What would you say is an area of professional development for you?”

“Where do you feel you can improve as a professional?”

These questions all dig at one sensitive topic: your weaknesses. Some of the most experienced interviewers can frequently stumble through this question. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll pass the test.

First, realize that the main point of this question is simply to test your communication skills and how well you can answer a tough question, and also to probe at your personal character.

Second, based on the job description and what you’ve been told perhaps during the initial phone interview, prepare ahead of time what you’re going to say if asked this question.

Third, as with any communication and marketing situation . . . assess your audience. Are your interviewers tough-to-read ‘straight shooters?’ Are they more open in conversation and easygoing? Walk into the interview prepared to be asked this weakness question, and assess your interviewers so you can decide how to approach your answer.

Then, deliver. Keep in mind that they are assessing you more than your tactical skills. That said, for obvious reasons you should avoid mentioning what could be the top skills/qualifications of the job! Decide on something that is accurate, honest, and human. (After all, you thought about this ahead of time). Note:  Avoid “I’m a perfectionist.” (If you were the interviewer, would you want a bit more depth than that? Remember: personal character).

Here are some suggestions:

• An industry-related software or methodology that you haven’t used yet, that you feel wouldn’t be a deal-breaker if you don’t know right away;

• An industry itself – one that happens to be tied with the new job;

• A soft skill that’s perhaps not one of the top 3 skills they’re seeking, but that is a genuine area you’d like to develop (e.g. public speaking, or leading and influencing others if the role to which you’re applying doesn’t involve management);

• Something that the interviewer and you have already casually established would be different for you. E.g. “Well over the phone we discussed how this would be my first move to client-side work. So I’d definitely say my area of development would be executing in the client-side environment . . . navigating through the matrixed environment, serving internal customers and getting used to that, etc. It would be different for me, but I’m capable of doing it!”

That last sentence above leads to our final point: recover! By answering this question well, you’ve displayed a bit of vulnerability. Perfect, now they know you’re real, genuine, and self-aware (all traits they’re seeking in a new hire). Now it’s critical that you brighten up the mood and put your game face back on. Make sure to end your answers with something like these:

• “Now . . . that said, [Mr. / Ms. Interviewer], if I was given this opportunity, I would specifically study-up in this area, research after work and on weekends, and I guarantee I’d be caught up within a month. I’m a quick learner.”

• “Now . . . that said, [Mr. / Ms. Interviewer], I’m fully aware of this, and I’ve actually already started taking some steps to gain more of this experience. This includes X, Y and Z. And honestly, that’s what I do when want to improve in something, I eventually get it done.

Apply these methods and you’ll be coasting through the rest of your interview!

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