"List your strengths and weaknesses"

What kind of things are employers looking for here? Never filled in an application form before :redface:

I have retail experience and can communicate well with strangers, would these count? And how do I tell them my weaknesses truthfully if I want them to think the best of me?

It's all a bit confusing :confused:

Any help greatly appreciated.

Reply 1

Frapps

Oh sh*t. Just remembering this question gives me the chills... It wasn't in the exact same words, but it was pretty similar.
I was in my interview, and the lady asked me:
'So, what do you think your better at than other people?'
I answered a completely random (even though tru) thing: I like talking to people and building relationships, etc... But I hadn't really prepared so it didn't come out as clearly as that, but anyway.
And 'What about what you're least good at, compared to other people'
This i was completely lost... I said something like I appear more stressed than I really am and I would like to improve on this, as I always appear to be very nervous... LOLOL It is all true, except it's a fact that some of those times I am really nervous... The thing is, I didn't directly answer the question...
Anyway, I got called for a second interview round and I'm not sure if they'll call me again... I really want the job so I hope they call me soon...

Reply 2

The Centipe

OP

10

Any other help? :dontknow:

Reply 3

Montrose

17

With weaknesses, the key thing is to show that you are aware of the weakness, and perhaps go on to show that you are doing something that might improve this characteristic.

So for example, if I was asked the question, I would point out that I am very passionate about the work I do and that I give 110%. I would then say that sometimes I care about my work so much I don't stop to think things through fully. I am aware that this is a problem, and every 15 minutes I take 10 seconds to stop, breathe, and make sure I am tackling my work in the best possible way.

Basically, try and choose something which can also be taken as a positive thing. Working too hard, talking too much, being questioning. Yes they can have negative effects, but when harnessed (and an employer should be aiming to improve you, no one expects you to be perfect) these are actually good things.

Reply 4

Jitsu

i read in a job interview book, that make sure ur answer doesnt relate to the job, and think of something small, i cnt think what tho

Reply 5

Montrose

17

That is another approach to it yes. I always preferred people though who showed me a negative, which I knew I could work on and turn into a major positive.

For example, if someone was before me saying that they talk too much: fantastic! They will be brilliant at communicating if we can slightly adjust the way in which they talk.

Reply 6

Jitsu

man, im getting nervous now looking at all these questions, i have an interview for harvey nichols on monday. :confused:

Reply 7

Montrose

17

Don't worry! Funny as it sounds, sometimes the interviewer is as nervous as you are! Sometimes when I interviewed people I was nervous because I was that persons vision of the company, and I didn't want to come across as an idiot who didn't know what he was doing. I am sure you've read about what some people think of shop managers - the general opinion is they're idiots who couldn't hack it at anything else (not true). The best possible advice I can give is be yourself, smile, and try to make sure everything you say is positive and confident. That's it. Being a nice person gets you a long, long way in job interviews.

Reply 8

El Scotto

15

I always say that I dont have any weaknesses.
never not got a job after saying that. lol

Just bull your way through it all and tell them everything they want to hear,
google whatever the job title is of the job you're applying for, then type 'desired qualities' after it and you get all the things they're looking for.

Reply 9

Renza

11

I would say that my weakness is I'm a bit of a perfectionist ^_^

Reply 10

fuglyduckling

2

Alex Mann

So for example, if I was asked the question, I would point out that I am very passionate about the work I do and that I give 110%. I would then say that sometimes I care about my work so much I don't stop to think things through fully. I am aware that this is a problem, and every 15 minutes I take 10 seconds to stop, breathe, and make sure I am tackling my work in the best possible way.

Perfect answer.

Reply 11

Angelica

10

Don't say something like you're a perfectionist or you work too hard. They are hardly real weaknesses and are really cliche answers. Your employer will have heard that response a million time before, and I'm sure every time s/he heard it, it sounded fake.

Obviously, don't choose something that would reflect badly on you as an employee such as you're a slacker. But be honest. Choose an actual weakness that you have. However, also mention ways, you have tried to tackle this issue or try to turn the weakness into a positive. All the employers want to know is that you are aware of your weakenesses, and are trying to do something to better yourself.

If you say something like: you're not assertive enough but you've done something like run from class president to improve yourself and now feel that you're more assertive than you used to be, I think that sounds a million times better than the "I work too much" line. It sounds genuine and is somewhat orginal.

Reply 12

Montrose

17

I wouldn't for one minute suggest someone lie. But if it IS true that you work too hard, I see no shame in saying it. It used to be a running joke at work that "Alex doesn't walk anywhere", and I came to realise I was missing things by working too fast. If it's true, it IS a weakness, and it can be improved. And as an interviewer, I used to prefer it if someone said like that, than "I sleep too much", something not relevant to work at all. I'm not interested in weaknesses that don't effect your job.

I guess it depends how the interviewer uses the question. I was always interested, so that when we employed the person, we had a starting base on how to train them and what we could improve. No one is perfect, we know that. And if someone can find a weakness they know is relevant to the job, well, it shows they know what the job entails, which is good.

Reply 13

Angelica

10

Alex Mann

I wouldn't for one minute suggest someone lie. But if it IS true that you work too hard, I see no shame in saying it. It used to be a running joke at work that "Alex doesn't walk anywhere", and I came to realise I was missing things by working too fast. If it's true, it IS a weakness, and it can be improved. And as an interviewer, I used to prefer it if someone said like that, than "I sleep too much", something not relevant to work at all. I'm not interested in weaknesses that don't effect your job.

My problem with using "I work too hard" or "I'm a perfectionist", is that everyone seems to think that this should be the reply to the question. I've no experience as an interview only as an interviewee, so I don't know if people genuinely use that as an answer. But every conversation I have had with people about how to answer this question, people always suggest using those two weakenesses as if this is the only appropriate answer to the question. My issue was that some people seem to think that you should just use "I work too hard" as a weakeness whether or not is it is applicable to them, because an answer that included a genuine weakeness of theirs would be a bad answer.

"List your strengths and weaknesses"

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