Work strengths and weaknesses that you need to know before a job interview

The interview process can be nerve-wracking, both for the applicant and the interviewer. For those going to their very first interview, it’s difficult to know what to expect and how best to prepare for the meeting. Below is a list of common work strengths and weaknesses with examples of work that each one could be applied towards; hopefully this will help you feel more confident in your future interviews!

How should you respond when asked the question: What is your weakness?

What is my weakness best answer?

Choose a work weakness that is most relevant to your job and explain how you have been working on improving yourself in this area, for example:

‘When I first started working at my last job I found that some of the employees had been there for several years and were reluctant to change their ways. In time it became clear there was a need for the company to modernise to keep them competitive in the industry. When I saw this was happening, I volunteered to change my hours to help out with the training. I spent a lot of my own time and energy in doing so, but I saw the results in how much more productive the company was.’

In addition to this, explain any other weaknesses you may have. For example:

‘My biggest weakness is that I’m very shy when speaking to new people. This has been a problem for me ever since childhood, and it can make social situations very difficult for me at times. However, I hope that through my work experience and extra curricular activities this will have improved. I was a member of my school drama club and was given a part in the school musical. This helped to greatly improve my confidence around people I didn’t know.’

The goal is to let your interlocutor know that you are aware of your weaknesses and that you are doing what is necessary to improve. Don’t overdo it!

What are my strengths at work?

What to say when asked about your strengths at work?

Discussing your strengths is an essential part of a job interview. Try to focus on abilities that are essential to the position you are applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a job as an IT specialist, then it would be worth mentioning any skills you have in this area. If you are unsure, here are some good areas to discuss:

‘I am very hardworking and motivated, which has helped me gain many of the career opportunities I have enjoyed. I also have a high level of confidence in myself and this has also allowed me to progress quickly in my career.’

‘I love learning new things in order to help people. This is something I learned and developed as part of my role at the centre for occupational health. It enabled me to combine all of these skills when working with people with disabilities. I have volunteered my time with these people to develop a support group and, as a result of this, I now have a reference letter from the centre.’

‘My ability to motivate people and engage with them is something that I find is useful in my personal life. For example, I volunteer once a week at our local charity shop. I am there for two hours each week, and it’s something that I really enjoy doing.

Work strengths and weaknesses

Work strength: Flexibility

Consider an applicant who has a flexible schedule because of their family responsibilities; they would most likely be able to attend meetings or make arrangements on short notice. They might also have had experience staying late or working weekends in order to meet deadlines for important projects at work.

Work weakness: Lacks follow-through

As an applicant with this strength, you could be the most organized person I’ve ever met! However, this strength might also mean that you can be lacking in follow-through. If a deadline is missed or a project falls through, then this employee may be unable to catch up to the task at hand.

Work Strength: Creativity

Creativity is an invaluable skill that can help an employee stand out from the crowd; if an interviewer can see that your creative skills could translate into something innovative and solid for their company, then it shows that you’re a hard worker who has some “outside of the box” ideas.

Work Weakness: Poor organization

This could be a strength or weakness, depending on the way it’s used in your work. For example, if someone is organized in a narrow manner (i.e. keeping things super neat but only having a few projects going at a time), then this person may use their strengths to avoid getting overwhelmed or overworked by taking on too many projects in the first place. On the other hand, this could be an employee who has poor organization skills and has trouble keeping track of what’s due when; this employee may not know how to prioritize tasks and would tend to miss deadlines because he/she does not know how to get everything done on time.

Work Strength: Persistence

If you have a strength in this area, then you’re someone who can take the initiative on something and really stick to it. If an interviewer asks you why you haven’t finished that project yet, your answer would be “I just haven’t had time to work on it lately, but I promise I’ll get to it soon!”

Work Weakness: Procrastination

If you’re the type of person who likes to put things off until last minute and procrastinate when given a deadline for something, then this could also be seen as a weakness in your job interview. The interviewer might be thinking “Good luck on finishing that project by tomorrow!”, which could show a lack of initiative.

Work Strength: Low Emotions

This employee is able to control their emotions and maintain composure in difficult or uncomfortable situations. If an interviewer asks something that troubles you emotionally, you would be able to stay calm and professional so long as you have this strength. This would also help to relieve stress from work if an interview seems like it’s getting too intense.

