A job interview is a great opportunity to display your verbal communication skills and your ability to think on your feet. Interviewers will often throw out difficult questions to see how the applicant handles them. One of the classic difficult interview questions is the dreaded "What is your greatest weakness?" question. Rather than fear the question, you can prepare for it and use it to your advantage by impressing your interviewer with a well thought-out answer.
Step 1
List all of your work-related weaknesses and shortcomings. Be brutally honest--this list is for your eyes only.
Step 2
Think about ways you are working on overcoming each weakness and write them down next to the unfavorable trait on your list. Maybe you are taking a time management class or trying new organizational techniques.
Step 3
Go through the list and cross off weaknesses that are character flaws or a key component of the position for which you are interviewing. You would not want to disclose that you are a hopeless office gossip or that you are nervous about talking to the public if you are applying to be a receptionist.
Step 4
Select one of the remaining weaknesses on your list that you have been working on overcoming. Resist the urge to use a weakness that can be viewed as a strength such as being a perfectionist or a workaholic. Your interviewer has probably heard it all before and will likely prod for a "real" weakness.
Step 5
Create your response to the weakness question using the weakness you selected and write it down on a piece of paper. Keep you statement concise and to the point and include how you are working on overcoming the weakness. You do not need to have a long, drawn-out response but one that shows you are self-aware and that you are motivated to improve.
Step 6
Practice your response verbally. Your tone should be humble as you state you weakness and become optimistic as you discuss ways you are working to improve.
Step 7
Answer the question calmly and with confidence during the actual interview. If you can answer the question truthfully without awkward pauses or stammering, you will probably impress your interviewer.
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