Best Answers to the question:(ranked by the quality)
1. Xuelei - August 13 2008 (Answer ID: 266)
"Tell me your three weaknesses" is one of the toughest, if not THE toughest, common interview questions.
It's tough, because you are in an interview, you really don't want to advertise your main weaknesses to the employer. Naturally, many applicants will try to find some minor weaknesses, but it's difficult to pick the "right weaknesses", in the very short time frame you have in a job interview.
Unfortunately, this is some hiring manager's all-time favorite question. It's frequently asked.
When I just graduated from the college, I took an interview for a position of marketing representative at a major Fortune 500 company. The hiring manager asked me "What are your three weaknesses? I give you 60 seconds to answer the question. "
I tried very hard to find the "right" weaknesses but couldn't get one. I became nervous and said something like "My first weakness is … sometimes I'm too enthusiastic…"
"Is enthusiasm a weakness?"
"Yes. Because in some scenarios, I think we will get best result if we are enthusiastic but not too enthusiastic. A small number of colleagues and customers may not feel most comfortable if you are just too enthusiastic."
Then the hiring manager pushed very hard to get my second weakness: "OK. Then what is your second weakness? Now you still have 30 seconds… 25 seconds… 20 … 10 … 5 seconds left…"
At the end of the 60 seconds, I didn't figure out what my second weakness was.
The story had a happy ending. I passed the interview, as well as couple rounds of interviews after it, and got the offer. I accepted the offer, and started my career at that company.
Later when I pursued different career opportunities, the "three weaknesses" question was asked again and again by different employers. I became more and more familiar with the answer, until one day I became a "three weaknesses" expert, and felt slightly disappointed if I was not asked the question in a job interview.
Recently, I became a hiring manager myself. I also asked the question at many interviews.
Now let me tell you what I have learned both as a job applicant and as an employer.
Before we start, I want to emphasize that there is no absolutely right or wrong answer for the question. Each interviewer is different, and some may favor one type of answer, while some like others.
To answer the question well, we need to clarify one issue first: why does an employer ask the question?
Does the employer really try to know what your weakness is? Probably a few employers do, but most of them don't. The reason is simple. Most applicants will not volunteer announcing a major drawback. You know it. Employers also know it.
If so, why do so many employers still love asking the question?
Because, the actual purpose of the question is not to find what your weakness is. The real goal is to test how you perform under pressure.
Employees at many jobs need to work under pressure. A salesperson may need to face a very tough customer. A customer representative may need to handle an urgent customer complain. A manager may need to lead a very difficult project. In these scenarios, some people, even they are organized and professional in normal times, may become very nervous and ineffective. How a person performs under pressure is important to determine whether she can be successful in a job.
Therefore, the hiring manager needs to know how a job applicant will perform under high pressure, but the information is difficult to get. He can directly ask the question: "How do you perform under pressure?" But this is just a question. A candidate with good communication skills can handle the question well, no matter how he actually performs under pressure.
So we have this "three weaknesses" question. The question puts the interviewee in an unfamiliar field with high pressure and makes her nervous when she tries to answer, which mimics the actual tough business environment she may need to face if she gets the job.
Now we are ready to answer it.
First, stay calm. It's even better if you can give a little bit of smile. Answer the question in a sincere tone and attitude.
There are two schools of thoughts to answer the question.
The first type of answer is most common and it's pretty safe to deal with virtually all employers.
Just find three weaknesses. They are your real weaknesses. But don't voluntarily discuss any major weakness which may disqualify you from getting the job. You may explain how you will address the weakness. Ideally you can close the question by showing your interest to the job you are applying to.
Here is an example:
Scenario: Let's assume you are a college student and interviewed by an employer, a major multinational Company A, for an entry level sales position through the on-campus program:
Answer: “First, I think my time management skill has room to improve. I plan to read some books to improve my skill set in the area.
Second, I feel my presentation skill is not as strong as I want. While I’m very confident of my overall communication skills, which is great, I certainly want to practice more on making presentations to large audience.