Work Weakness: Nervous Energy

If someone has the emotional capacity of a frat boy at a mixer, then this could be seen as a weakness or strength. A nervous energy could be seen as a strength in an interview if it shows that you’re someone who can handle yourself on the job, but it could also be seen as a weakness if someone would prefer to keep things more low-key and calm.

Work Strength: Persistence

You have the patience to work on something until the very end and get it done! If you’re asked about how long it took for you to finish something for example, you would likely have a very polite answer such as “Well this part was really hard for me because I had trouble finding the time/resources to get it done at first, but once I started working on this project, I realized what was needed from me and got through it eventually. I hope my answer has been helpful for you!”, showing your good organization skills on the job!

Work Weakness: Inattentive

This employee may be a little bit forgetful and may not pay attention to details very well. If asked about something involving the work environment, such as office supplies or equipment, this person’s response could be that they do not have much experience in those kinds of things and would not be able to answer questions about them.

Work Strength: Intelligence/Problem Solving

Someone with this strength would probably be a very thoughtful and intelligent employee; if asked a question at work, they would probably have an answer that is well thought out. They would also be able to find a solution to a complex problem if they’re faced with one.

Work Weakness: Over-thinking

If an applicant has this weakness, then they consistently over-think situations and situations at work. This can lead to very slow decision making which might make a job interviewer think “I have no idea what you’re going for here! I’m not sure if this is about coming up with the best possible answers or if you’re just not listening.” If this is something you struggle with in your everyday life, then it would also be a weakness on the job.

Work Strength: Self-Discipline

If an applicant has a strength in this aspect of their personality, then they probably have enough self-discipline to not give into temptation once they know it will be bad for them. This could be helpful in the workplace if an interviewer asks you about drug testing or if you will be expected to work long hours. It would also help show that you’re not the kind of person who needs a lot of extra motivation from others in order to get things done.

Work Weakness: Lack of Motivation

If someone has no self-discipline and can’t get stuff done even when motivation is warranted, then this could also be seen as a weakness. This could lead to a lot of procrastinating, which would make an interviewer worry about how they would respond if they were actually given a difficult task.

Work Strength: Driven by Money

This person has the ability to get a lot of work done with the promise of a good paycheck. If the interviewer asks if you are the type of person who works well under deadlines, then this could be a good answer. An interviewer would likely be satisfied with your response because they know that you would be able to complete any projects that were assigned to you.

Work Weakness: Termination-Fearing

If someone has a weakness in this area, then it’s possible that they will not be able to do something that is needed for their job if it requires a lot of hard work and determination. For example, an interviewer might ask if you’re willing to work longer hours on the weekends; this could show that you’re not going to possess the willpower necessary for this job.

Work Strength: Team Player

This person is somebody who is able to work well as part of a group and help other people succeed. If you’ve got a position that requires teamwork and collaboration, then this could be an excellent strength to show off in your response. For example, if an interviewer asks if you’re the type of person who gets along with others at work, this would be an appropriate answer for you.

Work Weakness: Solo Person

If someone does not have strong social skills or doesn’t like interacting with others outside of their close circle of friends, then they could have difficulty working well as part of a team. If a job interview asks you about working well in group projects, then this could show that you’re not always going to be the person who is the main leader.

Work Strength: Creative

This person has a good imagination and knows how to come up with new ideas for work projects. For example, if an interviewer asks if you’re the type of person who can come up with ideas in the middle of the night, this could be a good response because it shows that you have access to your creative energy when necessary. You will also likely have great ideas for things like breakout sessions or team building activities because you’ll probably like meeting with others outside of your limited social circle.

Work Weakness: Talkative

If someone has a weakness like this, then they are likely not the best person to ask about a project if they are going to talk at length about something that is not important. For example, if an interviewer asks you how you would organize something at work and you choose to answer by explaining your workflow in detail, it’s possible that they may lose interest in what you’re saying because it isn’t relevant. If this is something that often happens, then it could also be a good response for situations outside of the workplace!

Work Strength: Focused

If an applicant has this strength, then it’s likely that they will be able to complete tasks that have been assigned to them. For example, if an interviewer asks you to come up with a detailed plan for the team building event, then you can surely create a thorough and quality plan that would probably satisfy them!

Work Weakness: Distracted

If someone has this weakness, then they are unlikely to be paying attention to what is going on around them and will have difficulty in completing daily tasks. Even if you have great attention to detail, you may be giving off the impression that you are not paying attention because of this weakness. For example, an interviewer may notice the way that you ate your breakfast or the fact that your phone is constantly buzzing with notifications.

