Auto-translation used

Your disadvantage in the interview: how not to fail the answer

Asking about your shortcomings is not an attempt to catch you off guard, but an opportunity to show your maturity as a specialist. The employer is not looking for the perfect employee, he needs an adequate and honest person who knows how to grow.

  • Awareness and honesty. The willingness to admit your mistakes speaks to your maturity. This quality is appreciated in any company.
  • Striving for development. It is important for the employer to understand how you work on yourself. Admitting a flaw is not enough, you need to show that you are taking concrete steps to eliminate it.
  • Risk assessment. It is useful for both sides to know if you have critical weaknesses that may prevent you from performing your duties effectively.
  • "I have no flaws." This immediately calls into question your adequacy. There are no perfect people, and such an answer is perceived as unwillingness to be honest.
  • "I'm working too hard." Don't try to pass off dignity as a disadvantage. This trick is outdated, easy to recognize, and not trustworthy. It's better to talk about real things.
  • Irrelevant examples. Stories that you were "shy as a child" or "late for school" have no value for the employer.
  • Turn weakness into a point of growth. Show that this is not a verdict, but a challenge. For example: "I'm working on becoming more confident in public speaking, and I've already enrolled in an elocution course."
  • Choose a relevant and uncritical flaw. Talk about what really affects your work, but is not critically important for a particular position. If you're going into sales, don't mention that it's hard for you to communicate with people.
  • Describe your actions. Tell us what you are doing to solve the problem. Specific steps (courses, reading literature, practice) show that you take your development seriously.
  • Specify the context. Show that the disadvantage only appears in certain situations, and is not your permanent feature. Example: "Sometimes it's difficult for me to delegate tasks, especially when it comes to tight deadlines or very important projects. To ensure that this does not affect the team's productivity, I have implemented a clear planning system where each task is described in detail. I also regularly hold short meetings with the team to be sure of the quality of the work. This allowed me to entrust tasks to my colleagues with more confidence, without fear for the result."
  • Be honest when it's obvious. If you have no experience in a particular field or higher education, admit it. And immediately show your strengths and how you plan to compensate for this gap.

The ability to speak honestly about your weaknesses and work on them is your competitive advantage. Prepare for this issue in advance, and you will be able to make a strong impression on any adequate employer.