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During job interviews, there are certain types of questions that tend to make an appearance, regardless of the position and company. One of the most common interview questions is “What is your greatest weakness?” often preceded or followed by “What is your greatest strength?” These questions can be phrased in lots of different ways, but always with the same goal from the interviewer’s perspective.
How to Answer Interview Questions About Strengths and Weaknesses
With these two questions, the hiring manager is trying to determine what assets you have that will help you succeed in the job if you are hired, as well as what could be problematic. In both cases, it’s important to put a positive spin on your attributes when responding – put the emphasis on your skills and strengths.
Here are interview questions related to your strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and accomplishments, along with examples of answers. Do tailor your responses to fit your personal circumstances.
Interview Questions About Weaknesses
- What is your greatest weakness?
- What is your greatest weakness (office/ administrative position)?
- What part of the job will be most challenging for you?
- How do you plan to overcome your weakness?
- Tell me about something you would have done differently at work?
- What do people most often criticize about you?
- When was the last time you were angry? What happened?
- What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
- What is the biggest criticism you received from your boss?
Interview Questions About Strengths
- What is your greatest strength?
- How will your greatest strength help you perform?
- What strength of yours will help you most to succeed in this job?
- What can we expect from you in the first 60 days on the job?
- What is your greatest strength (entry level position)?
- What is your greatest strength (office/ administrative position)?
- What was your biggest strength as a student?
- Why are you the best person for the job?
- What motivates you?
- What are you passionate about?
- What part of the job will be the least challenging for you?
- What strength will help you most to succeed in the job?
Related Interview Questions
- How do you handle failure?
- How do you handle success?
- How do you view yourself? Who do you compare yourself to?
- How did you impact the bottom line?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses (sales)?
- Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.
- Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it.
- What major challenges and problems have you faced? How did you handle them?
- What was the biggest accomplishment or failure in this position?
- What have you learned from your mistakes?
- What are your pet peeves?
- What can you contribute to this company?
- Questions about your career goals.
- Questions about your emotional intelligence.