Another way to identify your weaknesses is to ask for feedback from others. Read our, Speak to a Therapist for Stress Management. interview You might be getting help from a mentor or advisor, or have found tools that help you to correct your weakness on your own. If you can be open and honest about your flaws, then the interviewer knows that you are capable of being truthful and that you have a good sense of self-awareness. If so, consider clarifying your answer and explaining why it is a weakness ideally with a specific example to back it up. In fact, the longer you think about something, the less time and energy you have to take productive action. If youre indecisive about everything from what to eat for dinner to which hotel you should book, you might be overthinking things. So, how do you answer, What is your greatest weakness? How do you avoid mistakes when discussing weaknesses with a recruiter or hiring manager? There are many reasons why an employer might ask a follow-up question. J Abnorm Psychol. Job interviews are a delicate balance between making a great first impression and answering the My blogs and articles consistently perform well and reach the top of Google searches. Relevant. This is a BETA experience. Did I really think it made me better or smarter at getting more things done faster? More specifically, interviewers might want to ask this question: While this question is often asked outright, it can also take a variety of forms. How to Stop Overanalyzing Your Job Interview | The Muse I took part in a leadership course where we talked about the best ways to provide feedback and how we should tailor our communication style to different people and situations. For example, if your worry is that you came across as nervous or jittery, youd find that itd probably be better to simply let it pass than awkwardly explain it (I know my palms were sweaty when we shook handssorry about that!) in a thank you note (more on that here). Ask yourself if they are realistic. When you overthink, you have a hard time getting your mind to focus on anything else. But as soon as the office door closes behind you, the interview starts replaying in your head. On the other hand, overthinking can also lead to anxiety and stress, and it can prevent you from taking action or moving forward with your plans. This means that your weakness needs to be something that you could feasibly improve through personal effort. They show initiative in how they are tackling this weakness head-on and provide clear evidence that their efforts are paying off. What Not To Say Dont go overboard. Telling interviewers about your greatest weaknesses is a tricky topic, to be tackled in this blog as follows: You might be asked to identify your single greatest weakness, or several in the plural. On the flip side, it may also increase your susceptibility to developing mental health problems. Many people can identify with a fear of public speaking. Expertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Interviewers cant help but be impressed by your openness to self-challenge on a path of learning, growth, and improvement. Positive perspectives: what you say about weaknesses can work in your favor, Ways to frame weaknesses in a strong context: a look at two angles with examples. A brief distraction can give you a break. If you have several viable options going at any given time, youll feel much more confident about your prospectsand less likely to keep analyzing every word in that one interview. What are your weaknesses? Stop being a perfectionist. However, they can be answered positively and even present you in a favourable light if you remember some key points. If that was ever the case, it sure didnt seem that way anymore. Whether its a one-off favor or committing to a new assignment, the desire to help sometimes overrules my judgment about how much I can handle realistically. 2016;147:170-183. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.10.044, Michl LC, McLaughlin KA, Shepherd K, Nolen-Hoeksema S. Rumination as a mechanism linking stressful life events to symptoms of depression and anxiety: longitudinal evidence in early adolescents and adults. These values are especially important when you get to the interview stage of the job search. But dont worry, because there are definitely things about you that make you stand out from the crowd and make you an ideal candidate for a particular job. Such behavior can harm your relationships with others. Perhaps start by saying Fair enough, youre right, this question is always hard to tackle in interviews and then follow up with a candid answer that really does reflect a weakness. My hope is that the example inspires you as you prepare for your next job interview. For example, you might fear that you will fail an exam. Show your initiative and growth mindset by breaking down the precise actions you are taking to overcome your weaknesses. Here are a few of the other ways it can be phrased: While each of these questions (and many more) are all asking a similar question, you dont want to come across as robotic, like youve prepared this answer purely by rote. Also, be honest about why you left and what inspired you to look for a new opportunity. 