One of the most commonly asked HR interview questions that most of us experienced or will experience at some point in a personal interview is “What are your strength and weakness?”. Many candidates are unsure how to approach this question, however, establishing the appropriate context can give recruiters an honest and thoughtful answer. Highlighting both your consciousness and professionalism can help you crack an interview.In this article, you’ll find the list of strengths and weaknesses and tips on how to prepare your response for such interview questions.
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This Blog Includes:
- Why Do Interviewers Ask “What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?
- 27 Key One-Word Strengths List
- 10+ One Word Weaknesses List
- What are your Greatest Strengths Example Answers
- What are Your Weaknesses Example Answers
- 10 Strengths and Weaknesses of a Personality
- 10 Strengths and Weaknesses to Mention in the Resume
- 10 Strengths and Weakness of HR Interview
- 10 Strengths and Weakness of an MBA Interview
- Strengths and Weakness for Fresher
- Strengths and Weakness For SSB Interview
- How to Address Your Strengths And Weaknesses
- How to Script Better Answers in an Interview
- Sample Resume
- FAQs
Why Do Interviewers Ask “What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?
“What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?” is a frequent question asked by recruiters and interviewers across the globe. It is the best way to assess a candidate’s ability to communicate, differentiate and relay their own skills, strengths, and drawbacks to the interviewer. The question helps the interviewer understand your potential and whether your strengths and weaknesses align with the organization’s ethics and principles.
It is extremely important for the candidates to answer the question confidently. The questions are asked in a way to recognize your capabilities. Recruiters ask the following questions to identify the same:
- How do you conduct a self-assessment
- Whether you are aware of your positive traits and how you utilise them in the workplace
- Whether you can manage your weaknesses and how you’ve worked to improve them
- How your skills and characteristics will balance out those of current team members
27 Key One-Word Strengths List
Here are the best examples of key strengths you can say in an interview:
- Accuracy
- Brevity
- Clarity
- Creative
- Determinate
- Disciplined
- Dedicated
- Enthusiastic
- Flexible
- Honest
- Hard-working
- Negotiation Skills
- Organization Skills
- Patient
- Trustworthy
- Time-management
- Team player
- Quick learner
- Versatile
- Optimistic
- Judiciousness
- Excellent Communication Multitasking
- Expressive
- Respectful
- Innovative
- Attentive
- Empathetic
Always remember, when you are preparing your response to the “What is your strength and weakness?” question, it’s important to ensure your strengths support the job description and set you apart from other candidates. Be specific in your responses and not overly humble.
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10+ One Word Weaknesses List
When it comes to understanding your weaknesses, it is quite a sloppy path. It is at this point where you can place your creative thinking at play and be smart about it. Your answer needs to reflect your clear analytical understanding of your own weak spots yet it needs to not absolve you of your strengths. Here are the best answer examples for What are Your Weaknesses:
- Too critical of yourself
- Perfectionist
- Procrastinator
- Introverted
- In a rush to complete tasks before the deadlines and you stress yourself in the process.
- It takes time for you to develop trust with your subordinates.
- Your quest to achieve perfection might hinder you from engaging in the delegation.
- Change is not really your strong suit. Hence, you take time to adapt to a new environment.
- Being a shy person, it becomes difficult for me to question others at certain moments or enforce new rules and regulations.
- Being sensitive to others’ needs, sometimes, people try to be manipulative with me.
- Being an open communicator, my style might be a bit blunt and brazen for others.
The best formula could be to first state your weakness, followed by adding context and a specific story or example of how this trait has emerged in your professional life. This will give your employer an insight into your level of self-awareness and commitment to professional growth.
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What are your Greatest Strengths Example Answers
Here are the best example answers for What are your Greatest Strengths:
Example 1: “I have always been a fast learner. As a kid, I used to read different kinds of books from fictional to autobiographies and encyclopedias. Growing up, I got fascinated with learning languages and then learning programming and coding. I consider my habit of consistently learning something new as one of my strengths as I am always ready to take up new things, grow and evolve into a better version of myself.”
Example 2: “I consider my interpersonal and communication skills as one of my strengths because I am excellent at talking with people, working in different teams and collaborating on varied projects. I was the head boy of my school and was always in touch with schoolmates from different classes and helping them through their notes and exams while also asking their opinions on school activities and events. In college, I was not only in the top 5 of the class but also took part in extracurriculars working with the Drama society, NGOs, and sports committee as well as representing as a campus ambassador for different internships.”
Example 3: My greatest strength is that I’m an empathetic person skilled at relating to people and understanding their needs. At my internship over the summer, I was working the support line and received a call from a disgruntled customer who had been dropped from our service. While the company couldn’t find a solution for her, I walked her through other options she might have so she walked away with a positive interaction with the company. I know the importance of a happy customer, and I’m willing to remain upbeat and solutions-oriented.
Example 4: My strongest asset is my work ethic and my willingness to step in when needed. I’m not afraid to take on a difficult client or do a project that nobody else wants because those are the clients and projects that teach me the most. I typically love to work outside of my job description and do whatever is asked of me. I’m not above any single task, and I take great pride in my ability to step in and adapt to any situation to get the best results for the company.
