Last Updated on June 5, 2024 by Sarah McCubbin
Whether someone is preparing for a job interview, or thinking about broader life goals, knowing your strengths and weaknesses is essential to making choices. Often times, these are asked for in job interviews or scholarship applications and teens and young adults have no idea what to say that honestly represents them.
As parents, we often focus on our children’s weaknesses. It is usually unintentional. Maybe they need OT, or PT or speech therapy. Maybe they struggle socially or get poor grades. We look for tutoring and coaches, and so many other things to support and improve their weaknesses.
And all of that is fine and good really.
But most successful people become so by building on their greatest strengths.
When my son Abel was about 7, we had an entrepreneurial fair at our homeschool co-op. The older kids brought things to sell. They set up tables with all their wares and families came and supported the kids by buying food and goods from them. Abel didn’t have a table. He didn’t have anything to sell. He was 7.
But that didn’t stop him. He used the few dollars I gave him to buy things from one table and then he would go around the room and try to sell them for more to someone else.
My brother who is an entrepreneur watched him and said, “Abel has skills that are hard to teach. He will either be an incredibly successful business person…or a drug dealer.” LOL! He could see Abel didn’t see his lack as lack. He saw it as an opportunity and he saw that Abel had chutzpah and creativity.
The truth is...he was struggling academically and having a hard time learning to read. Basic school work was very HARD and a daily battle. He would go on from that time to take many years to learn to read with brain training, tutoring and lots of academic supports.
But at the same time, he had amazing people skills for one so young!
In life, his people skills and persistence are going to be his greatest strengths that drive his succcess. Yes we support the weakness but he needs to know what he is really good at so he can continue to build on what he naturally possesses.
Table of Contents
What are Strengths and Weaknesses for Job Interviews and Life?
I remember being in my first job interview straight out of college without having a clue what that process would look like. When the manager asked the typical interview questions, “What are your greatest strength? and What are your greatest weaknesses?” he was met with a deer in the headlights expression.
I fumbled through the questions.
I didn’t get the job.
I had somehow thought that getting a job out of college would be easy. It wasn’t. I had a degree but not the communication skills, personal skills and critical thinking skills that an employer would want. And I was unable to articulate the valuable skills I did have!
When an employer or other interviewer asks you for your greatests strengths and weaknesses, they are not trying to penalize you for having weaknesses. They are trying to see if you are a good fit for the position. They are also trying to see how self-aware you are.
If someone says, “Well I really don’t have any weaknesses,” they will probably be a challenge to work with. But if someone is humble and points out their own weaknessess, that demonstrates an attitude that is much easier to work with.
Are Strengths and Weaknesses Just for Job Interviews?
No! Knowing your own strenghths and weaknesses becomes extra valuable in social situations, leadership positions, and volunteer situations. We were asked these questions when we became foster parents too.
At one point during our recertification, the social worker asked us our strengths and weaknesses. I remember saying that my greatest strength as a foster parent was also my greatest weakness. My strength was that I would fight for these kids and their best interests. My weakness is that my “fight” could feel personal and might come across too intensely with social workers, the foster kids and others in the situation.
Here is How to Answer a Strengths and Weaknesses Question!
Soft Skills Strengths and Weaknesses Examples
42 Strengths Examples
#1 Strength You Can Have
Easily the MOST important strength anyone can possess is to LOVE people. Because if you LOVE people, then from that place you will want to connect and improve what you are doing every day.
10 Communication Skills
- Speaking articulately
- Communicating clearly both verbally and in writing
- Active Listening: paying attention when others speak
- Conflict Management: the ability to deal with disagreements constructively
- Public speaking and presentation skills
- Persuasive
- Intercultural communicator – the ability to navigate different cultural situations well
- Diplomatic
- Networking
- Negotiating
25 Personal & Time Management Skills
- Empathetic
- Adaptable
- Stress Management
- Time Management
- Growth Mindset
- Resilient
- Creative
- Curious
- Excellent Customer Service
- Self-Motivated
- Honest
- Patient
- Responsible
- Organized
- Punctual
- Self motivated
- Financially Literate
- Trustworthy
- Delegating
- Self-disciplined
- Encouraging
- Collaborates With Others
- Self Aware
- Not Easil Offended
- Forgiving
5 Critical Thinking Skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Detail oriented
- Observant
- Analytical
- Decisive
59 Weaknesses Examples
25 Weaknesses in Personal Skills
- Procrastination
- Impatient
- Lack of self-confidence
- Overthinking
- Impulsiveness
- Stubbornness
- Perfectionism
- Shyness
- Disorganization
- Lack of assertiveness
- Insecurity
- Negative self-talk
- Poor time management
- Difficulty with criticism
- Fear of failure
- Lack of empathy
- Overly critical
- Difficulty in making decisions
- Trouble setting boundaries
- Lack of self-discipline
- Overly-sensitive
- Difficulty in handling stress
- Conflict Avoidant
- Being too self-critical
- Overcommitment
19 Professional Weaknesses
- Poor communication skills
- Lack of leadership abilities
- Resistance to change
- Inability to delegate effectively
- Lack of technical skills
- Inflexible
- Poor time management
- Difficulty in giving and receiving feedback
- Weak negotiation skills
- Lack of goal setting
- Inconsistent work performance
- Inability to meet deadlines
- Lack of attention to detail
- Poor public speaking skills
- Limited knowledge of industry trends
- Reluctance to take risks
- Inadequate conflict resolution skills
- Lack of strategic thinking
- Difficulty in adapting to new technology
15 Social Weaknesses
- Poor active listening skills
- Difficulty in building rapport
- Ineffective networking
- Lack of empathy in social situations
- Inappropriate social behavior
- Trouble in resolving conflicts within social groups
- Inability to compromise
- Insensitivity to cultural differences
- Difficulty in making new friends
- Tendency to dominate conversations
- Being overly critical of others
- Inability to read social cues
- Social anxiety
- Overly competitive
- Resistance to collaboration – lone wolf mentality
Knowing Strengths and Weaknesses Improves Self-Awareness
As a parent trying to raise my children and teens to be independent and confident adults, I have found that conversations about natural strengths and weaknesses have been extremely helpful. We talk about these topics when they are:
- Choosing classes at school
- Thinking about what to do after high school
- Interviewing for Jobs
- Talking about dating
- Navigating relationship problems
- Understanding their teachers
- Getting along with friends
- and so much more!
Sarah McCubbin and her husband and 9 kids live in Ohio. She loves talking about all kinds of education topics and is passionate about helping families find the best education options in each season! Socially awkward growing up, she loves to help families teach life skills, social skills and leadership.
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