9. Keep in mind the mutually exclusive difference between perfectly honest and honestly perfect. The first is desirable in the hiring scenario we are describing, while the second sounds dishonest. Heres an example: I tend to be a bit disorganized. For example, you may be a great public speaker, but have a hard time with numbers. I am not implying that I cant meet deadlines. Instead, welcome the opportunity to tip the scales in your favor by framing weaknesses as strengths. weaknesses 3 Times You're Overthinking Your Interview (and 3 Times You're Not Thinking About it Enough) I used to think I was the only person who overthought job WebFirst, it shows that you actually read the job description and know about the company you are interviewing for. If you attended a job fair, you can tell them, I was attending a job fair when I saw an advertisement for this position. Overthinking can also take a serious toll on relationships. This is not really a weakness, it may be seen by the interviewer to be a veiled attempt at presenting a positive as a negative. David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Then, assess each of them by the criteria above: If a weakness passes each of those tests, then it should be a good one. However, discussing your weaknesses is important in order to get a sense of how you can improve as a candidate. When you describe your weaknesses, provide some realistic approach that you have been trying to overcome these through a systematic process. Its important that for each weakness you prepare to talk about, you have a relevant example ready to help you describe your weakness and demonstrate how you attempted to overcome it. Counterfactual Thinking: Why We Dwell on What Could Have Been, Please Help Me: What to Do When You Need Help, How to Stop Overthinking With Bestselling Author Jon Acuff, Victim Mentality: Definition, Causes, and Ways to Cope, What Can Help When You're Feeling Hopeless, Friday Fix: 5 Mental Strength Exercises You Can Do From Your Couch, What Is Gaslighting and Signs It May Be Happening to You, Daily Tips for a Healthy Mind to Your Inbox, "Thinking too much": A systematic review of a common idiom of distress, Rumination as a mechanism linking stressful life events to symptoms of depression and anxiety: longitudinal evidence in early adolescents and adults, Ruminationrelationship with negative mood and sleep quality, Unconscious-Thought Effects Take Place Off-Line, Not On-Line, Cognitive distortions, humor styles, and depression, Improving interpersonal skills to overcome the negative effects of overthinking in the disruption era, Testing the differential effects of acceptance and attention-based psychological interventions on intrusive thoughts and worry, Beliefs about self-compassion: Implications for coping and self-improvement, An inability to think about anything else, Fixating on things outside of your control, Replaying a situation or experience in your mind, Cultivating a strong support system made up of people who can provide encouragement and love. If you feel like your brain is on overdrive, talk to your physician. is a question commonly asked at interview frequently paired with 'What are your strengths?' Answer Tell me about yourself with a past, present and future structure. Strengths often reflect positively on an individual and can give them an edge in the competition. This might mean that I work too hard but its worth it to me because its so annoying finishing work thats less than perfect. And most of that conversation will stay focused on your strengths as an ideal candidate. Find a balance and be mindful of your interviewers time constraints. Often, youll find that when you look at the big picture, it looks a lot better than if you pry into the interviewers every last word and expression. Weaknesses for Job Interviews: 10 Example Answers for 2023 Overthinking is different from problem-solving. Dino Morea calls himself 'sweet, nice' guy, says sometimes Offer examples. It is important to think about your weaknesses before your interview so that you can give an answer that shows your awareness and ambition to change. Its made a world of difference in my productivity, effectiveness and energy. Here are some other common weaknesses wearing a work ethic disguise: Here are some ideas for describing weaknesses related to work ethic. But what can you do to get away from that habit of dissecting every little word, gesture, and facial expression from your interview? How To Answer "What Is Your Greatest Weakness?": Job In some respects, someone that overthinks can be perceived to be unsure of themselves and their decision-making. for How To Stop Overthinking at Work So now consider the weaknesses question as a golden opportunity to stand out from the rest. Strength and Weakness ", "Have any difficulties or issues arisen in your current role? If youre shy, you could use your ability to listen carefully and pay attention to detail to become a great listener and problem solver. List of Weaknesses: Job Interview Answers and Examples Read on to find out how you can tackle this tricky question and turn your greatest weaknesses into your