Examples of Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews

Why Do Interviewers Ask About Your Strengths and Weaknesses?

There are plenty of reasons for wanting to know a person’s strengths and weaknesses before offering them a job. The question goes beyond hard and soft skills and encompasses personality, goals, work ethics, and more. The interviewer asks about your strengths and weaknesses because they want to know where and how well you fit in with the current team. They also want to see if you match the company’s culture, job responsibilities, and overall work environment.

Based on your answer to the “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” question, the interviewer assesses the following:

• Your traits that will benefit the work environment and the team
• Your willingness to improve and grow professionally (overcome your weaknesses)
• Your level of openness and ability to deal with critique
• Your personality and mindset.

Tips for Talking About Strengths and Weaknesses in an Interview

It may not be easy for you to speak about your strengths and weaknesses to a stranger, and that’s alright. There are a few tips that can help you get comfortable with this question, speak your mind, and make a good impression at the same time. Contrary to the general opinion, the aim should not be to learn by heart a magical formula and recite it at every interview. The goal with such questions is for you, as a candidate for a job in an interview, to be honest and open about your strengths and weaknesses. Here is how:

• Focus on the story – Strengths and weaknesses play crucial roles in storytelling. Sharing a real-life example can effectively highlight these aspects and foster a connection between the interviewer and your experiences. Make sure to include some background information. For instance, you could discuss how a strength enabled you to overcome a significant life or work challenge, how a weakness hindered you from achieving something vital, or how you plan to enhance a strength or address a weakness.
• Be open but not dramatic. Yes, discussing strengths and weaknesses can make us vulnerable, leading us to overexplain, share excessive personal details, and overwhelm the listener with our emotions. Try to stay on topic, keeping in mind the purpose of the discussion: to secure a job. It’s a professional interview, and although you will talk about your traits, maintain a professional and concise approach.
• Think about you, not the interviewer – A common mistake when answering the “What are your strengths and weaknesses?” question is to sweat too much on what you think the interviewer wants to hear. For example, if you apply for a PR job, you may think the interviewer wants to hear that you have good communication skills or are a people person. Or, if you apply for a job in IT, you may think the interviewer wants to hear that you excel at math. Be genuine and talk about your honest strengths and weaknesses. Remember, your unique qualities are what make you stand out, so focus on those.
• Weaknesses are not hidden strengths. How many people say their main weakness is being too hard-working and a bit of a perfectionist? The only conclusion the interviewer arrives from listening to this is that they are a phony. Own your weaknesses and show that you are willing to accept them and find a way to overcome them. It makes a better impression than offering a well-rehearsed disguised strength.
• Use quantifications – Like your achievements, strengths and weaknesses are sometimes quantifiable, meaning you can talk about your strengths and weaknesses and provide numbers supporting your stories. This helps the interviewer get a clearer impression and assess your traits better. For example, you may say you are not so good at public speaking because speaking at a national conference with hundreds of people in the hall freaked you out. Or you may say that your strength is social relations and give, for example, the size of your LinkedIn network.

Example of Strengths for Job Interviews

Assess your strengths before getting to the interview. You don’t have to mention all of them when asked about your strengths, but it helps to have a clear idea of the topics you may address. Consider your achievements, awards, honors, and hard and soft skills. Also, assess the positive feedback you received over time and what your friends like about your personality, hobbies, and passions.

Then, cull the strengths that better fit a particular job. Scan the job posting site for clues and to increase your chances of getting the role.

Here are a few examples of strengths for inspiration:

How to Answer “What are your strengths?” in an Interview

“What are your strengths and weaknesses?” question is your opportunity to showcase the traits that recommend you for this job. Look carefully through the job description, check out the company’s culture and mission, and review your best achievements. You need just a few strengths to make you stand out and make a good impression on the interviewer.

The strategies for talking about your strengths include:

• Review your achievements and skills: Make an exhaustive list of your strengths, drawing inspiration from your achievements, certificated skills, professional milestones, big and small accomplishments, academic accolades, and positive feedback that can be converted into skills and personality traits.
• Search the job description for required skills and competencies: Cull the list of strengths based on the essential skills and competencies mentioned in the job description. Select only the strengths that align with the job and company you are applying for.
• Consider your impact: Reflect on what you bring to the table and how you can add value to the company. Your passions, for example, may infuse your strengths with creativity, motivation, and engagement and make you stand out from the crowd.