Work Strength: Good Listener

This person has a good intuition for listening and can pick up on important information that is not always stated out loud. If you’re asked to create a team-building event and you know that many different people have their own unique interests and hobbies, then this could be a strength to talk about.

Work Weakness: Introvert

If an applicant has this weakness then they will likely struggle in social situations at work. Even if they are outgoing, they may not be able to keep up with social interactions at work because of this. It might be helpful to say something like, “I’m really good at working alone when I need to get things done. However when I’m working on a large project or have to interact with others, I might need some extra time to build up my confidence.”

Work Strength: Detail-Oriented

This person is able to remember the smallest details about projects that other people might not even notice. If an interviewer asks if you’re the type of person who remembers things in great detail, then this could show that you are someone who is going to be very easy to work with and won’t miss any minor details.

Work Weakness: Careless

If someone has a weakness like this, then they are likely to struggle with completing projects if they are unorganized. If an interviewer asks if you’re the type of person who remembers things in great detail, this is not a good response because it shows that you could forget about important details if something does not interest you or if you don’t pay attention to these problems, for example.

Work Strength: You Know How To Motivate People

This person knows how to get others to do what they need and have a strong sense of energy and enthusiasm. This could show that they are able to get along well with others and help people feel motivated to be involved in the work they’re doing.

Work Weakness: Lazy

If someone has a weakness like this, then it shows that they are not the person who would be the best fit for the job because there will be no incentive for them. For example, if an interviewer asks you how you get people to do things in a team environment when nobody’s motivated for that project, this is not a good response because it shows that you could not motivate people by yourself. If this happens often at work, then it can also give off the impression of someone who is lacking in motivation.

Work Strength: Punctual

This person is able to clearly communicate the deadline for work and the importance of finishing the project on time. If someone is asked about how they motivate others, it could be a good thing to say that you are very presentable, and that your ability to set clear targets and deadlines motivates others in your team. This shows that you’ll also be able to communicate clearly when deadlines must be met, whether it’s at your job or at home.

Work Weakness: Disrespectful To Others

If someone has a weakness like this, then they will likely not be respected by others in their work environment. For example, if an interviewer asks you how you stay on time and prioritize your work, it’s not a good response because it shows that you are not respectful of others. This will likely cause them to not take you very seriously and will think that you’re unable to complete important tasks.

Work Strength: Passionate About What You Do

This applicant is passionate about their work and can get others to feel similarly about their projects and goals. If someone has this strength, then they are likely able to communicate the importance of project deadlines with others in their team. For example, you could say that you’re very passionate about your work and do not want to miss deadlines.

Work Weakness: Gives Up Easily

If someone has a weakness like this, they are likely to give up on projects when things start getting difficult or uncomfortable. If an interviewer asks if you’re the type of person who gives up when things get hard and frustrating, then this is not a good answer because it shows that you will give up easily when there are obstacles or obstacles are put in your way.

Work Strength: Good Team Player

This person is able to create a sense of unity within a team and will be a valuable resource in projects that require multiple people to work together. Even if you don’t apply for a job that requires teamwork, it can be helpful to show that you are good at working with others. For example, if an applicant has this strength, then they are likely able to set clear deadlines and communicate this information with the rest of the team at work.

Work Weakness: Undisciplined

If someone has a weakness like this, they are likely to consistently fail to complete tasks on time and will often let tasks go undone. If an interviewer asks you how much you can focus on a project and keep it all organized, then this does not show that you will be able to keep up with responsibilities at work. It only shows that you are disorganized and fail to complete tasks that are easy for you.

Conclusion

When an interviewer asks you a question, it’s important for you to be able to accurately answer that question directly and quickly. However, the best way to do this is by answering the question in the most effective manner. While you shouldn’t give too much information or try to talk around the topic at hand, it may be beneficial for you to find ways of summarizing certain points or providing additional details during your interview so that they can also demonstrate your interpersonal skills.

Even if an applicant does not want to apply for a certain type of job, it can still be helpful to know which weaknesses or strengths you might have. This way, you can determine what your best option would be to connect with people and get noticed by employers. You could also find out what jobs you’re most likely to be a good fit for and boost your chances of getting that particular segment of jobs.