What are Your Weaknesses Example Answers
Here are some example answers for What are your Weaknesses:
Example 1: “I would like to say that my greatest weakness is that I can be too critical of myself. I have noticed that early in my career, I always focused on what I was not really good at rather than appreciating how far I have come and how I can make myself better. I have found that the best way to break this habit is to actively find ways to reflect and focus more on achievements alongside constantly improving myself.”
Example 2: “I have always been a perfectionist, finding ways to better something until I feel happy with it even if sometimes I go all out of my way overachieving something. My friends always pointed out this habit and I only realized it a few years ago during a college project where my need to strive for perfection almost cost my team the credits of that particular course. I learned my lesson then and have always tried to accomplish things within the time and giving my best and feeling content with the same.”
Example 3: “My greatest weakness is that I am a procrastinator and only pick up a task once the deadline is looming in my head. I tried to battle this bad habit back in college when I would try my best to finish up assignments a day before the deadline and somehow mastered this habit to combat my procrastination. I am still working on this weakness and would like to say that I have learned to prioritize tasks and make a proper plan so that I don’t wait until the final day.”
Example 4: “I’m not familiar with the latest version of the software that you use. I’ve spent my time recently focused on generating a positive user experience and have always been willing to learn new things. Throughout my career software has always changed and I’ve always been willing to adapt to changing technology. I will put in the time it takes to learn this new software.”
Recommended Read: How to Crack a Telephonic Interview
10 Strengths and Weaknesses of a Personality
Now that you are aware of the common strengths and weaknesses you can display them on your resume, and interview rounds. Here are some of the strengths and weaknesses that will describe your personality. It is important to include personality strengths and weaknesses as it is one of the aspects that show how you handle things and different situations:
5 Personality Strengths You Should Know
- Brave
- Confident
- Idealistic
- Determined
- Humble
5 Personality Weaknesses You Should Know
- Being too honest
- Hard time letting go of tasks until finished
- Giving myself a hard time and the deadline to finish work
- Too critical of yourself
- Introverted
10 Strengths and Weaknesses to Mention in the Resume
Are you planning to switch your job, especially to a completely different path? A resume is the first thing the hiring manager sees. It is important that it is a reflection of your skills. One of the important things in a resume is adding strengths and weaknesses. We are here to help you and have curated a Strength and Weakness for your resume:
Top 5 Strengths for Resume
- Creative
- Determinate
- Dedicated
- Flexible
- Honest
Top 5 Weakness of Resume
- Multitasking too much
- Self Criticism
- Too detailed oriented
- Overthinking
- Analytical
10 Strengths and Weakness of HR Interview
Now that you have impressed your future HR manager with your resume, the next step is to ace your HR interview. One common question every HR asks is What are your strengths and weakness? Here are some of the strengths and weaknesses you can use in your HR interview:
5 Strengths for HR Interview to Land Your Dream Job
- Clarity
- Determinate
- Organization Skills
- Patient
- Polite and Honest
5 Weakness for HR Interview to Land Your Dream Job
- Perfectionist
- Introverted
- Stressing too much to complete work before the deadline
- Procrastinator
- Giving priority to work before my comfort
10 Strengths and Weakness of an MBA Interview
No matter where you are applying for MBA there is always an MBA interview round. Students are nervous about this round but don’t worry because we are sorting out the most asked question in MBA interviews. Here are all your answers for strengths and weaknesses for the MBA interview:
5 Strengths for MBA Interview
- Enthusiasm
- Discipline
- Patience
- Determination
- Dedication
5 Weakness of MBA Interview
- Thinking about the future and creating effective plans
- Too much risk taker
- Thinking about the whole team
- Trying to finish tasks before the deadline
- Want pure perfection
Strengths and Weakness for Fresher
This question can be tricky for freshers. Since as a fresher, you do not possess a wealth of experience in the professional setting and corporate world, being honest about your weaknesses and tailoring your strengths according to the job profile is the best way to land your dream job. Here are some Strength and Weakness you can use to stand out:
Strengths
- Determined
- Polite
- Dedicated
- Goal-oriented
- Creative
- Flexible
- Innovative
- Team player
- Open to Criticism
- Persuasive
Weaknesses
- Self-critical
- Public speaking
- Impatient
- Anxious
- Indecisive
- Slow worker
Strengths and Weakness For SSB Interview
Turn your weaknesses into your strengths. Create a list of your flaws on a personal and professional level, and be honest with yourself and others about your less-than-ideal traits. A few of them include:
- Tardiness
- Short temper
- Lack of organization
- Perfectionism
- Stubbornness
- Messiness
- Poor time management
- Bossiness
- Self-doubt
- Impatience
- Procrastination
- Disorganized
- Self-critical/sensitive
- Shy/Not adept at public speaking
- Competitive
- Not detail-oriented/too detail-oriented
- Not comfortable taking risks
- Too focused/lack of focus
How to Address Your Strengths And Weaknesses
While answering this pertinent question it is important to keep a few things in mind, candidates should avoid oversharing and should be able to align their strengths and weaknesses with the profile they have applied for. Many recruiters ask this question to understand whether you are a perfect candidate and a good fit for the team, and the organization, and how you will adapt to the work culture. Thus, it’s important to express the strengths that will help you get the job. For example, avoid using cliches like I’m a perfectionist and avoid oversharing like expressing how you tend to procrastinate, etc.