Here’s a wonderful way to transform a weakness into a strength in two steps, with examples:

1. Begin by openly acknowledging your weakness- honesty is key, then
2. Share the steps you’ve taken to work on it and the valuable lessons you've gained along the way.

This not only showcases your self-motivation but also reflects a positively inspiring attitude. For example, if technical skills are challenging for you, why not highlight that you’ve joined an engineering course to boost your abilities?

Other ways the interviewer would ask the strengths question:

• What is a key characteristics that are advantage for you at work?
• What qualities would help make you successful in this role?
• How would your supervisor describe you in three words?

Here are five examples of strengths and how to talk about them:

Example 1: Organization

Context: You are applying for an Office Assistant job at a startup in the technology industry.

Answer: I believe one of my strengths is organizing and managing to keep hectic spaces in order. I used to volunteer in college for the local library and keep books, user sheets, and accountancy documents in order. They were so impressed with my ability to keep everything so that my to-do list grew monthly. Although I was only a volunteer, I was trusted with payroll and other vital documents. I was glad I could help and relieve the library’s full-time employees of some stress. You couldn’t believe the number of papers they must manage every day!

Example 2: Strong team player

Context: You are applying for a Software Engineer job at a large software development company.

Answer: I would say I am a team player. Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed playing team games, strategizing with my friends, and coming up with solutions that fit everyone. Something about being part of a team and seeing everyone reach their potential motivates me to do my best, learn, and grow. It’s a great feeling to be part of something bigger than you, and I genuinely enjoy working on big projects with many different people involved.

Example 3: Delegation skills

Context: You are applying for a Marketing Coordinator job at an online shopping company.

Answer: I love to delegate and believe I’m pretty good at it. I am the oldest of five siblings, so I was in charge from a very young age. I realized very early on that I couldn’t do everything independently and started to assess my siblings’ capabilities to share the work. Later in life, I relied on this quality at every single job. As an expert in marketing, I know how I would like the marketing campaign to look, but I must delegate the graphic design, illustrating, and content writing bits. It’s much more efficient this way.

Example 4: Detail oriented

Context: You are applying for a Writer job at a non-profit environment organization.

Answer: My main strength must be that I am detail-oriented. I love writing, but I believe that my ability to do thorough research, check out every detail, and proofread everything makes the content I create more appealing to the public. Each word and phrase is carefully curated to produce the exact effect I am after. As a result, my work rates high in online searches and is still relevant even after years since publishing. I’m proud of my article on sustainable fashion, which is still among the top ten in Google searches.

Example 5: Positive attitude, solid empathizer

Context: You are applying for a Personal Trainer job at a local gym.

Answer: I am a positive person who empathizes with clients and makes them feel good about themselves. I know what they are going through because I was one of them. When I was a teenager, I was overweight and bullied about my looks a lot. So, I got into training and learned everything I could on the topic. My positive attitude kept me going even in the hardest times because I always believed in the light at the end of the tunnel. So, I infuse my training with positive energy, hope, and encouragement. At my last workplace, I had terrific reviews from 92% of my clients.

Example Weaknesses for Job Interviews

“The only way to manage your strengths is to understand your weaknesses. Focus on what you can do best, but don't ignore the areas that need improvement.” Peter Drucker

Talk openly about your weaknesses but rather from a growth opportunity point of view, not a dramatic one. Having a weakness is challenging but is also a good lesson from which to grow. Assess your weaknesses based on challenging professional events, negative feedback, missed opportunities, personality evaluations, and patterns you find yourself in. Remember, every weakness is an opportunity for growth, so approach it with a positive mindset.

Like with strengths, cull the weaknesses that provide the most room for growth within the job context. Explain them to the interviewer briefly, keeping a positive note.

