Any interviewer who conducts a job interview would expect all possible things about you, be it your best or your worst.
Pointing more towards your worst qualities or your negatives is not only just to criticize you but to check whether those qualities can be ignored in the future or will it impact in some way in your future job role.
It is pretty tough to speak about your worst aspects or qualities in an interview but it can be made somewhat acceptable by the way you convey your worst qualities.
Remember the interviewer has brought you this far to choose the right candidate and to not sue any job seeker for attending an interview.
Read this post to know more about how to face the interview when you are asking about your worst qualities.
Tips to Answer “What is your Worst Quality” Question:
Every individual has different worst qualities concerning career. Having some negatives aspects does not mean you are incapable or not fit the job role you have pursued in your career.
It just requires good training before you face the interviewer on the day. Tips listed here are imaginary and it is the most common worst qualities any job seeker might possess. They are,
1. Be honest to an extent:
Whenever you answer your worst qualities try to not give cliché’s answers like “I am too perfectionist or I am a workaholic” kind of answers. Any interviewer would easily grasp that you try to make up your worst quality and you are not honest.
For example, if time management is your weakness, do not tell them you are always late, instead tell them you struggle to keep things on time and sometimes you fail to achieve it.
By this answer, you mean you are not a timekeeper but you work hard to change yourself. Hence, be honest about your worst quality but only to an extent.
2. Be positive even when speaking your negative:
Speaking about negatives or your worst qualities might be a nightmare. But remember, always use a positive tone even while explaining your worst or negative qualities. Tell the interviewer that your obstacle has never hindered your performance in the job and show each time that you are working towards your obstacle.
Like for example, you are an introvert and you are hesitant about addressing the public. Use positive words and tell the interviewer that you have always wished to be a public speaker and still you are overcoming the fear and trying to socialize to get hold of the fear.
By speaking this way, you have told the interviewer about your weakness and also your effort towards it.
3. Stick to very basic and too complicated qualities:
This is a very important tip for speaking about your worst quality. Even though you have altogether new or a complicated quality to be explained, do not explain it from top to bottom.
Instead, just speak about your basic worst quality. It is simply for not discussing a lot about it and allowing the interviewer to know more in-depth about you.
For example, you can tell that you are not a morning person, but still, you have a great ability to work night hours. But, not examples like I am overly ambitious kind of worst qualities. This will trigger the interviewer to get to know more about you.
4. Point only job related worst qualities:
Always stick to professional qualities and not too personal things. For example, you might be weak in some professional computer skills. That can be mentioned as your weak skills. But not personal stuff like I have no interest in maintaining relationships or like I forget most of my people around me kind of weakness.
Sharing professional weakness might also improve your relationship with the interviewer as sometimes the interviewer might also have faced the same issues in his/her career or he might have seen people with those worst qualities.
But instead, if you speak about your weakness it might create a negative impression on your character and the interviewer might judge your character. So, always stick to your professional worst qualities and not personal stuff.
5. Express your weakness in a way that can be a strength too:
In an interview, most of the time it is in the hand of the job seeker to proceed with the interview rather than the interviewer. So remember, always quote some worst qualities which can be your strength too.
For example, you can tell that you tend to be anxious and focussed on a task until it is completed and you cannot switch to something unless it is done. In this way, you mean you are very dedicated to the task allotted to you as well as responsible.
6. Show some professionalism and maturity while answering:
Body language is very important in the whole interview process. And especially it has to be taken care of more cautiously when you speak about your worst qualities.
There are so many chances that the interviewer might judge you with your body language before you speak. So do not slouch, or do not be too casual or giggle to show that you are cool about your weakness. Be a professional and have some maturity while answering.
7. Do not show your anxiousness on the face:
Yes, speaking about your weaknesses might make you feel low or lose confidence. But remember it is who you showcase yourself. So never shiver or show that you are worried about your weakness.
Try to maintain the same facial expressions that you maintained in the rest of the interview. Showing your anxiousness will only trigger the interviewer to ask more about your worst qualities.
8. Don’t apologize for your weakness:
This is one very important tip when speaking about your weaknesses. Never try to apologize for all the worst qualities you have mentioned. This is not because to show arrogance, it is because every individual has the worst quality. No one is perfect.
Once you accept, naturally you leave the interviewer a space to ask you more about your weakness. Remember you have not done a mistake to apologize. It is just the worst quality of you, mentioned in your resume.
9. Do not react a lot and tend to over-explain:
There are so many chances that the interviewer might deeply go into your worst quality and ask you more about it. This is not to judge your worst quality but to know more about you.
Like for example, if the interviewer finds time management as your weakness, the interviewer will naturally have lots of questions about your punctuality, the time you generally took to finish your project kind of questions.
So, in such times do not react or tend to over-explain. Just keep your answer simple so that the interviewer will get a clue not to drag upon your worst qualities.
10. Answer in a humble tone and not like you have done a crime:
Generally, in any kind of interview, the very first judgment would start from the tone you speak. Politely keep your tone but not feeble. The Humble tone of humility is necessary to show that you are a very adaptable person.
Especially, when questions point about your worst qualities do not change your voice as if you have done a crime.
11. Do not lose hope when are you are claimed to be rejected:
Sometimes the interviewer might trigger you telling you are not fit for the job because of your negative attributes mentioned. In such times, do not get panic or lose hope. Try till the last minute of your interview to change the outcome of your negatives.
There are chances that it is like testing you or worst cases it might be true also. So, do not lose hope, there are chances it might turn positive with your behavior.
Worst Qualities to Say in an Interview:
Being asked tricky questions in an interview is a very common thing. Every employer will have their assessable scale to analyze the traits of the candidate by asking such questions. The best part about such a question is that it is not bound to any typical niche work sector. Any employer or HR can include this type of question in their list of interview questions.
“What is your worst quality” interview question is mostly accompanied by a “what are your strengths” question. Both come under the same type of arc for the employers. It’s not about what answer you give, but how you answer and how you make it convincing.
Though every candidate scores maximum while giving out their strengths but during weaknesses or worst quality most of them tremble a bit. Now the one basic way to overcome is to prepare and rehearse well.
So be careful while answering this question, and here are a few answer examples that help you mark this question in a better way.
- There is so much to be learned and you are thirsty for it
- You hate making mistakes (including yourself)
- Help out people who have a low work ethic in completing their work
Conclusion:
Giving interviews can be very discomforting when you face lots of stress due to your worst qualities. Remember interviewer intends to get the best out of you even in your worst aspects. So, answer the difficulties in a very positive note.
Fortunately, you have to accept your best answers as they take from the worst questions you have answered. Your self-awareness about your weakness, how you handle tough times, your efforts towards changing your negatives consider as your strength at the end of the interview. Hence, forth remember to prepare well, and frame honestly your worst qualities to impress the interviewer.
Above all, remember interviews are to test your talent and not your weakness or worst qualities. Hope this post helps you to answer what is your worst quality question with lots of confidence and nail the interview easily.
