Strong Ways to Answer “What is Your Biggest Weakness” in a Sales Interview
There are certain sales job interview questions that you can expect to be asked. There are also some that candidates dread because they are difficult to answer. One of the…
There are certain sales job interview questions that you can expect to be asked. There are also some that candidates dread because they are difficult to answer.
One of the most common and difficult job interview questions you hear today is, “What is your biggest weakness?” You can expect most interviewers and sales recruiters to ask this question, so be prepared to answer it effectively. Here we’ve outlined the reasons why the question gets asked and strategies to formulate a good answer to this difficult question.
Why Interviewers Ask the Question
Interviewers ask this question during sales interviews because it is challenging to answer. They want to see how creative you will be with your response. Did you put some thought into it, or did you use a canned answer that you can find online?
Many interviewers actually want to learn about your potential weaknesses and make sure they are not things that cannot be overcome. They want to make sure a weakness wouldn’t impact your ability to do the job.
How to Answer “What Is Your Biggest Weakness?”
There are right ways and wrong ways to answer this question. Follow these tips to come up with a good answer to this question:
- Avoid the typical answer: Saying that you are too hard on yourself or that you are a perfectionist is not a good answer. These are the typical answers interviewers hear all the time.
- Be honest: Offering a genuine answer will be refreshing for the interviewer to hear. It is pretty obvious when you recite a made up answer that you found online.
- State an actual weakness: Explain an actual weakness that you currently have. This will allow you to speak freely about it, provide examples of how it has hindered you, and how you can benefit from improvements in this area.
- Explain what you are doing to improve it: We all have shortcomings. Interviewers know this. Explaining what actions you are taking to overcome your weaknesses shows your self-awareness and drive to improve.
More Advice From Sales Recruiters for Approaching Sales Interviews
Looking for more resources to help you prepare for your next sales job interview? Check out these informative blog posts from our experienced sales recruiters:
What’s THE BEST Way to Prepare for Your Sales Interview?
How to Explain Leaving a Job on Bad Terms During Your Sales Interview
4 Ways to Walk Out of Your Sales Interview with Class
SalesForce Search is a sales recruiting company which specializes in the recruitment and placement of sales professionals. We recruit salespeople in every sector of the economy including, software, manufacturing, financial services and medical devices. Find the right salesperson for your organization, start your search here.
Claire McConnachie
Claire has 4+ years of experience in sales and recruitment. As a Director of Client Services, her main objective is to connect great people to great companies by building strong relationships with both top clients and candidates in the sales industry. She specializes in sales roles of all seniority levels for both enterprise and start-up clients North American wide. When Claire isn't networking with top talent, she enjoys being outdoors, traveling and spending time with friends & family.
