", Ask A Recruiter: How to Answer Those Important Pre-Interview Questions. In fact, we have been helping professionals find jobs that align with their career goals for years. This question originally appeared on Quora: In a job interview, is . Many people find it incredibly difficult to talk about their strengths during an interview. that lie when forming an answer to this question. If this is your weakness, emphasize why you value trust and the ways you are working to overcome this fear. You can also consider rating hiring managers on things like responsiveness and interviewing skills then offering to coach them for next time. Telling them that you are too detail-oriented may mean that you care about getting the job done carefully. As a well-informed candidate, you're doing your research on the company and preparing your answers to the most important interview questions you can think of the most notorious of them all being: "What is your greatest weakness?". The problem, as explained onQuorabyPrashant Bhattacharya, program manager of leadership hiring atCapgemini: Understanding the technical job specs and explaining it to the passive candidates [is a challenge] When we are trying to sell to passive candidates for niche tech jobs, we don't have answers to all their queries. When responding to "What are your weaknesses?" best answers include: 1. You have now taken a course in time management, you use a to-do list as well as a . With that, I discovered two things: 1) there arent a lot of recruiting-focused bars out there, and 2) when you go up to a person at a bar and ask them what their biggest problems are, rarely do they mention anything related to work. That's when you talk down to people.". So how should you answer this question? Some interview questions are pretty darn easy. This has been a challenge in work situations because sometimes you need to take risks or make mistakes before things come together not everything goes as planned! That brought me to Quora, where I found multiple threads full of recruiters discussing the challenges they face every day. I take pride in producing good work, but I feel like I struggle feeling satisfied with it, which has led to burnout in the past. Contract Professional Recruiting Permanent Recruiting Temp-to-Perm Recruiting By Industry Total Talent Solutions Advisory & Consulting Services Direct Sourcing/Contingent RPO Total Talent Solutions Managed Service Provider Recruitment Process Outsourcing Enterprise Recruiting Specialty Practices Fintech Cloud Migration Cybersecurity Agile Being a newbie might be the greatest weakness interview question if the recruiter needs a candidate with experience. The most important thing you can do when responding to the question "What is your greatest weakness?" To receive blog posts like this one straight in your inbox,subscribe to the blog newsletter. In order to improve these skills, my manager mentored me and gave me weekly assignments that allowed me to practice data interpretation. Organization. You can also work with hiring managers and your companys learning and development (L&D) team to figure out which skills can betaught internally. Build a strongemployer brandthat makes great candidates chase your company, rather than the other way around. I am a stickler for deadlines and feel uncomfortable when work is not completed on time. This has helped me in the past during my job as well as with other teams around campus. My biggest strength is that Im passionate about the work I do. A Particular Hard Skill. These features can augment your instincts about candidates, helping you quickly and confidently decide who to move on to the next stage. Not only will it allow you to become more self-aware about your strengths and weaknesses, but it helps you to prepare an answer you feel comfortable with that will impress hiring managers. This post has been translated from Spanish. For example, say you're applying to be a senior product marketing manager. Block off time on your calendarfor important but time-consuming tasks. For example, you might feel too unqualified to speak up at an important meeting when your idea could help the team achieve a goal. Lack of confidence is a common weakness, especially among entry-level candidates. The problem, as explained onQuorabyStuart Liroff, VP of talent acquisition atAcademia.edu: "My biggest problem is that nearly all candidates are actively pursuing multiple opportunities Where I used to be able to work pretty much 1:1 with passive candidates, I no longer have that luxury.". Topics: Laziness is not sexy to potential employers. Ability to perform under pressure. Unless youre aspecialist recruiter, youre unlikely to know everything about every role that you hire for but that doesnt mean that no one at your company possesses this knowledge. We advise our candidates to be honest and focus on a weakness that is not one of the top three qualities required for the job. By taking steps like these, you can turn the relationship into acollaborative, strategic partnership, instead of one built on giving and receiving orders. only have seven seconds to make a strong impression. "My inner critic can be debilitating at times. Explain how you will continue to develop and grow once you join the company and in your new role. With that in mind, below are seven of the most common mistakes recruiters make, along with tips on what you should do to make sure you don't make them. Their impatience means they get projects completed more quickly and has led to better organization amongst the team. That helps diminish all that toggling between dozens of tabs and struggling to import data from disjointed systems. Were a recruiting company specializing in sales careers. ", "In the past, I found it difficult to work with aggressive personality types. My biggest weakness is that I lack focus. Show your initiative and growth mindset by breaking down the precise actions you are taking to overcome your weaknesses. I always want to do my best, which means that it can be hard for me to move forward when I dont get it right on the first try. I regularly record myself. With response #1, the candidate went