How to answer the "What is your greatest weakeness" question in a job interview

TechieNurse · May 23, 2005

First of all, preparation is key! The interviewer is looking to see if you can come up with an answer. To gauge how well you think 'on your feet', they ask obscure, silly questions. Second, they don't really expect you to say something like "I'm disorganized" So, my advice: for your strengths, answer something that your skilled at (for example, you've had a years experience on the CVT unit) and something you enjoy (for example, learning new skills) For your weakness, I would say something that you've already identified and are working to improve. For example, you might say that you're "not comfortable with your skill level at EKG interpretation" but that you've taken a class, studied the location of major vessels, volunteer to start or observe co-workers etc.)

Also, notice that I framed the answer as 'comfortable with skill level'. Not really a "weakness", but an area to improve. Heck, you could be better at that than other people. But that's not the point. Interviewers are looking to see if you can:

1) Prepare for this question

2) Identify "weaknesses" or areas for improvement

3) Set a goal to improve

4) Identify steps to improve

5) If you've already started those steps.

Lastly, it would be great if you could tie in your prospective new job skills to your 'area of weakness'. In the example above, you could say that in the ER, you know that starting an IV is paramount and you are happy that the job will provide many opportunities to increase your skill.

Good Luck!

llg, PhD, RN · May 23, 2005

I've interviewed a lot of nurses for a lot of jobs and here is my perspective on that question:

I hate to hear answers that are basically ones that have been designed to avoid the issue. For example, "I'm such a perfectionist" is a load of bs and most interviewers are smart enought to know it. They know it is a "fake" "prepared" answer that does not reflect the uniqueness of the job candidate.

What I would rather hear is someone give a frank account of some of the unique weaknesses and/or problems they have had in the past and how they have (or are) overcoming them. I want to hear that the candidate has honestly evaluated their own performance ... is capable of seeing their own weaknesses ... confronting them ... and improving on them.

If you actually think you have no weaknesses ... then you are not very self-aware and you may be difficult to teach and to work with. If you know you have weaknesses but refuse to admit to them during an interview ... then I know I can't trust your answers to the interview questions in general -- I know you are just saying what you think I want to hear.

So ... I recommend doing an honest self-assessment and identify a couple of your particular strengths that you can use to "sell yourself" to the interviewer. Also identify a couple of weaknesses and be prepared to discuss how you handle them in the workplace so that they don't interfer with your ability to be a good employee.

Someone once told me that when I discuss my weaknesses, I make them sound like strengths. That's what you need to do. Discuss your weaknesses in such a way as to make the listener admire you for your honesty, self-awareness, and ability to master your weakness.

How do I respond to that question? I usually discuss how difficult it is for me to do my best work on a project I don't believe in ... how I need to "get on board" emotionally before I can committ all my energy and talents. This can cause political problems as I question everything and sometimes need to see solid evidence that a certain course of action is the right way to go. I also have a way of turning issues upside-down and inside-out -- looking at things from unique perspectives is one of my strengths -- but it can be disruptive and irritating to people happy with the status quo and/or who think more conventionally. However, once I am conviced that something is a good idea, then I can committ to it whole-heartedly, will work hard, and have a lot to contribute. If you hire me, you have to understand that I will not simply "follow blindly" down the common paths. If you hire me, you are getting a creative, non-traditional thinker who will be a bit disruptive and sometimes irritating -- but who will challenge you and your department to move forward. If you can handle me and keep me interested/happy enough to not be stirring up trouble, I will be loyal and serve you well -- and will contribute significantly to your department.

llg

Mystery5 · May 23, 2005

My three main strengths:

1) Great bedside manner.

2) Very few errors

3) Never afraid to ask questions

My three main weaknesses

1) Need to develop better assertiveness skills

2) Not always detail oriented

3) New situations and people are sometimes intimidating

Hows that???:)

NurseyBaby'05, BSN, RN · May 23, 2005

For a llot of my interviews, I've identified one of my strengths (being flexible/laid back) as a weskness as well. "Sometimes I can be too flexible when I really need to be motivated. It's often a double-edged sword."

NurseNewbie · May 23, 2005

:) Thanks for all the excellent responses and gems u have given me. Especially llg, its nice to see what is expected from this question from an interviewers perspective. I think I have identified my weaknesses as being reading ECG's (those 12 leads besides lead II i'm absolutely hopeless at, and those junctional rhythms always trip me up) also the position I applied for is in peds emerg so i think IV starts is going to give me some problems because I'm not very good at starting IV's in frail little old ladies as it is right now...Thanks for all your help

LilRedRN1973 · May 24, 2005

I have been interviewed 3 different times in the unit I'm currently employed in (one after the first semester of nursing school...got the job; one after I wanted to move up to a higher position after the second semester of nursing school....got the job; and one in January for the position of GN...got the job). I've been asked that question in all three. I don't remember what I asked in the first one, but I do remember what I answered this last time around. I told them that I have trouble asking for help. This is SO true. I have been like this for as long as I can remember. I am such a control freak that I would rather try to accomplish it ALL then to ask for help. I also followed that statement up by telling them I'm working on it and learning when to recognize I can't do it all and that I will need assistance from time to time.

The question I hate is "Tell us about a time when you set a goal and didn't reach it". UGH.

Melanie = )

drdan · May 24, 2005

You might say " I don't necessarily have any weaknesses, but what needs the most improvement from my strenghts is such and such..."

It could be worded a little differently but I would personally say something like that.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · May 24, 2005

Check out some of the links here:

Wondering why you can't get hired

Mystery5 · May 24, 2005

drdan said:
You might say " I don't necessarily have any weaknesses, but what needs the most improvement from my strenghts is such and such..."
It could be worded a little differently but I would personally say something like that.

Sounds like hot air to me. Everyone has weaknesses.

Antikigirl, ASN, RN · May 24, 2005

I always look honestly at myself, and when answering the question I always try to turn it into a positive or proactive answer.

I just had one last week, and I marked my weakeness as 'impatience when being overly multitasked". BUT, I put it in a way where I looked proactive about it. "I feel that my weakness is not in multitasking, but when feeling overwhelmed by too many issues at one time that need my immedate attention. I have grown with this company and have been taking great personal strives on working on this probelm and communicating well with my administration with ideas of how to make the sometimes overwhelming demands on all staff better, and will continue those efforts in order to help not only myself, but patients and other staff to make our company run smoothly and efficiently as possible."

:) sounds like a weakness, yet is proactive...and yes..key words like refering to patients and all staff, the company itself, and a positive outlook on improvement for not just myself. :)

Good luck!

drdan · May 25, 2005

Mystery5 said:
Sounds like hot air to me. Everyone has weaknesses.

I guess you could say that but it depends on how you look at it and how you compare certain situations. I may have a weakness compared John Doe, but compared to Joe Bob it could be a strength.