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How to answer an interviewer "What is your greatest weakness?" without affecting the job at hand?

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Question added by nancy Khawand , Exclusive Insurance Agent , Mount Lebanon Hospital
Date Posted: 2014/05/08
Vahid Hamzabegovic
by Vahid Hamzabegovic , Senior Business Development Manager in B2B Department , CANCOM GmbH

Be honest about your weaknesses, talk about your weakness in a positive context. I'll give you an example:  “My weakness are poor people, therefore I always do my best to help them.“

zafar abbas minhas
by zafar abbas minhas , Freelance Writer , DAILY MASHRAQ

yes, saints and angels do not have errors, humans have weak areas so no need to get ashamed. the man who is asking the question will be having lot of weakness in his personality.

Passent Farouk El-Matbouly
by Passent Farouk El-Matbouly , CEO's PA / Operations Manager , AMP Developments / Memaar Al-Morshedy

Very good question which i always wondered what the perfect answer for would be! i am a spontaneous person and like to work in a comfortable atmosphere, therefore i always tell the truth! We all have weakness points, we are not angels, we don’t desire fakeness, and so, my answer would be my real weakness point said in a smart way...

Recognizing your weakness is a step in rectfying it.  This should not be a negative factor to answer honestly in any interview.

Divyesh Patel
by Divyesh Patel , Assistant Professional Officer- Treasury , City Of Cape Town

I would briefly describe a real weakness that wouldn’t be a major handicap on the job.

And discuss my proactive efforts to improve. This shows that I am self-aware, have a drive to be my best, and that the weakness will not slow me down.

 

Declare it honestly and add that you are working on it.

Answer with the opposite I mean speak about your strength.  Do not ever never speak about your weakness.

shabeerali ov
by shabeerali ov , Project Engineer , Platinum Vision .LLC

Last time i have faced same question then i repplied " more sensitive to my family", I think he might be like that answer anyway i got that job.

Shafeeque Ahmed P
by Shafeeque Ahmed P , LC ACCOUNTANT TRADE OFFICER, EXPORT & IMPORT LOGISTICS,INSURANCE,CUSTOMS CLEARANCE(Multiple Roles) , ALSHAHIN METAL INDUSTRY

easily believing to every one

 

Ahmed Youssif
by Ahmed Youssif , CEO , buzzers consultancy

being in an interview is more like you play chess with someone so either to win the game or at least leave a good impression about your performance and your way of thinking therefore i can see it will not be good to mention something negative that could affect negatively in the interviewer point of view about you  like when you say i cant stand stress i like to work in a peaceful environment not a tough or fast paced one however i recommend if you say that you should  follow it by saying that this weak point was affecting me badly in the past however (i taught myself or so someone taught me or working in company x gave me the experience in how to deal with stress)  you can also say that i am so attentive to details and that thing for some people is boring and a waste of time cause i might make them start the task all over again if something is wrong its a a positive thing but you turn it as a weak point not from your own point of view but from some other people point of view although it  is a normal attitude for a  typical successful employee manner but you made it as a weak point while its not . This way or any similar way using the same strategy could allow you to sneak around one of the most difficult questions in any interview.

Shoaib Rehman
by Shoaib Rehman , Senior project manager , Etisal

Honest and humble answer can make a difference. Portraying the positive trait as a weakness can save the job at hand.

For example: some time people takes an advantage of kind heartedness. 

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