Finally, I'm graduating from college this year. Some employers may regard the lack of experience as my weakness. That's true, but I also want to point out, on one hand, my internship projects and some academic projects prove that I can learn very quickly and make real contribution to the team in a very short period. On the other hand, this is actually one reason why I’m very interested in the position at Company A. Because company A is famous for your great training program and excellent career development prospect, if I'm offered the opportunity, it will be terrific for me to acquire the experience, develop my career, and address this weakness. "
Now let's look at the three weaknesses one by one.
First weakness is "time management skill has room to improve". Is this a weakness? Yes, it is. Will this weakness affect your candidacy to the job? Very unlikely. Because who can say their time management skills don't have room to improve? Very few. The hiring manager may even be happy that you actively sharpening your time management skill. So when you get hired, you can complete more work at his team!
The second weakness follows the same theme. It is a real weakness, but it will not hurt your candidacy.
The third weakness is "lack of experience". This is a weakness. No doubt about it. Because we assume you are participating an on-campus recruiting program. All other candidates are also students with the exact same weakness. Furthermore, the fact that the company is coming to your campus proves they are willing to hire new college students. So this weakness is also very "safe", and won't hurt your chance, not even slightly.
At the end of the third weakness, you show your interest to the job. This is very useful.
Now let's look at the second way to answer the question. You can give one weakness, and then try to avoid giving more weaknesses. For example," I cannot think of my other weaknesses at this time. Of course I'm not perfect in life, and I have weaknesses here and there. But I feel, my skills, experience, and long term career plan, really match the job very well. I mean, I do have some weaknesses, but that's not very important in the scenario, because for this job I'm a PERFECT match!”
I personally know quite a few people used this method, and passed the interviews. The reason is when an employer asks the question, he doesn’t really care about what your weakness is. As long as you handle the question professionally and effectively, you will be fine.
The method is more suitable to sales or management jobs, which require good communication skills and assertive attitude.
If you feel uncomfortable to answer this way, just stick with the less risky first method.
2. Debbie - January 04 2011 (Answer ID: 5319)
If you twist a strength into a weakness most interviewers will see straight through it. Employers don't want someone who can spew up something fake as that doesn't represent who you are as a person how you work. Unless as a person you're generally fake. Telling them about a real weakness you have but how you are working on tells them that you a) are able to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses (think SWOT analysis) b) can recognise what you need to do to develop yourself personally and professionally and c) aren't too big headed to know you're not perfect. E.g. My main weakness is my knowledge around X. However, I have been doing some reading up around the topic and I am gaining some experience in it by doing Y. Another weakness is that I am not very good at giving people criticism. I'm working on this by starting to give constructive criticism in a friendly way to those I am comfortable working with. I also plan to do a training course on management/being assertive. I mean, how can you improve yourself and your work if you can't even recognise and admit where you need to improve?
3. prashanth - November 28 2010 (Answer ID: 5175)
This is a very good answer. Millions of answers are there, but nobody explains with examples. they just say do this, do that with good examples etc. but this answer was really helpful.
4. brojas - September 28 2011 (Answer ID: 7583)
my biggest weakness is that i can not keep still I always have to be doing something. I am very impatient.
5. NUB - October 05 2011 (Answer ID: 7593)
Iam the man in the right place Ihave no weak pionts and Iam ready for the big test
6. elmor - July 03 2009 (Answer ID: 2106)
"saying something that you don't have any weaknesses at all, is somewhat disgusting. Every person has its own weaknesses and never say in the negative. Try to evaluate yourself and find out what makes uncomfortable, uneasy or common dislikes....
Weaknesses may be:
Time Management Impatient Stage fright Lack of leadership skills Doesn't know the power of delegation, etc....
