Answer To What Are Your Weaknesses Interview Question

Interviewers who ask, "What are your weaknesses" do not expect you to admit to an embarrassing weakness. And while they know you've the rehearsed an answer to the greatest weakness interview question, interviewers want to see how well you handle it.

How to answer, "What are your weaknesses?"

You need to have several arrows in your quiver to handle this question. That's because some interviewers will press you to reveal a true weakness. When that happens, offer an answer and hope it satisfies your listener. If it doesn't, move on to the second answer. If that doesn't work, use the third and fourth answers in turn.

Answer To What Are Your Weaknesses Interview Question

Here are four answers to the weaknesses question. As mentioned in the last paragraph, they're intended to be used one at a time -

Answer #1

"I guess we all have weaknesses. But it's been a long time since I've thought about mine. I prefer to focus on my strengths and make them even stronger. That's why I've had such a successful career up to this point."

This is a good answer to the greatest weaknesses interview question because we're all born with strengths and weaknesses. To be successful, you need to focus on your strengths and use them the most. You must also be aware of your weaknesses and stop doing them.

If the interviewer says you haven't really answered the question, move on to....

Answer #2

"As I said, we all have weaknesses. But from what you've told me about the job, I know I won't be required to use a weakness."

At this point, you hope the interviewer will move on to the next question. But if she continues pressing, say...

Answer #3

"What I love about the job is that it allows me to use my strengths."

Finally, if the interviewer insists on another response, go to....

Answer #4

Talk about a technical skill that's not related to the position you're seeking; a skill you can easily learn. Then explain how you're working on "an area I've targeted for improvement." Here, you're replaced the word "weaknesses" with, "an area I've targeted for improvement."

You can say, for example, "I've gotten a bit rusty in my hands on computer skills since becoming a manager. So I'm spending time each week doing hands on work in order to stay on top.

In a nutshell

An interview is not a confessional. Whenever you're asked, "What are your weaknesses?" avoid talking about a shortcoming in your personality or admitting a true weakness. Both would be deal killers.

Answer To What Are Your Weaknesses Interview Question
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Randy Place, a career management consultant in private practice, and Internet host of Your Career Service - http://www.yourcareerservice.com Daily posts feature job-finding tips and career management advice. Topics include job interview tips, networking strategies, dealing with job loss, resume writing and personalized cover letters, getting ahead at work, how to handle standard interview questions and much more.

8 Most Common Interview Questions - With 8 Best Answers

When preparing for your next job interview, you'll want to have top-notch answers to the 8 most common interview questions. These answers provide a guideline to follow, and the most important thing to do is be yourself when answering these common interview questions. The sincerity that will come through will do more to impress the interviewer than anything you have to say.

Given that, here are the 8 most common interview questions:

1. Tell me about yourself.

8 Most Common Interview Questions - With 8 Best Answers

Perhaps this the most famous and common interview question of all interview questions. "Tell me about yourself" is the gateway to just about anything you wish to say. When asked the question, the interviewer doesn't want to know where you were born or what color your hair is. This question prompts you to show the interviewer why you are qualified for this job. Your answer may reveal some of your greatest achievements or how your past experience might relate to the job you are applying for.

2. Why would I hire you?

For this common interview question, you need to realize that the better answer you give, the easier it is for the employer -- It's up to you to give the employer a reason to hire you. This is a great time to tell the interviewer about any past work experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for. You might say, "When I was working at my previous job, I did (fill in with specific duty or responsibility). I feel that this experience will allow me to excel at this position I am applying for." This helps the interviewer picture you in the position, and is a great answer to this common interview question.

3. What are you strengths?

The first thing you should do is figure out 2-3 things about yourself that you really like about yourself and elaborate. This should put you in good shape to answer this commonly asked interview question. Always support your strength with a real-life example. For example, you may say you are dedicated. You should back this up with the time at your last job where you had an important project due and worked extra hours to make sure it got done, for instance. Now the interviewer has better insight into your work ethic and how you conduct yourself in pressure situations.

4. What are your weaknesses?

When answering this common interview question, you always want to give an answer that isn't really a weakness. You may say, "I don't speak a second language," or "when I start a project, I can't focus on anything else until I get it done." This shows that you are dedicated and hard working. You never want to truly bash yourself when answering this common interview question. That isn't the point. Making a positive seem negative is the trick.

5. What is the most important thing to you in a job?

If there is something really important for you to have in a job, be honest and say it. Remember, a job interview is a tool to reveal the best fit for the company. If something is really important to you that the company doesn't offer, it is best to reveal it now. Out of all the common interview questions, this is the one where you really need to follow your instincts.