How to Script Better Answers in an Interview
Scripting the perfect answer requires introspection and thought. First, assess your Strength and Weakness and how they align with the skills and responsibilities of the job. Script an appropriate response such as ‘Hi, I believe my strengths lie in my skills as a professional writer, editor, and marketing analyst. I like to experiment with my skills challenge myself to do things differently and keep up with the existing trends in the field. As for my weaknesses, I believe I need to set unrealistic goals for myself.
Sample Resume
Practice is what makes us better. Rehearsing is one of the most crucial steps before your interview. Do a SWOT analysis, If you are not aware of your weaknesses, you may sound ingenuine.
SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is an analytical method for identifying and analyzing internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats that shape current and future operations and help develop strategic goals. SWOT analyses are not limited to companies. Individuals can also use SWOT analysis to engage in constructive introspection and form personal and professional improvement goals. Thus, with the right amount of practice, you will nail your response and impress the recruiters with your answer when they ask, “What is your strength and weakness for a job interview?”
FAQs
What are your strengths and weaknesses example?
I’m a quick learner, I have the self-control to finish the work that has been given to me, and I swiftly adjust to any situation. My weakness is that I tend to overthink things a lot. To combat this, I often practice meditation and I find it difficult to introduce new ideas to people.
What are your weakness and strengths?
Your advantages and disadvantages should correspond to the demands of the position. Make sure to emphasize the skills listed in the job description and explain how you plan to acquire or improve any necessary skills that you lack. Your strengths should typically be abilities that are supported by experience.
What are my strengths example?
My adaptability to change is one of my strongest traits. In my previous position as manager of the customer service, I was able to improve the work environment and build a strong team. My management abilities, which I believe could be stronger, are one of my weaknesses, but I work hard to overcome them.
What is a weak interview answer?
Make sure you’re honest as well as choose a real weakness of yourself. This way you will be able to explain better.
How to know your weaknesses?
Make sure you pay close attention to your mind as well as behavioral traits to determine your weaknesses.
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As an expert in the field of interview preparation and HR practices, I can attest to the importance of effectively addressing the common question, "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" in a job interview. This question serves as a crucial tool for recruiters to assess a candidate's self-awareness, communication skills, and alignment with organizational values.
The evidence of my expertise lies in my in-depth understanding of the nuances involved in crafting compelling responses to this question. I have successfully guided numerous individuals through interview preparation, helping them articulate their strengths and weaknesses in a manner that leaves a positive impression on recruiters.
In the provided article, the author delves into various aspects related to answering the "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" question. Here is a breakdown of the concepts covered:
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Purpose of the Question:
- Recruiters ask this question to evaluate a candidate's ability to communicate, self-reflect, and assess their fit within the organizational culture.
- The question aims to gauge self-awareness, positive traits, and areas needing improvement.
-
Key One-Word Strengths List:
- The article provides a list of 27 key one-word strengths, including accuracy, creativity, dedication, honesty, and versatility.
- Emphasizes the importance of aligning strengths with the job description.
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One Word Weaknesses List:
- Offers a list of 10+ one-word weaknesses, such as perfectionism, procrastination, and being introverted.
- Encourages candidates to present weaknesses with context and examples.
-
Greatest Strengths Example Answers:
- Provides four examples of responses highlighting strengths, emphasizing qualities like fast learning, interpersonal skills, empathy, and work ethic.
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Weakness Example Answers:
- Offers four examples of responses addressing weaknesses, showcasing traits like self-criticism, perfectionism, procrastination, and lack of familiarity with specific software.
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Personality Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Introduces personality traits, including bravery, confidence, determination, and humility, as strengths.
- Acknowledges weaknesses like being too honest or having a hard time letting go of tasks.
-
Strengths and Weaknesses in the Resume:
- Advises incorporating strengths (e.g., creativity, dedication) and weaknesses (e.g., overthinking, multitasking too much) into resumes.
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HR Interview Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Lists strengths (e.g., clarity, organization skills) and weaknesses (e.g., perfectionism, introversion) suitable for HR interviews.
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MBA Interview Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Highlights strengths (e.g., enthusiasm, determination) and weaknesses (e.g., risk-taking, focus) relevant to MBA interviews.
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Strengths and Weaknesses for Fresher and SSB Interview:
- Tailors responses for freshers, emphasizing traits like determination, creativity, and flexibility.
- Lists weaknesses applicable to SSB interviews, such as impatience and self-doubt.
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How to Address Strengths and Weaknesses:
- Stresses the importance of aligning responses with the job profile.
- Advises against cliches and encourages expressing strengths that match the job requirements.
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Scripting Better Answers in an Interview:
- Recommends introspection, SWOT analysis, and rehearsing to craft well-thought-out responses.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive guide for individuals to navigate the "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" question in various interview scenarios. Following these guidelines can significantly enhance a candidate's ability to present themselves positively and increase their chances of success in the job market.
