Madeline Mann breaks down how to answer the strengths and weaknesses question. For strengths, pick 1-2 skills from the job description and back them with a specific example. For weaknesses, choose something real but not essential to the role, explain how you're improving it, and show measurable progress.
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Here are the best answer formulas with examples to the double hitter question of what are your strengths and weaknesses? I've taught how to answer these questions for years and have gotten thousands of comments saying that these formulas completely transform people's answers and help them to ace the interview. Now for the first part. Your strengths. This is your moment for you to really shine and a mistake you could make here is that your answer is focusing on the wrong strength. Yes, there are specific strengths that you should be saying and others you should not be saying. I will go over that. Then for your greatest weakness, you need to avoid saying cliche answers like I'm a perfectionist or I work too hard. Additionally, your answer should be honest without being too honest because if we're being too direct about this, you could lose the opportunity. This question can be a bit of a trap, so be honest. But also they could reject you for being too honest. But trust me, there is a middle ground and I will show you how. And before I get too ahead of myself. Hello, I'm Madeline Mann. I'm a human resources leader and job search strategist who turns job seekers into job shoppers. You may recognize me from being a top job job search instructor on platforms like Spotify and LinkedIn learning. You may have seen me on Bloomberg, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more. Be sure that you are subscribed so that you're getting new videos to elevate your career. Here is the two part formula for answering what is your strength? Part 1 Name a strength or two that matches a key competency of the role. So take a look at the job description and pay some special attention to the prominent skills you see. Take for instance this job description for the VP of Business affairs and Legal. What are some of these skills that they emphasize? It says here, skilled in complex negotiations and handling conflict resolution. What you could emphasize is your strength being excellent at negotiation. Of course, if this isn't one of your strengths, don't say so. But I'm guessing if you're going for this role, I have a feeling you're likely pretty strong at it. Part 2 We've got to give example A major mistake I see people doing with this answer is they list descriptors and only descriptors. Naming cliche adjectives that you think your interviewer wants to hear is not going to set you apart. Here is an example of the most common type of answer, and it's also not a highly effective answer. I would say my greatest strength is my reliability. Whenever something is needed, my coworkers can always count on me to deliver. I take a lot of pride in integrity and I bring that into every role I have. An answer like that is like a kiddie pool at a water park. It lacks depth, but we will effectively convey your value and help them to picture you in the role by giving them an example of a time you showed that strength. If you've seen some of my popular videos, you may recognize this approach as using your story toolbox. If you haven't seen that video yet, it has led to my highest number of success stories because it completely unlocks your ability to answer nearly every interview question. So I will link that video in the comments and the description below. So think of an example of a time when you showed strong negotiation skills. Tell this story and this will dramatically increase the interviewer's ability to see you in this role and have great persuasive points to tell the rest of the hiring team why you are a prime choice. Now this isn't time to be super long winded and give your whole summary of why they should hire you. I have a download that tells you the exact script to start and end your interview with where you introduce yourself and then you close out the interview where they are totally sold on you and know exactly why to hire you. So I will link that script below. Now let's move into this second part of the question which is what are your weaknesses? If talking about your weaknesses intimidates you, that tracks because I warn you that you can say a weakness here that could be detrimental and they'll kick you to the curb. Don't necessarily view this question as them trying to bamboozle you. Every human has weaknesses and a good manager wants to understand what are your weaknesses so that they can best manage you and set you up for success and put you in a role that plays to your strengths and doesn't rely on your weaknesses. I'm curious to know what do you typically say as your weakness? Put it in the comments below. I'm very interested to see the variety of weaknesses we have here. Here's the three part formula for answering what are your weaknesses? Part 1 Name something that you're legitimately not great at, but don't choose just any weakness. Choose one that you're already working on and improving and make sure it is not a core component of the job, such as a salesperson should never say a weakness that they're working on in is cold calling or facing rejection. Those are too important to the role. Here are weaknesses you can say when you're asked the Question in a job interview what is your greatest weakness? A lot of roles require some element of doing a presentation, but it's usually not a huge part of the role. So this is a really good one to say and it's super relatable. Public speaking is the top fear of humans besides death. Another weakness could be not taking enough risks. You can talk about how in the past you regretted not making bolder moves and decisions in your jobs. You can talk about how you might feel uncomfortable initiating conversations at networking events. This is again very relatable. A lot of people feel like they're not good at this. Part 2 Explain how you're working on it. Describe the steps that you are already taking to improve that weakness. Part 3 Articulate the results you've seen from improving it's not about the weakness going away completely because then they may ask you for another weakness that currently exists, but this shows that you are working to better yourself. The best answers are ones that showcase your ability to take feedback well or demonstrate your self awareness and they prove that you take the initiative to level yourself up. Now let's walk through a sample answer to what are your strengths and weaknesses? One of my key strengths is negotiating and drafting complex agreements. In my previous role at a major entertainment law firm, I handled high stakes contracts involving multiple parties and significant financial implications. For instance, I successfully negotiated a multimillion dollar media buy agreement for a global marketing campaign, ensuring compliance with both US and international regulations. This required not only legal acumen, but also the ability to work under tight deadlines and manage numerous stakeholders. In the end, the contract was complex but highly favorable for all stakeholders and the Chief Legal Officer couldn't believe that I had pulled off such a mutual agreement in a tight timeline. And then on the other hand, while I am comfortable with one on one negotiations and small group settings, I will say presenting complex legal issues to larger audiences has been initially challenging for me, and public speaking is a weakness I've grappled with. To improve, I have taken steps such as enrolling in public speaking courses and seeking opportunities to present at industry conferences. Additionally, I have practiced by leading internal training sessions on legal updates for my colleagues. These efforts have significantly improved my confidence and ability to communicate effectively, though it always is still a work in progress. 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