6. What are you career goals?

Employers ask this interview question because they want to see what positions you might grow into if you were hired. The company may be looking for a candidate they can groom into their next Senior VP. However, if you are only looking for a job to cover you for the next couple of years, it might not be the best match.

7. Do you have any questions for me?

Do your research ahead of time and if you truly have a question, ask it. When you ask legitimate, relevant questions, you show the interviewer you put in time to research beforehand. However, don't ever ask questions just to ask questions or to look good. The interviewer will sense your lack of authenticity right away and that may hurt your chances. Make the time to think of an intelligent question about the job before hand. You may ask, "what is a typical day like for this position?" You can also ask, "What opportunity for advancement does this position have?"

8. Why did you leave your last job?

Whatever the reason was, tell the story of why is was mutually beneficial for you to leave the company. Never blurt out, "I got fired," and end it at that. It makes you look bad and can even make the interviewer feel uncomfortable. Prepare an honest story with a logical reason that doesn't reveal too much personal information or company gossip. If you did get fired, you can use this as an opportunity to discuss what you lessons you learned and what you would now do differently.

Now you have top-notch answers to the 8 most common interview questions. Keep practicing your answers and nail your next interview!

8 Most Common Interview Questions - With 8 Best Answers
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Robert Lawrence is a job interview expert who has interviewed candidates for multiple Fortune 500 companies. In his newly released book, Killer Interview Secrets, Robert reveals his "Killer Interview Formula" that will help you ace your interviews and have job offers fall into your lap! He even gives you audio files where he walks you through a real-life interview -- so you can hear what winning interview answers actually sound like! It's time to stop watching others get the jobs you deserve! Click here to visit Robert's website @ www.KillerInterviewSecrets.com and get your copy of Killer Interview Secrets today!

Interviews - Five Tips To Handle Tough Questions From Reporters

Journalists are trained and often experienced at getting information out of their subjects. Conflict and other negative situations often make the news and journalists often have a knack for taking a positive situation and twisting it into something else in order to make it more "sell"-able as news.

It's a common scenario. The media calls after your organisation has put out a news release on the latest groundbreaking achievements.

You've done the hard work in preparing your media message, spending time honing the features, benefits, evidence and proof that will build your case to overcome even the most cynical journalist. After hours of brainstorming, you've come up with a great quotable quote that even the most seasoned PR pro would be proud of.

Interviews - Five Tips To Handle Tough Questions From Reporters

You've practised and warmed up your voice. You've spent time to quietly relax, using your favourite visualisation technique to anchor your feeling of confidence as the moment of truth comes quicker than you realise. You've never been more prepared for this media interview in your life. The opening questions go well and you grow in confidence. Your body language and eye contact show you're in control and on message.

And, then it comes. Like an unannounced steam train, a question out of the blue. A tough 'red herring' completely throws you off balance as their ambush technique works with devastating effect. Crushed, your media interview stumbles from bad to worse. You miss several opportunities to stay on message and make the most of the media opportunity. Afterwards you feel deflated, humiliated and let down.

How can you avoid this situation and prepare for the tough questions that often come from seasoned, cynical and 'so what - who cares' journalists?

Here are Five Ways To Handle Tough Questions In A Media Interview.

1. COMPLIMENT THE JOURNALIST

Many journalists are attracted to the media because they want to see their face on TV, hear their voice on radio and read their name in the paper. I call them 'ego-driven' journalists. Work to their egos and stroke them. Compliment them on a great question. For example, use "that's a great question and I'm glad you asked it, ....."

2. GET BACK ON MESSAGE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

Once you've paid the compliment, get back on message as quickly as possible to show you are in control and not the reporter. For example, after the compliment use "...but what I want to say is this ..."

3. FOCUS.

Good reporters will always look for an angle to make the story more newsworthy and will try a range of techniques to get conflict into the story. Keep your focus, be disciplined and avoid going down a line of questioning that is not relevant to the story or your message. Be firm, but polite. For example, "I really think we're getting off track here, the main point I want to make is ...."

4. KEEP YOUR COOL.

Under no circumstances should you lose your temper, shout or get angry. This only inflames the situation and comments said in the heat of the moment when emotions are running high can often get you in trouble. Remember they make great copy and sensational 'news grabs'. Remain calm. Remember you are the one in control with the information that the media wants. You have every right to call a halt to an interview if the journalist become overly aggressive or offensive.

