022