Interviewing for your first job in Canada can be stressful for newcomers. You should practice your responses to frequently asked questions to reduce your anxiety and increase your chances of receiving a job offer. The question, “What is your greatest weakness?” may be one of the most difficult interview questions to answer correctly in Canada.
As a result, many job seekers struggle to formulate the ideal response because they are unable to comprehend why employers pose this inquiry. Although the question may appear negative, suggesting that it is only used by employers to eliminate unqualified applicants, this is not entirely true. We offer advice on how to respond to the question, “What is your greatest weakness?” ( and how not to respond) in a job interview in a way that demonstrates your strengths and positions you as a strong candidate for a Canadian job.
In job interviews, why do Canadian employers inquire about your weaknesses?
Even though it might seem counterintuitive to talk about your weaknesses during a job interview, this is a question that hiring managers frequently ask in Canada. Understanding why prospective employers want to know about your weaknesses is necessary to prepare an impressive response to this common interview question. Canadian interviewers frequently inquire about candidates’ greatest weaknesses for the following reasons:
To see how well-aware you are of yourself
Employers want to know if you can objectively evaluate your skills and abilities. In the Canadian job market, having this skill is important because it shows you, as an employee, what your core skills are and where you need to work harder.
To learn more about your personality
Are you truthful? Down-to-earth? Humble? Or are you seen as arrogant? The employer will be able to determine how well you will fit into the culture of the company if they find out about your personality traits.
To determine whether you worked to address your weaknesses
Everyone has flaws, but only a few actively work to overcome them. The employer wants to know if you are working to fill skill gaps and taking steps to address your shortcomings.
For instance, as a newcomer, you might not be familiar with some technologies that are prevalent in your field in Canada. Employers may be more willing to hire you if you can demonstrate that you are upskilling in your spare time or pursuing certification to become proficient in that skill.
To find out if your weakness could affect how well you can do your job
To be successful in the position you apply for, you will need certain skills and characteristics. For instance, regardless of whether it is specifically mentioned in the job description, the ability to communicate effectively will be a necessary skill in a sales position. Employers can use this question to filter out candidates whose weaknesses might make it hard for them to do their jobs well.
To test your mental presence
Can you turn a weakness into a strength by framing it positively? Employers in Canada want to know if you can find the source of your weakness and figure out why you struggle with it. For instance, is it because you set a high standard for quality and discover that not everyone can meet it that you have difficulty delegating tasks? If this is the case, you should try to phrase your weakness in a way that also emphasizes your quality consciousness.
Five examples of weaknesses during Canadian job interviews
It can be challenging to respond to the greatest weakness question, especially if you have never been asked it in an interview at home. Finding a weakness that both seem significant enough to mention and won’t hurt your chances of getting the job takes some soul-searching. One thing to keep in mind is that you should always provide an honest response to this question by pointing out any weaknesses you have. Having said that, the following instances of professional shortcomings might serve as models for you:
Lack of expertise in a specific technical ability
As a newcomer to Canada, you might have some skills that are used in your field here but not in your home country. Highlighting a lack of experience in a technical skill should not hold you back unless it is a crucial skill that will be necessary for your day-to-day work.
Nevertheless, you should always strike a balance by demonstrating your eagerness to learn and the steps you’ve already taken to develop that skill. Do you practice in your spare time take a relevant course or obtain a certification?
Management of time
Do you get too caught up in the small things or demand perfection from every task that leaves your desk? It’s easy to put a positive spin on this but keep in mind that deadlines are important in most businesses, so make sure to mention how you’re working to fix this problem. Additionally, if the job description describes time management as a necessary or desirable skill, you should avoid describing it as a weakness.
Multi-tasking
Through exercise, you can build the muscle of multitasking. Although juggling five things at once can sometimes result in missing one, it can be a useful skill. The majority of people, on the other hand, can easily complete the same amount of work by working on one project at a time.
If you struggle with multitasking, demonstrate how you balance your schedule to complete all of your to-dos and assure the interviewer that this weakness will not hinder your productivity. For instance, to focus on your work, you might prioritize it or divide your day into 30- to 60-minute segments.