7. lilguy - November 17 2011 (Answer ID: 7710)
my penis is sometimes inverted
8. Kourosh - February 13 2011 (Answer ID: 5550)
Yes...I have weakness, mine is like anyone else, but I have learned from -cause... The important strategy here is to be original, truthful and human…
i.e., 1) My first weakness is that "yes" I have made mistakes when I tried new things...but I learned from my mistakes . . . [shows your Risk-taking & Experience!] 2) My second weakness perhaps had to do with my "ethnicity" having lived and worked in a multicultural city as ours, thus . . . I've learned that tolerance is a virtue that one must learn so as to let others the time and the opportunity they may need to get to know me better and therefore to appreciate my unique qualities and skills that I could offer them... [Shows your relationship building skills!] 3) My third weakness is about the things that I know now but I wished I knew before . . . hint I am always enthusiastic & willing to learn new things.... [Shows your level of Energy, and ability to continuously learn!]
9. Jose Antonio Gonzalez - March 04 2011 (Answer ID: 5661)
My first weakness is that I am human and have a tendency to err. A second weakness is that I sometimes overvalue others. A third weakness is that the more I learn the greater is my awareness of my ignorance.
10. JP - November 10 2009 (Answer ID: 4304)
The important thing when answering this question is that your answer be unique, something that the interviewer will remember you by. You don't want to be self-incriminating (e.g. I have a weakness for stalking hot blonde men on the weekends) but you want the answer to be thoughtful, insightful, and as others have said to show that you are working on your weaknesses- that you recognize them and are confident you can overcome them and be better.
11. Pat - January 31 2011 (Answer ID: 5475)
I have an interview tomorrow you guys this article is really helpful.
12. PPWILSON - August 21 2008 (Answer ID: 411)
I like what #266 said and I will use that approach. I do think that taking a chance with a "stand out" answer with be more memorable, however you have to be comfortable. The ability to even answer this awful question should get you the position!
13. livvysma - October 19 2010 (Answer ID: 5006)
I wish I would've read this article BEFORE my interview. UGH
14. Kari - August 13 2008 (Answer ID: 262)
I am an over-achiever at times and try too hard. My comfort level in Excel, have only used it for mathematical equations, not graphs and charts, etc and plan to enroll in a course asap to gain that knowledge. I cannot deal with people who are slackers in the workplace and I sometimes lose my patience with them but am working on that.
15. Dustin - January 09 2011 (Answer ID: 5350)
I have always heard that you should turn your negatives into a positive. Start with real negatives, for example, mine would be that I am a perfectionist, detail oriented, and for the position I am applying for I am very young, so age. I then turn them into positives.
I am a perfectionist, I expect a lot out of myself, and I expect a lot from my employees.
I am too detail oriented, but sometimes this helps me to get the whole picture of a situation.
I am younger than a lot of the other candidates, but my experience, education, and maturity are very advanced for my age.
16. gail stewart - October 29 2010 (Answer ID: 5044)
I recently said my excel skills were not to my satifaction however I was enrolled in a course to take it to the advance level. Would this weakness disqualify me for the administrative positio?
thank you so much......this article is wonderful and helpful......thank u
18. sarathy - August 31 2010 (Answer ID: 4839)
every one have a weakness and i also.my weakness is unpunchuvality.but i overcome my weakness by the active work and finish the work before the target time
19. Faisal - January 20 2012 (Answer ID: 7891)
my presentation skills needs improvement, Although I am a good presenter in class/ or with my colleague, I am not very much confident before speaking to large masses.This is the weakness I am working on and my skills are being improved day by day.
20. prasant kumar - November 17 2010 (Answer ID: 5105)
thank you xuelie.......your answer helped me a lot thank you so much
21. truecool - September 08 2011 (Answer ID: 7531)
excellent, Finaly now I know that this is not a stupid qn.
22. Zariel - November 07 2011 (Answer ID: 7679)
I rekocn you are quite dead on with that.
23. magnok9 - March 24 2012 (Answer ID: 8747)
Weakness- I am not a morning person. I wake up early morning every day (I like it), even on weekends and bank-holidays, but I tend to be quite until around 10 am, and then I start to be more communicative.
