How to answer "what is your biggest weakness"
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Every interviewee who has ever sat down with an employer during an interview has been asked “What is your biggest weakness?”, and many find it very frustrating. Why ask the question if the employer knows they are very likely to get a fake answer like, “I’m too much of a perfectionist”?
Well, believe it or not, your employer is actually paying more attention to how you answer the question rather than to what your answer is. In this guide, we’ll show you how having a public speaking weakness could be the best way to get around this challenging question.
Check out some of our interview guides to get a better understanding of how the way you respond could be more important than the actual answers to interview questions.
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There are multiple techniques that individuals use to try and appeal to their employer when asked this question about a weakness, and the truth is, most of those techniques don’t actually work. Here is a list of techniques you want to avoid:
Hopefully, by now, you are starting to recognize why we are suggesting that having a public speaking weakness could be a good strategy.
The amount of public speaking that an individual is required to do is highly correlated to their position. If you were to be in a financial analyst position, there would be rarely any public speaking required of you, and, thus, it’s a fairly safe interview answer to say you have a public speaking weakness.
Conversely, if you’re in a more senior position, public speaking is probably something you are required to do on a much more regular basis. This brings us back to how you should answer the main question, “What is your biggest weakness?”. You might try using the same method, but come up with a different answer.
Depending on the position you are applying for, using the public speaking weakness response could be a strategically safe answer and there are multiple reasons for this. First, it is a relatively honest answer which does not include any of the mistakes mentioned earlier.
Secondly, it may not even be a requirement for the particular position you are applying for, which means you have answered the question safely and have not harmed yourself or your chances of landing the position. Again, keep in mind that this answer is dependent on the position you are applying for. You may want to avoid using this answer if you are applying for higher-level positions.
To learn more, check out our free interview guides on:
Now that you have aced the biggest question with the ultimate public speaking weakness answer, here are some tips that can aid you in the rest of the interview:
If you want to get over your public speaking weakness, consider joining Toastmasters.
Toastmasters offers an easy, low-pressure environment to work on your public speaking skills and, most importantly, to learn from others.
Whether or not you actually have a public speaking weakness, there are a wide range of skills that are critical in the business world. Check out these other topics which provide important information for advancing your career in corporate finance.
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