For sure the question about weaknesses will crop up in an interview. We have also discussed how to respond to this question but the big question is, ‘should you apologize for your weaknesses?’ Just think about it, should you? Everyone has weaknesses but if you look at the article on weaknesses that we carried last week, you know how to answer this question.
Let us go into how you should apologize for your weaknesses. I bet you may have not known this neither do most HR executives because if a weakness may offend the panel then you need a way out in order for them not to see you in bad light. If you end the interview without any clarifications or apologies, then you may have lost the chance to get the job. We all have our disadvantages. Yet, sometimes we consider some of our weaknesses as critical. Just imagine weaknesses like:
1. Lack of education.
2. Inadequate work experience.
3. Old age.
4. A certain physical limitation.
5. Too many work places in the resume.
6. Low language levels.
Seriously, how do you apologize? Remember some of these weaknesses can be seen without you saying them out. In an interview, the applicant is apprehensive and is concerned about possible questions that may be asked that are related to their perceived weakness. When indeed a related question is raised, the applicant is anxious and responds with an apology.
Just imagine that your CV has many companies that you have worked with and an interviewer asks you why that is. What will you respond with? It is easy to find yourself being apprehensive to begin to blush and admit that the same question has been asked of you in other interviews. This response in the form of a latent apology magnifies the issue and may actually turn to be an obstacle in the interview; a self fulfilling prophecy. If the perceived weakness preoccupies the applicant it becomes a salient point in the interview and may compromise it. However, if the applicant manages to decrease the importance of the perceived weakness in their own mind, its effect on the interview may be minimal.
There are candidates who perform extremely well despite their limitations and may even turn their perceived limitation into an advantage while others are completely held back by them. Our attitude towards our limitations and weaknesses is of more importance than the actual limitation. An applicant that apologizes for having a weakness is making a critical mistake. Most job applicants think that the way in which the interviewer perceives their weaknesses determines the outcome of the interview when in effect; the outcome of the interview is determined by our own perception of ourselves.
One thing a candidate should have in mind is that apologizing in an interview is a mistake which stems from insecurity. As a candidate you must show that despite your limitations you are a worthy one. Do not use an apologetic tone during the course of your interview. We want to suggest the following remedies to some common weaknesses:
· If you lack sufficient education, prove that despite this limitation you make up for it in work experience.
· If you lack work experience show how you make up for it in talent, skill and motivation.
· If you are older, you must have a lot of valuable experience and ambition.
· If you are limited physically in some way, show how the limitation does not compromise the work you are expected to do.
· If you have changed too many jobs, emphasize your versatile work experience or elaborate on only some of the roles you had, those that are most relevant.
· If you do not have full command of the language, show that you have all the skills necessary to fulfill the role regardless.
Never, never and never apologize in an interview rather emphasize your strengths. Do not apologize for your weaknesses. Prove that despite your weakness you are a worthy candidate. If you look at our previous article, we insist that the main purpose of a job interview is to assess your suitability for the job offered. An apology may be interpreted as lack of faith in your own ability to do the job. You must believe you are the best candidate for the job.
All the best from HCC
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