greatest interview strength. I dont want this to hold me back, so Im trying to build my confidence in public speaking. This weakness could be particularly concerning to an interviewer so, if you really want to mention this at interview, make sure you show evidence of self-reflection and mention the steps you are taking to address this or how you have begun to use it to achieve a positive outcome. Mention the steps youve taken. Clean, timeless templates with a classic balanced structure. Studies have found that improving your interpersonal skills can help stop you from overthinking since these skills have a large effect on this particular habit. Quora - A place to share knowledge and better understand the world 2003;34(7):1293-1301. doi:10.1016/s0191-8869(02)00120-4, Strick M, Dijksterhuis A, van Baaren RB. Obviously, you wouldnt want it any other way nor would prospective employers. Identifying and addressing an area of challenge demonstrates growth and maturity. Make sure you know about the company and the job youre interviewing for. It took me a while to get used to asking for help or clarification in my current job, even when useful or necessary. Make a list of all your possible weaknesses. Rather than trying to nimbly turn your weakness into a strength, I recommend being transparent. Some disorders that are associated with overthinking include: Overthinking can have a bidirectional relationship with mental health issues. When you register or purchase through links on this page, we may earn a commission. Being cocky or arrogant. Research confirms what you likely already knowrumination interferes with sleep. What constructive feedback have you received from your supervisor or direct reports during one-on-one meetings? for tailoring each version of your resume. When discussing your weaknesses, be honest and give specific examples rather than general statements. This potential follow-up is the reason you need to prepare more than one weakness. You dont want the interviewer to perceive you as a candidate who isnt qualified. Tie in a strength. Soc Sci Med. Different Ways of Asking the Weaknesses Question, How to Answer the Interview Question: "What Motivates You?" Interviewers often ask this question to know about a candidates approach to finding new employment. Badmouthing your old boss or company. This then leads to worry that you will fail the class, which will then lead to failing school, not getting a degree, and not being able to find a job. My work quality and efficiency have improved at the same time. Now, you want to conclude your interview answer by tying it back to the company and position you are interviewing for. 3 Times You're Overthinking Your Interview (and 3 Times You're Our newsletter is on its way. Founder, career coach and interview coach behind CaffeinatedKyle.com. Or, maybe you want to prepare a wider arsenal of anecdotes to share, so that youre prepared for any and every behavioral-based question they could throw at you. Build professional cover letters in a few simple steps by using our free Cover Letter builder. So is overthinking a strength or a weakness? Highlight the first and last job you had, how long you worked there, and the companys name. 8. I was still nervous but I felt that the presentation went well. However, before you start panicking, its important to understand that weaknesses are just that- weaknesses. Moaning about it wont earn you much sympathy, especially when it implies that you might be late to work when your penchant for snoozing gets the better of you. Perhaps you found it difficult to manage your time. Why Do Interviewers Like to Ask This Question? Here are a few examples of how the interviewer might follow up on your answer: This could be because your answer sounded more like a strength dressed up as a weakness or it could be because your weakness sounded a little vague. When hiring managers ask about your strengths and weaknesses, they evaluate a few things: How you conduct a self-assessment. My weakness is that I just hate getting up in the morning. Dont focus on your weaknesses in a negative way instead, try to frame them as areas that you are working on improving. There can be a fine line between strengths and weaknesses Overenthusiasm for certain writing projects used to find me falling off track, despite. 8. Overthinking makes it harder to fall asleep. The interviewer might ask you to elaborate or describe further weaknesses. It only makes sense that youre going to have a more developed, succinct answer in mind when the question has been marinating in your head for an hour or two. My three biggest takeaways about single-tasking: its far less stressful, I can focus on should dos instead of could dos and it boosts my creativity. If youre having trouble even thinking of a weakness to base your answer on, here are some examples of weaknesses that might ring true for you: Indecisiveness. Its a repetitive cycle that can be tough to break. Get a good start every day. All products and services featured are independently selected by WikiJob. Frame your weaknesses in a positive, proactive context as works in progress, emphasizing corrective steps with successful outcomes.