What are your weaknesses?

This is a very common interview question for many jobs across industries. Most people feel Answering strengths is easy but weaknesses is difficult. If approached the right way this question will give you chance to build trust. You have 3 options/approaches to answer this question. 

1. Deny having any weaknesses. This approach is least common and surely not the way to go.

2. Spin a Weakness into a strength. Like, "I'm a perfectionist" or "I care too much"

Note - This is very common approach and some interviewers think you are not being honest. 

3. Give an honest answer (Recommended). Answer the question honestly without shooting yourself in the foot. 

E.g. My weakness is public speaking, I am working on it. Ofcourse make sure this is not the primary requirement of the job. 

What are your strengths?

Purpose - The question is asked by the interviewer to understand your key selling point and get to know if it is relevant and helpful to handle the responsibilities that the person will handle if hired.

Note - All Most all Interviewers/Hiring people in management who assign tasks and responsibilities feel that a person is productive in work if his strength matches to the responsibilities of the role. So expect this question in most interviews. Also, be aware Strengths give clues on your interest.

Approach - Pick 2 or 3 strengths and give examples for each 1 to demonstrate how you used it in the previous job or in life. You can identify Some of your strengths from below list.
Continuous learning
Problem solving
Multi-tasking
Self learning
Flexible
Team Player
Hard working
Like Challenges
Quick Learner
Self Motivated
Communication, Oral and Written
Process Oriented
Analytical

Pre-work -Understand the job requirement in detail and get to know in advance what are the responsibilities the role you are applying and accordingly pick your strength that is relevant to the role. It would be advantageous to know the problems are issues the company is facing and what was the reason for the opening. You should be prepared for this question. It is one of the most commonly asked interview question.

E.g.: Communication and presentation - Communication and presentation is my strength.
In my previous job, I was given additional responsibilities to present and facilitate project status meetings with executive management and team building activities across departments.

How do you handle stress?

Wrong approach -
Do not say you are never under stress or I hate stress or you do exercise and meditation to take care of stress. Focus strictly on professional things that you do.

Right approach -
A good response is to say that pressure helps you focus and maintain your drive and like to handle challenges. Explain that some of your best efforts are the result of stress and pressure. Also inform that when pressure gets too intense, you know how to handle it.

Example -
Stress and pressure are a challenging part of the job and i know how to handle it. I handle it by focusing on proper planning and reporting, better time management, open communication, Hard work and prioritization.

Why are they asking?

The interviewer wants to find out the following:

  -How committed are you to the career and the company
  -How much do you understand about the career path ahead of you
  -How passionate are you

Approach 
Research the job and the organization structure and relate your career plan and progression with the job posting and progression of the company.

Eg.
I would like to work hard and grow with the company to a respectable position with additional challenges and responsibilities and contributing to success of the company.

Please don't give these answers...
"Doing your Job"
"Working somewhere else"
"No idea"
"I haven’t thought that far ahead"
"Have a family"

Even if you like to work as a team or independent. Make sure you show interest in both, As most jobs require you to work both as part of team and independent.

In general, the idea is to say what you prefer without being negative about the thing you don’t.

Independently -
If you have done enough research on the job posting and mostly need to work independently then you can say something like “I prefer to work alone, but I find that occasionally working with a team feels creative and fun. Always felt, it is easy to solve problems being part of a team.

Work in a Team -
On the other hand, if your research says that your job requires working in a team then you can say something like "I like the dynamics of working in a team, but do like working independently when the assignment requires it.”

If you're attempting to give an answer that is as unrevealing as possible, try something like this:

  " I have been a dedicated,loyal,hardworking employee throughout my career and nothing in my personal life-family obligations, hobbies, or volunteer work-has ever affected my performance. Nor would I ever expect it to."