5. PREPARE and PRACTICE.

I've lost count of the number of times a novice interviewee has taken the whole bait and been taken down the garden path and completely off message by an irrelevant question during a media training exercise. Most people are quick learners and when they see it happening to others quickly learn not to do this once they've seen how easy it is to stay on track. Prepare for tough questions prior to the interview in a formal media training course or with a colleague. Road test your messages prior to talking to the media and you are more likely to stay out of trouble.

Interviews - Five Tips To Handle Tough Questions From Reporters
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Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries. You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com

Job Interviews - How to Answer the "Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?" Question

It is common for hiring managers to ask why you want to leave your current job. How you answer that question can have a big impact on your chances of getting the new position. So don't blow it!When answering the "Why do you want to leave your current job?" question, my advice is to be honest (to a point), positive and upbeat.

There are many reasons to leave a job. Most people are looking for career advancement opportunities or new challenges. Sometimes companies get into financial difficulty and have to reduce their work force. Where I live, many people would leave their current job simply to have one with a shorter commute!

Those are pretty straightforward reasons that anyone would understand.

Job Interviews - How to Answer the "Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?" Question

Then there are people who want to leave because they do not like their job or their boss. But NEVER say anything negative about the company or people you are working for. If you do, the interviewer may think of you as a complainer who has a problem with authority or cannot get along with others.

So, even if the reason you want to leave is that you hate your job or do not get along with your boss, give a different reason for wanting to leave. You do not have to lie; just be discreetly selective with your answer.

Sample answers:

"I've worked with ABC Company for five years, and during that time I've achieved all of the goals I set for myself. I enjoy my job, but my advancement opportunities there are limited. I'm looking for new challenges with a larger organization, like yours. With my experience in (whatever), I'm sure I could contribute to your company's mission (be as specific as possible here) and continued success."

OR...

"To be honest, I don't want to leave. I've enjoyed my work at XYZ Company and have had great success there. But the company is going through a tough time and is downsizing its staff, so it's time for me to move on. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. I've admired your company for years and am excited to have this opportunity to interview with you. I feel my experience at XYZ Company will enable me to help you with...(whatever)."

OR...

"I like my current job, but I'm interested in changing career paths. I'd like to broaden my horizons and find new ways to contribute to an organization's goals. This position with your company would allow me to do that by...(whatever)."

Try to include specific information relevant to the company you're interviewing with. For example, if you know the company participates in community environmental events, mention that ("I'm also eager to work for a company that helps the environment.").

KEY: The more you use specific information that shows you are knowledgeable about the job and the company for which you're applying, the sweeter your answer will sound to the interviewer!

Read "The Job Interview Success System" (mentioned below) for more great job interview tips.

Job Interviews - How to Answer the "Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?" Question
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Bonnie Lowe has been helping job seekers get hired for many years, and is author of the book, The Job Interview Success System.

Job Interviews: How to Answer "Who is Your Hero?"

A fairly common job interview question is, "Who is your hero, and why?"

The intent of this question is to find out more about you -- your character, personality, and values. If you anticipate this question and prepare your answer in a way that shows the traits you most admire in others -- and more importantly, that you have in common with them -- you'll turn this question into another great opportunity to blast your competition out of the water!

But there's a right way, AND a wrong way to answer this question.

Job Interviews: How to Answer "Who is Your Hero?"

Here's the best way to develop your answer.

First, decide which personal traits would be best to highlight for the position. For example, if you're applying for a job as a firefighter or police officer, you'd want to highlight traits such as courage and integrity.

Here are some other traits that employers are looking for: leadership, honesty, creativity, dedication, generosity.

Next, craft your answer to include the traits you want to highlight.

Be careful about naming a celebrity, sports star or politician! Why? Because interviewers are people, and people have attitudes and biases that you'll be unaware of.

Suppose you named Lance Armstrong as your hero because of his total commitment to success and amazing ability to overcome challenges and obstacles. Most people would have no problem with that. But what if the person interviewing you is a woman who thinks Lance is a total jerk for putting his career ahead of his family and leaving his wife for a rock star? It might not be fair, but this interviewer may think you are a jerk for admiring Lance! Do you think she's going to hire a jerk?

People have opinions about people they think they know. You won't know what those opinions are. So the safest bet is to name a hero they can't possibly know or object to.

Sample Answer:

"My hero is my father. He taught me to always do the right thing; to value others and help them whenever I can; to plan ahead, work hard and do my best in any situation; to be a lifelong learner; to smile and keep a sense of humor even when things get tough; and to love, support and protect my family."

Remember, all interview questions can provide an opportunity to highlight not only your qualifications, but also your character and values. Plan ahead, give great answers, and win your dream job!

Job Interviews: How to Answer "Who is Your Hero?"
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Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.Best-Interview-Strategies.com