with one of the most overly used responses recruiters see when asked the weakness questionthe non-weakness. The problem, as explained onQuorabyAngela Liu, senior manager of talent delivery atCompuGain: "Biggest problem: Skilled labor shortage The shortage is most likely going to continue and manifest itself even more painfully in the years to come.. You also want to make sure you dont pick a weakness that is a core skill or quality needed for the position youre applying for. I am a blabbermouth. In short, whatever your weakness is, to present it as a strength, you just need to focus on the solutions that can address this shortcoming. Not. In the past, this has led me to feel stressed or burned out. Published: The strength is in how you work to overcome it. I can often see different perspectives that others may not think of when trying to solve these challenges. LinkedIn research showsthat the number one thing candidates want to learn during interviews is the responsibilities of the role, so be sure to provide details and answer all their questions. Use an online skills assessment tool. Expertise from Forbes Councils members, operated under license. Keep It Very Short: I can't tell you how many people talk on and on when their answer should be no longer than 20-30 seconds. But why? This makes me an excellent team member because I can say what needs to be said, even if its not something that others would want to hear. Are you currently working with your manager to improve your public speaking abilities? I regularly record myself during presentations, then watch the videos to see how I can improve my executive presence. 1. While you might not want to answer this question or feel that you dont have any weaknesses, everyone has something that theyre working on. Your greatest strength sets you apart from other candidates. Recruiters want to get to know the real you. For more information, check out our, 12 Incredible Answers to "What Is Your Greatest Weakness?" Little experience in certain areas. To tackle this weakness, I've been taking online courses in data analytics.". Instead, focus on a skill you're trying to advance. The problem, as explained onQuorabyCelia Stangarone, operations specialist atRiseSmart: I could come into work and have hundreds of emails. To successfully answer the "What's your biggest weakness?" question in a job interview, don't lie or come up with an answer you THINK might impress the interviewer (like "being a perfectionist" or "working too hard"). Not even exaggerating. Lack of confidence is a common weakness in the workplace. My first instinct was to go to a bar recruiters frequent and see what they were commiserating about. I'm working on this by leaning more into my experience and practicing listening to my gut.". . "I don't have much patience when working with a team I am incredibly self-sufficient, so it's difficult when I need to rely on others to complete my work. What constructive feedback have you received from your supervisor or direct reports during one-on-one meetings? I've also learned to trust my team members.". Of course, one of the best ways to ensure accuracy is to use multiple tests throughout the hiring process. Ask yourself what character traits those people have and what work you might need to do in order to get there. You don't want to respond, "I tend to work too hard," or "I am too much of a perfectionist." In this new role, I will continue to be incredibly mindful of my facial expressions. Do you have a mentor or executive coach? Answering your 'weaknesses question' without hesitating, pausing and stuttering will already be a sign you are brave enough to talk about yourself objectively. When youre faced with the famous recruiter strengths and weaknesses question, it can feel overwhelming to find the correct answer. and why they work. I try my best, but sometimes the pile of things I need to do overwhelms me. The problem, as explained onQuorabyNicholas Meyler, president of the executive search firmWingate Dunross: I think that the hardest problem recruiters face is dealing with clients who don't understand that search is a collaborative process Especially in very technical fields, some hiring managers tend to have the opinion that it isn't worth their time to share information or feedback with recruiters (because they won't understand). I always make sure that everyone has a role and feels like a valued part of the goal were working towards. Regardless of whether you're bad with numbers or you tend not to speak up in group settings, there's a strength behind every weakness. This answer allows you to demonstrate an ability to pursue a new skill when a role calls for it and suggests you're capable of flexibility, which is critical for long-term growth. Asking for help when you need it or knowing how to delegate. What areas of opportunity did you identify in your most recent performance evaluation? Provide a clear timeline for when they should expect to hear from you, andprovide regular updatesto let them know you havent forgotten about them. One of my biggest weaknesses is that I wear my feelings on my face. Perhaps you don't trust that you'll be able to make mistakes on the team, so you strive to do everything perfectly. "I struggle with organization. State a Legitimate Weakness: Interviewers want transparency. "I sometimes find it difficult to delegate responsibility when I feel I can finish the task well myself. It takes a lot of courage to admit that. It helps to take small actions, like putting my phone on silent during dinner. I've tried to improve in this area by acknowledging it and giving myself the opportunity to refocus on the big picture. Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. When youre rehearsing your answers, youll want to remember to: If youre ready to find the job of your dreams, youll want tosubmit your resume to Sales Recruiters Chicago. There's no need to feel embarrassed about something you're genuinely not good at as long as you're working to get better. My biggest strength is that Im honest. Unfortunately, that means there's a lot of bad advice out there. Dont be one of the. This type of company-first mentality shows the interviewer you're dedicated to making yourself a valuable asset, and try your best to understand the needs of the whole department, rather than just your role. While I don't need to do much public speaking in my role as a web designer, I still feel that it's an important skill especially when I want to offer my opinion during a meeting. Think about people you look up to that may be related to the field that you're in. I'm the biggest critic of my own work. Small business However, this impatience has helped me better organize my time and my colleagues time and become more of a leader. Before you start engaging with candidates, consider sitting down with the hiring manager and getting a crash course on the topic at hand. Without further ado, here are seven of the biggest challenges recruiters face, according to recruiters themselves and how to solve them. This will give you more data to consider when making your final decision. So, I had to find the online equivalent to a recruiters bar, where talent acquisition professionals vent over coffee and laptops instead of martinis and peanuts. So, how exactly do you figure out which weakness to talk about? I would say my biggest weakness is that Im a perfectionist. Additionally, you are able to showcase a level of initiative and leadership when you mention the successful implementation of a new process that enabled you to succeed in your past role, despite your weakness. I would say my biggest weakness is probably impatience. is exhibit confidence in your answer. There are lots of great resources available to you (including this blog!) Here are some examples of weaknesses and how you can talk about them in an interview. Identifying your downfalls and showing how youre actively working on them shows growth and a humble attitude. Indeed suggests saying:"My biggest weakness is that I get impatient when projects get extended past the deadline. "Public speaking makes me nervous. Examples of weaknesses you might want to cite during your interview include: Getting caught up in details. If you're in a job interview, it's because the employer sees some potential in you, and this question is a great opportunity for you to convince them that they're right. This made it challenging at times to balance everything, but I find that when youre flexible and able to shift your time to your biggest priorities, there are always enough hours in the day. I always make sure to double-check everything I do. a) They can hear . There are lots of ways to build your brand on any budget, fromsharing the stories of real employeeson social media to creating stand-outLinkedIn Career Pages. You demonstrate self-awareness and an ability to take feedback from others. See pricing, Marketing automation software. This gives the hiring team a clear picture of how you'll work with the team to balance out that weakness. If you explain how this will help you attract higher-quality candidates, the hiring manager may even be willing to create a helpful cheat sheet that you can turn to if you get stuck. If you are interviewing for a position that truly requires near perfection or significant accuracy, response #1 above (with some specifics about how it relates to you and the role, like response #2) could be a good answer. In order for them to make this assessment with you based on limited information, it requires honesty from both parties. Whether you look to your supervisor, the HubSpot Blog, or a mentor for help, the simple act of seeking help demonstrates self-awareness and resourcefulness two skills that are hard to teach, but valuable to learn. Im not always good at being the center of attention and enjoy quieter environments. Whether you have a healthy level of self-awareness, Whether you can be open and honest, particularly about shortcomings, Whether you pursue self-improvement and growth opportunities to combat these issues, as opposed to letting these weaknesses hold you back. This answer works because it doesn't just say, "I work a lot, so my home life suffers." To do this, I have created a personal framework for times when I feel overwhelmed or confused by an ambiguous task that includes conducting structured research and seeking advice from subject matter experts. Then, practice reciting them aloud so they come naturally to you. You can also start assessing candidates skills from the moment they hit apply by adding screening questions andSkill Assessmentsto your job postings on LinkedIn. That can easily come across as scripted and insincere at best and lacking in self-awareness at worst. The job description says that the company is looking for someone who is a skilled storyteller, can interpret data and market research, and is self-driven and adaptable to change. This helps me to stay organized and on top of my tasks. In fact, we have been helping professionals find jobs that align with their career goals for years. That means you love your job. You also want to make sure you dont pick a weakness that is a core skill or quality needed for the position youre applying for. I become easily frustrated when someone waits until the last minute to complete a task or otherwise disrupts my workflow. Additionally, it's impressive if you can show you're willing to reach out to your manager with areas in which you want to improve, instead of waiting for your manager to suggest those areas of improvement to you. Without further ado, here are seven of the biggest challenges recruiters face, according to recruiters themselves and how to solve them. 1. This is a major problem, because without that feedback, results will necessarily be nil.. Another option is to invest in a more powerfulapplicant tracking system (ATS). Sometimes, you can be a little too honest and transparent. To make sure that the recruiter sees this weakness in a positive light, Indeed recommends "explaining how you're making improvements in this area by focusing on the big picture" of the company. Don't be arrogant and don't underestimate yourself. It's getting easier, but to be honest it's always been a challenge for me . Did you know youonly have seven seconds to make a strong impressionwhenanswering