Ask-A-Recruiter: No Magic Bullet Answers

Contributed by: Caroline Ceniza-Levine of SixFigureStart

What is the best answer to the strength and weakness interview question?

I got this exact question after a workshop I recently led. Other than his name and industry background, I had no other information. Yet, he fully expected me to come up with answers to very personal interview questions.

Actually, I am asked this question so much I almost expect it after every workshop I give. It seems that many jobseekers out there are looking for the magic bullet answers that will get them past the interview to the offer stage.

The reality is that there are no magic bullet answers. A good interview response is always comprised of two parts: something authentic about you; and something relevant to the company/ job in question. In the case of strengths, this means that your strength must be true about you and must be a requirement of the job. People have many strengths, choose the one that fits the job in question. If you are good with numbers and have a great sense of humor, choose the numbers one for that analytical job. For weaknesses, choose one that is true but that is not a dealbreaker for the job. If you have limited experience with numbers and get flustered in new social situations, don’t choose the numbers one for that analytical job.

Furthermore, you need to be truthful – i.e., you need to back up your statement with concrete examples. In the case of strengths, it would be ideal to show how your strength came into play to add to the bottom line. In the case of weaknesses, share exactly how the weakness manifested itself (but use an innocuous example and not a career-ending snafu). Be prepared to talk about how you are developing your weaknesses and why it won’t be an issue for this next job.

In other words, like all aspects of the job search, interview skills take work. You need to do some introspection. You need to research your targets. You need to find a way to sell your target on the benefits of you. The magic bullet, then, is hard work.

Master the interview and practice with a SixFigureStart coach, not your dream employer! Contact Caroline Ceniza-Levine at 212-501-2234 or caroline@sixfigurestart.com for a complimentary coaching consultation.

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  1. Ask a Manager
    Ask a Manager says:

    This is SO TRUE. I love this post! This sort of thing is like asking what the best things to say on a first date are. There’s no right answer — it totally depends on who you are and what you’re like. The idea is to be yourself and find out if there’s a mutual match or not, not to try to trick your way into a job (or second date) by being something you’re not.