Whenever questions on weaknesses arise, they can inadvertently cause you to focus too much on the wrong things during the interview. Here are five common interview mistakes to avoid whenever speaking about this tricky subject.

• Don’t be self-deprecating

  Often in high-pressured situations, self-deprecating language can be used as a defence mechanism. In interviews, you want to be authentic and honest, but self-sabotage isn’t the best way of going about getting your dream job. Particularly if weaknesses haven’t been brought up yet, or it’s very early in the interview, with one study revealing that a quarter of interviewers make up their minds within the first five minutes of the conversation.

• Avoid the clichés

  Your interviewer has heard “I’m guilty of working too hard”, or “I care too much about my job” a dozen times already that day. These formulaic and unimaginative answers won’t help you to gain any ground, even if they’re true. If this is the case, and you do like to work until the job gets done, move this answer into the strengths section of your prep, highlighting your motivation and dedication.

• Don’t let your body language contradict your words

  Eye contact, posture, facial expressions, and other features of your body language will often say far more about your strengths and weaknesses than your words. If you’ve been highlighting how you’re a confident public speaker, but have yet to look your interviewer in the eyes, they will pretty soon put two and two together. More on Body Language Interview Tips.

• Don’t dwell on the negatives

  Even if you’re explicitly asked about the worst things about your last job, or the most challenging colleague you’ve ever worked with, don’t rant about the negative aspects, and instead focus on turning them into positives. For instance, the interviewer won’t be noting down how one time you had an argument with someone from your floor for not washing up their cups. 100% of employees have admitted to being annoyed in the workplace, so don’t fall into the trap of simply moaning about past experiences. Use this as a chance to focus on how you deal with adversity, rather than the reasons behind why you found it difficult.

• Don’t pass the blame

  Nobody’s perfect, and interviewers will be looking for you to take accountability for your past mistakes, rather than passing the blame to a co-worker. Again, put yourself in their shoes. Would you prefer to work with someone who’s constantly looking to shift the blame for their mistakes, or someone who admits when they’re wrong and learns from the experience? Interview someone that you yourself would like to work alongside every day.