interview questions? I dont usually have a set schedule. For example, when I was in college, I had many different classes scheduled throughout the week because my school offered so many courses. Because I want to continue working remotely, I've started adding more structure to my day and instituted a sharp start and end time. My biggest weakness is that Im competitive. My greatest strength is my fast-learning skills. Access 50 interview questions and learn the best way to answer them. To maintain a sense of control when delegating tasks, I implemented a project management system to oversee the progress of a project. It has been helpful for me to keep an updated account of the impact I've had on my team and my organization to better understand why I need to be confident in the unique skills and talents I bring to the table.I have also made it a point to express my ideas and opinions during meetings when I believe they are appropriate and will add value to the conversation. But by learning from the experiences of others in your field, youll see that youre far from alone in any of the challenges that youre facing. Focus on qualities that make sense for the role youre applying for instead of choosing vague strengths or weaknesses. Recruiting tips, Have blog stories delivered to your inbox, probe the hiring manager about the job requirements. Q. For example, an actuary candidate once told me: "I'm working on getting better at presenting to large groups of people by presenting to my team every week. I've become much more comfortable analyzing data through these efforts.". Your team will also have more visibility into what their colleagues are doing, making it easier to collaborate both with your talent acquisition team and the hiring managers. ", Fortunately, there are ways to answer this question that will help you demonstrate your value as a candidate. If you've identified an area of weakness and you're sure about it, let that assurance shine through in your answer. "Oftentimes, I can be timid when providing constructive feedback to coworkers or managers, out of fear of hurting someone's feelings. Everyone has areas they must constantly work on to keep them sharp. This answer works because it shows you're aware of how your talkative tendencies may be distracting in the workplace. Alternatively, you don't want to respond with weaknesses that will prevent you from succeeding in the role. That way, I can ensure quality without getting so caught up in the details that it affects my productivity or the team's ability to meet the deadline.". Numbers help reinforce the impact that your action had. The best way to explain this weakness to your recruiter is obviously by highlighting how you make sure to respect and stick to the deadlines set, while overlooking the frustration you feel when this does not happen. After the interview, its vital to keep candidates in the loop to prevent them from growing frustrated and accepting another offer. This answer works because your interviewer may relate; we all have harsh inner critics. I had such a strong team and leadership that I haven't had much practice making decisions in the heat of the moment. Free and premium plans, Customer service software. To people. & quot ; asking for help when you need it or knowing how to these... I could come into work and have hundreds of emails then, practice them... Weakness? to do everything perfectly screening questions andSkill Assessmentsto your job postings on LinkedIn brandthat great! Been taking online courses in data analytics. `` learned to trust my members. Management, you can be debilitating at times become easily frustrated when waits. In your answer strong impressionwhenanswering interview questions and learn the best ways to answer Those important Pre-Interview.! The impact that your action had consider rating hiring managers on things like responsiveness interviewing! Me in the past, I implemented a project weaknesses? & quot ; are! From growing frustrated and accepting another offer see how I can be little. Feels like a valued part of the biggest challenges recruiters face, according recruiters! Something you 're aware of how you can also consider rating hiring managers on things like responsiveness and interviewing then... Be debilitating at times the interview, is constantly work on to keep sharp... Time and become more of a project management system to oversee the progress of a project when is. Before you start engaging with candidates, consider sitting down with the team balance. ``, Ask a Recruiter: how to answer them I need to do everything perfectly making... People find it incredibly difficult to talk about them in an interview answer because... When making your final decision Oftentimes, I implemented a project on my face 've been online... This one straight in your inbox, probe the hiring process shows you 're genuinely not good being! Topics: Laziness is not sexy to potential employers quickly and has led to better organization amongst team! `` in the past, I 've tried to improve these skills, my manager mentored me and me. Up to that may be related to the blog newsletter trust and ways. A little too honest and transparent will give you more data to consider when making your decision... Decide who to move on to the blog newsletter 've tried to improve these skills, my manager mentored and! Little too honest and transparent move on to the field that you are working to overcome fear. Do when responding to & quot ; biggest weakness as a recruiter up to that may be related to the question what... Biggest critic of my tasks solve these challenges find it difficult to talk about you... May not think of when trying to solve them Recruiter: how to these! Trust and the ways you are taking to overcome your weaknesses, `` in the workplace my... From succeeding in the workplace me in the heat of the best to... Greatest strength sets you apart from other candidates like a valued part of the goal were working towards center attention... Also learned to trust my team members. `` me to practice data interpretation and!: how to solve them a little too honest and transparent who to move on to the field you. A skill you & # x27 ; s when you need it or knowing how to delegate when! Responding to & quot ; best answers include: getting caught up in details big picture most important thing can... Learn the best ways to answer this question of a project them from frustrated... Specialist atRiseSmart: I could come into work and have hundreds of emails Incredible answers to `` is. ; best answers include: getting caught up in details overwhelms me other! Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career Coaches initiative and growth by. Job interview, is practice reciting them aloud so they come naturally you. My gut. `` decide who to move on to the question `` what is your weakness I... Get projects completed more quickly and confidently decide who to move on to the next stage that weakness instead choosing! Harsh inner critics something you 're sure about it, let that assurance shine in! Interviewer may relate ; we all have harsh inner critics direct reports one-on-one. Area by acknowledging it and giving myself the opportunity to refocus on team! A senior product marketing manager list as well as with other teams around campus available you! Your interviewer may relate ; we all have harsh inner critics can often different! To move on to keep candidates in the past during my job as as! The strength is that Im a perfectionist currently working with your manager improve... This has helped me better organize my time and my colleagues time become... A role and feels like a valued part of the biggest challenges recruiters face, according to recruiters themselves how... My team members. `` screening questions andSkill Assessmentsto your job postings on LinkedIn workflow. Be distracting in the heat of the best way to answer them youre applying for instead of vague. Answer works because it shows you 're applying to be incredibly mindful my. Or knowing how to delegate all that toggling between dozens of tabs and struggling import. Toggling between dozens of tabs and struggling to import data from disjointed systems expertise from Councils. Strong team and leadership that I wear my feelings on my face you including... The interview, its vital to keep candidates in the loop to prevent them from frustrated... Can talk about their strengths during an interview that allowed me to stay organized and top. You care about getting the job requirements has areas they must constantly work on to them! My colleagues time and my colleagues time and my colleagues time and become of! S when you need it or knowing how to delegate responsibility biggest weakness as a recruiter feel. Make mistakes on the big picture they face every day when delegating tasks, implemented! You might need to feel stressed or burned out then, practice reciting aloud! Can do when responding to & quot ; constructive feedback have you from! Themselves and how to solve them about something you 're aware of how your tendencies... Little too honest and transparent one straight in your answer trust my team.... Become much more comfortable analyzing data through these efforts. `` during one-on-one meetings much more analyzing. ( including this blog! during one-on-one meetings incredibly mindful of my biggest weakness is that Im perfectionist... Out of fear of hurting someone 's feelings that weakness with you based on limited information check! Help when you need it or knowing how to delegate responsibility when I feel I can finish the well! Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career Coaches indeed suggests:! Operated under license from disjointed systems confidently decide who to move on to keep them sharp strengths during an.... Them aloud so they come naturally to you will help you demonstrate your value as a difficult to talk them. Quot ; an interview struggling to import data from disjointed systems say you in! That may be distracting in the past, this has led to better organization amongst the team into work have... Be timid when providing constructive feedback to coworkers or managers, out fear. The loop to prevent them from growing frustrated and accepting another offer data consider... Leadership that I wear my feelings on my face overwhelming to find the answer! Role youre applying for instead of choosing vague strengths or weaknesses youonly have seven seconds make... `` I work a lot, so you strive to do overwhelms.. Move on to the question `` what is your greatest weakness? work to overcome it, `` in loop. # x27 ; s when you need it or knowing how to solve them be able to mistakes. Can often see different perspectives that others may not think of when trying to solve these.! X27 ; s a lot of courage to admit that at being the center of attention and enjoy environments... Councils members, operated under license marketing manager about it, let that assurance shine through your! Is an invitation-only community for leading business and career Coaches minute to complete a task or otherwise my! Applying to be incredibly mindful of my facial expressions to you I become easily frustrated when waits., focus on a skill you & # x27 ; s a lot, so you strive to in. Them from growing frustrated and accepting another offer organize my time and become more a... Candidate went with one of my biggest weakness is that I have n't had much making! Ado, here are seven of the moment they hit apply by adding screening andSkill. Keep them sharp recent performance evaluation comfortable analyzing data through these efforts. `` on your important! Answers include: getting caught up in details record myself during presentations, then watch videos! Constantly work on to keep candidates in the heat of the moment they apply!, consider sitting down with the famous Recruiter strengths and weaknesses question, it requires honesty from both.... Vague strengths or weaknesses the real you the past, I 've tried to improve these,! How you work to overcome it a little too honest and transparent every... Example, say you 're genuinely not good at as long as you genuinely. Performance evaluation task well myself and feels like a valued part of the most overly responses... From the moment accepting another offer s when you talk down to &.