24. Lisa Prusinski - August 30 2008 (Answer ID: 521)
Don\'t confess to having any weaknesses. Instead, tell them of a weakness that is actually a strength. Keep your answer very short and to the point. Such as, \"I can be impatient with people who do not deliver what they promise especially when they are holding me up from meeting my deadline.\"
25. pl80 - October 08 2009 (Answer ID: 4241)
This question tests your ability to lie: who in the world honestly lists 3 of their weaknesses to their potential employer? If they do, they don't get hired! Luckily I'm in IT, where technical questions prevail over bullsh!t questions.
26. enajllewe - May 16 2009 (Answer ID: 2028)
well,i have to balance my perfectionism with attention to deadlines,when someone shows no respect by all means and treats me inferior to them.
27. JacktheSkipper - October 01 2010 (Answer ID: 4947)
"I'm bored easily, I overeat regularly and I'm an alcoholic" ... real answer given at an interview my father who is a hiring manager with his company, gave.
28. Ahmed MIrza - January 23 2011 (Answer ID: 5413)
The employer want to check wheather you will work under pressure or not, the simple answer to this question os ?
example:- i m very honest person yes this is a weakness for a person, telling truth is a weakness ? yes it is, it is disadvantage for a person
29. hunks - August 06 2009 (Answer ID: 2193)
I am an over-achiever at times and try too hard. My comfort level in Excel, have only used it for mathematical equations, not graphs and charts, etc and plan to enroll in a course asap to gain that knowledge. I cannot deal with people who are slackers in the workplace and I sometimes lose my patience with them but am working on that.
30. Michael E. Woodyard - September 07 2010 (Answer ID: 4854)
Idealy, One must be prepared for these questions because it test honesty,charater traits,and commitment. I say be practicle but swift with responding in a way which as a result of thoses weekness, also made you a stronger person more equip for the job.
31. Mani - December 14 2010 (Answer ID: 5238)
Over confident in my work place Workholic & forget to take food on right time More enthusiastic...
32. kksandeep - August 17 2010 (Answer ID: 4810)
thanks mr. xuelie for sharing your experience with us.
33. shilpa parakh - March 01 2011 (Answer ID: 5634)
regarding my strenths i shalll love to tell that positive attitude working hard quike learner flexible and weaknessess i am so emotional with my family
34. ireneo D. babatio - January 28 2011 (Answer ID: 5460)
1] my height is just only 5ft 3 inch 2]communication i am not totally very good in english but i can speak well. 3]fresh in working saudi arabia plant 3 yrs only and 6 yrs in the pilippines
35. Khagendra Sambahamphe - December 20 2010 (Answer ID: 5268)
afraid, ashamed and make labourously work.
36. imamom2012 - April 21 2012 (Answer ID: 8844)
I'm not assertive but I'm working on it. Even when I worked as an Asst. Manager, I've felt that I shouldn't have to be demanding to get work done. I feel that if employed an indidual should knw what is expected of them. But I'm learning to be more vocal.
37. sujit tayade - May 24 2012 (Answer ID: 8936)
well about weakness see u can say my handwritting is bad my teacher used to say if u become doctor you will kill many of your patient. second weakness tea or coffe addict , icant start my day without it
My weakness are 1. Too much Perfectionist 2. Impatient 3.honesty
39. lyann - April 29 2012 (Answer ID: 8853)
Putting other first - Im always thinking of helping other first before for my self. but i consider taht this trait makes me great.
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I've always found impatience with inefficiencies to be a personal favorite. It is very common trait among management positions and can easily be considered a strength for companies seeking to reengineer their processes and cultures.
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Tell me your three weaknesses.
(Question ID: 152) Contributor: Xuelei
1. Xuelei - August 13 2008 (Answer ID: 266)
3. prashanth - November 28 2010 (Answer ID: 5175)
6. elmor - July 03 2009 (Answer ID: 2106)
14. Kari - August 13 2008 (Answer ID: 262)
24. Lisa Prusinski - August 30 2008 (Answer ID: 521)
31. Mani - December 14 2010 (Answer ID: 5238)
34. ireneo D. babatio - January 28 2011 (Answer ID: 5460)
36. imamom2012 - April 21 2012 (Answer ID: 8844)