Impatience
Watching other people delay work can make you impatient if you always follow timelines carefully. Although it is not a good quality to have in the workplace and can lead to awkward conversations with coworkers, being able to clearly explain what it is that makes you impatient and what you are doing about it during the interview can work in your favor.
For instance, are you attempting to conceal your impatience? Have you realized that not everyone operates in the same way, and as a result, are you more mindful of what you say in such a circumstance?
Struggling to say no
On the one hand, showing that you are a team player, eager to work hard, and eager to assist others can be demonstrated by your refusal to turn down requests. On the other hand, it might cause others to take advantage of your generosity or put you in a situation where you won’t be able to finish your tasks in time. Being unable to say no in such a circumstance can be a very real weakness.
It’s a good idea to emphasize that you want to work with your new manager to figure out which projects or tasks should be prioritized at any given time and that you’ve learned that taking on additional work can cause existing commitments to be delayed.
How to respond to the question “What is your greatest weakness?” newcomer interview question
To succeed in your job interview as a newcomer to Canada, preparation is essential. Planning your responses to frequently asked questions like this one is the best place to start. However, how should you frame your response to the question about your greatest weakness in the interview? And how can you respond to this question without hurting your chances of getting your first job? Prepare a strong response to the question, “What is your greatest weakness?” by following these suggestions. And receive an offer of employment:
Create a list of your professional shortcomings
Even though the majority of professionals, including those with lengthy work histories, have some weaknesses, not all of them should or can be disclosed to the interviewer. You should write down all the professional areas in which you believe you need to work more to improve before you can choose just one or two ideal weaknesses to mention. Also, it’s a good idea to learn about the Canadian industry and the skills that are in demand in your field.
If you have previous work experience in your home country, you may have discovered weaknesses that hindered your performance at that time. Or, more recently, you might have noticed a skill that is required or desirable in job descriptions and realized that you are unfamiliar with it or do not possess it. Write down every one of these flaws on paper. Your list can include both soft skills and technical skills, but you should avoid weaknesses that won’t affect your work life.
Check the job description again
After that, it’s time to work on getting rid of weaknesses that aren’t suitable for the position you’re applying for. If you want to know what skills the employer is looking for, a good rule of thumb is to carefully reread the job description and learn about the culture of the company. During your interview, you should avoid mentioning those—or your lack of them—as weaknesses.
Ideally, the flaw you choose should not be a necessary skill for the job you want to do. It shouldn’t even be valued as a personality trait as part of the team’s culture. If the information in the job description isn’t enough, it’s a good idea to talk to professionals in the company to find out what skills the employer values. Coffee chats or informational interviews can be a good way to make connections that matter and learn more about a company’s operations.
Choose an actual weakness
While reading a list of the “Top 10 weaknesses for job interviews” is a great way to start thinking, you shouldn’t be tempted to mention a weakness you don’t have just so you can easily respond to this question. Choose a real weakness because the interviewer may expect you to elaborate on your response and explain why this is a weakness of yours.
Nevertheless, locate a connection between your weakness and a valuable strength. For instance, if you aren’t great at creative design, you could talk about how you’ve been watching Photoshop tutorials and practicing in your spare time to show how committed you are to continuing your education.
Draw attention to the negative effects the flaw had on you
An open-ended question is always used when the interviewer inquires about your greatest weakness. Therefore, don’t just point to a flaw and stop talking. This is your chance to explain how you solved a problem and why you are a strong candidate for the position. You have the chance to explain why you think something is a weakness and how it has influenced you in the past (or how it might affect your work in the future).
In keeping with the creative design example, you might have been a social media coordinator in your home country and had to rely on a designer to change the images and text in social post templates several times a week, resulting in delays.
Demonstrate how you are working to improve it
It’s possible—and recommended—to end your response on a positive note, even though it might seem counterintuitive when discussing weaknesses. You might be pursuing a certification in a tool used by the company or have recently reached a milestone in better time management.