The strategies for assessing your weaknesses and constructively sharing them include:

• Identify growth areas in your personal and professional life: Think of weaknesses as growth opportunities you haven’t yet addressed. Lacking a certain skill is a weakness now but is also a challenge you intend to overcome.
• Acknowledge the negative feedback: Draw weaknesses from the negative feedback you received over time. Colleagues, teachers, and mentors may have repeatedly mentioned the same things, such as lack of focus, procrastination, multitasking, missing deadlines, and so on. These subtle but frequent notes are your weaknesses.
• Spot habit or behavior patterns: By practicing self-awareness, you can spot habits and behavior patterns that prevent you from being your best self. For example, you may habitually start multiple activities simultaneously and delay finishing all of them. This indicates poor task management skills. Your day-to-day habits and behaviors speak volumes about your professional weaknesses, so pay attention.

Here are a few examples of weaknesses that may be yours as well:

How to Answer, “What is your greatest weakness?” in an Interview

Talking about your strengths is easier than talking about your weaknesses. But it gets better if you consider them opportunities for growth and not drawbacks. Show the interviewer that you know the areas where you have work to do and are willing to do the work. Admit you got negative feedback and made the most out of it, even if you still have some work to do.

Alternative ways to ask about weaknesses of a candidate:

• What are your top areas for improvement?
• What are your professional challenges and how you do about them?
• What would your former colleagues say you need to improve?

Here are five examples of weaknesses and how to approach them tactfully:

Example 1: Poor technology capabilities

Context: You are applying for an Office Assistant job at a startup in the technology industry.

Answer: I have to admit that I’m not very good with technology. Most of my previous jobs involved managing paper documents and organizing physical items. However, I understand that this is something that keeps me back, and I am willing to make a change. I’ve already enrolled in an online class that teaches basic computer skills, such as Microsoft Office. I would love to learn to work with databases to manage inventories and so on.

Example 2: Self-criticism

Context: You are applying for a Software Engineer job at a large software development company.

Answer: I tend to criticize myself a lot. I’m doing it less now, but there is still room to grow. I used to believe that every piece of code I write has to be perfect. So, I would spend a lot of time rewriting my code. In the end, it led to burnout. Yes, my code was good, and I received much praise for it, but I was a wreck. I learned to manage self-criticism, celebrate achievements, and pursue my goals without unhealthy cycles. Now, I understand that doing my best means working and caring for myself, not working overtime consistently, and risking burnout.

Example 3: Fear of public speaking

Context: You are applying for a Marketing Coordinator job at an online shopping company.

Answer: Although I’ve been working as a marketing strategist for a long time, I still fear public speaking. I can manage making presentations at small team meetings, but anything bigger than that is challenging. For that reason, I often pass on opportunities such as presenting at marketing conferences and events. I would do the work and then let someone else present it. It’s frustrating and it’s something I need to address. I hear that there are programs that help you overcome this fear, and I plan to sign up for them this quarter.

Example 4: Overcommiting

Context: You are applying for a Writer job at a non-profit environment organization.

Answer: Ironically, a tendency to overcommit keeps me from advancing in my career. As I don’t want to disappoint anyone, I take on more tasks than I can do during working hours and then do overtime to finish them. I picked it up during my freelancing years when I needed all the work I could get to pay the bills. I know it no longer applies to my current professional journey, so I’m eager to overcome it. I find daily agendas, planners, and other task management tools very useful in this regard.

Example 5: Poor communication skills

Context: You are applying for a Personal Trainer job at a local gym.

Answer: I need to improve my communication skills and be more assertive. I tend to go easy on people; they take advantage of this and procrastinate. In the long term, they risk missing their objectives. Exercise may be inefficient if the client doesn’t follow my program thoroughly, so I need to learn how to communicate my intentions better and motivate them.

In conclusion, acknowledging your strengths and weaknesses is crucial for professional development and essential in a job interview environment. Demonstrate self-awareness and a proactive approach to self-improvement to make a good impression at the interview, stay true to yourself, and find a job that suits you. By highlighting your strengths while also addressing areas for growth, you show a balanced perspective. This honesty builds trust and showcases your commitment to personal and professional development.

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