It is always beneficial to demonstrate progress in overcoming shortcomings. However, putting a positive spin on your response can also be achieved by demonstrating something you learned, such as an alternative strategy that yields strong results. For instance, you might have discovered and mastered a free tool that makes it simpler to substitute images in a design that is templated.
addressing the question, “What is your greatest weakness?” question
The best way to respond to this question is to tailor it to the position for which you are applying. Let’s use an example, to sum up the previous advice. For instance, if a job description specifies that attention to detail is a necessary skill, one potential weakness to highlight during an interview would be:
I sometimes have trouble managing my time because I get too focused on the small things and want everything to be perfect. However, at my previous job, I discovered that this frequently required me to work long hours to meet project deadlines, and at first, I missed deadlines on a few tasks. I was aware that I had to act or risk losing my job and my health.
Before the actual deadline, I started setting separate project timelines for myself, and that helped. In addition, I started keeping track of how long it took me to complete a particular kind of task so that I could make appropriate plans. I’ve kept looking for ways to get better at this, and now I try to strike a balance between things that have to be done and things that need to be perfect so I can focus more on the right things. Consequently, in over two years, I have never missed a work deadline. I frequently completed my work with several days remaining, using the time to assist coworkers or acquire new skills.
How NOT to Respond to the Question “What is your greatest weakness? in a conversation
This question is easy to miss, despite its prevalence in Canadian interview questions. In a perfect world, you should avoid responding spontaneously or using the same response in multiple job interviews. You should also know how to avoid answering the question about your greatest weakness, which includes:
Claiming that you don’t have any flaws
Let’s face it: employers are aware that everyone has weaknesses. As the first step toward improvement, Canadian employers want to see if you have the self-awareness to recognize your flaws. A statement such as “I don’t have any weaknesses” conveys arrogance, which is not a good impression in a job interview or on the job. Also, keep in mind that if you do land a job, your professional flaws will be exposed at some point, so it’s best to be upfront about them. In Canada, lying in an interview is unethical and can cost you a job.
attempting to disguise a weakness as a strength
In Canada, employers are looking for honest responses, and the majority of them are too intelligent to fall for fake weaknesses like “I’m a perfectionist.” If you can’t explain why something is a weakness, don’t use it as an example in your response to this question. Saying you don’t have any weaknesses is the same as trying to disguise a strength as a weakness. Additionally, the interviewer has probably already heard all of those responses. You run the risk of the employer thinking that you are arrogant or just a liar with this response.
Make a list of your weaknesses that could hurt your chances of getting hired
It is unlikely that claiming that you are not a good communicator will benefit you in an interview for a marketing position as a newcomer. Before your interview, go over the job description again so you don’t mention weaknesses that will probably cost you the job.
You should also investigate the skills that are desirable or required for similar positions. Make time for coffee chats with professionals in similar positions if you can so that you can gain a better understanding of their skills, personality traits, and technical expertise.
Make a list of your weak spots that don’t affect your job
While you shouldn’t mention a flaw that will send your resume to the don’t-hire pile, you shouldn’t steer too far from professional weaknesses either. A poor example to use in a job interview is “I’m bad at cooking,” which may give the impression to the interviewer that you are not serious about the interview or improving yourself. The flaw you point out should, in an ideal world, be related to your job in a way that doesn’t significantly hinder your performance.
ignoring any measures to correct the problem
Even though a one-word response to an open-ended interview question is almost always bad, it can be disastrous in this instance. Don’t just point out a weakness and move on. The person conducting the interview wants to know why you believe this is a weakness of yours and what you are doing to fix it. Highlight the measures you have taken to address your weaknesses and the advancements you have already made.
Getting your first job as a new Canadian will probably be a top priority for you. Getting ready for the entire recruitment process can help you land your dream job faster and with less stress. When the hiring manager chooses your resume, it’s important to be fully prepared for your job interviews. This means being familiar with the kinds of inquiries that are frequently asked during interviews in Canada and knowing how to respond to them most effectively. What is your biggest flaw? Is a straightforward and one of the most frequently asked questions in Canadian job interviews. A lot depends on how well you can answer this question in a way that demonstrates honesty, self-awareness, and willingness to grow.
