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What would you answer to what are your weaknesses and explain?
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Hi Alina,
I would recommend the following structure to answer this question:
- Say which is a "good" weakness, that is, a weakness that is not a red flag
- Say what you are doing to improve on it, giving a concrete example (eg, don’t simply say “I am working on it”, but rather “I am doing XYZ and ABC in order to get better in this”).
The main issue for many candidates is to identify the weakness to use in point 1 above. So, how can you find a proper weakness?
The best way to find a “good” weakness is to avoid standard answers such as “public speaking”. Instead, you can go through the following approach to identify real weaknesses:
- Write down a list of all your weaknesses.
- Eliminate those who are clear red flags in consulting (all those you may not be able to change quickly or ever – eg no fluency in a relevant language, no strong education background/ relevant experience – or clear problems in consulting – eg missing deadlines, poor communication with teammates, not being on time).
- Think about the improvements you can show for the ones remaining. Select the "best" three and apply the previous structure.
This should allow to have “good” weaknesses that would also show personal improvement.
Best,
Francesco
Hi Alina,
I would talk about an experience not so recent, where you recognized your errors and developed a structured implementation plan to never let it happen again
Best,
Antonello
Hey Alina,
Here's some pointers to help you think about areas for examples fo genuine weaknesses:
- Communication style: are you assertive (clear, concise) or passive; does your style change when you are with senior/high power people
- Managing difficult situations & people: how do you do this today & how can you improve
- Something goes wrong or doesnt happen the way you wanted: how do you deal with it? What areas can you improve at
- How do you deal with lot of information/data or very vague information: what can you improve
The tip is to dig a bit deeper into your life, school, internships, work experience and analyse what can you improve. Come up with genuine examples (avoid I work super hard, I am perfectionist etc etc) and practice storytelling techniques for impactful delivery in interviews.
Hi Alina,
Remember, the key here is two-fold:
1) Your weakness isn't really quite a weakness in the right context (i.e. I get too excited about things and forget to wait for my team, I get really committed/devoted quickly and sometimes forget to take care of myself, etc.)
2) You've learned (from some interesting experience) how to tame the weakness. I.e. you know when it happens, why it happens, and you have methods to address it...so, ultimately it's not even a thing that really happens anymore.
Some Prior Q&As:
https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/what-do-you-consider-to-be-your-weaknesses-4818
Hi Alina!
The important thing, when asked this question, is to mention:
- Something that might also be a positive trait under the right circumstances
- Something minor that wouldn't affect your future job at consulting
- Something that can be easily improved and you're already working on it
Be ready to be asked to talk about them in more detail and to explain them.
Hope it helps!
Cheers, GB
(editiert)
Hello Alina,
There are different good answers you could give (e.g. too focused on details, need to be challenged everyday not to get bored ecc). The important factors that you should consider are the following:
- Do not choose something that would raise a red flag for a consulting role (e.g. public speaking)
- Give a practical example and explain what you did so far to improve
- Link this weakness with what motivates you to choose consultancy (e.g. flexibility and challenge that consultancy offers makes for you impossible to get bored)
Hope it helps,
Luca
Hello!
This is a classic behavioural question.
You need to keep a careful balance, to talk about something that truly is a weakness, but not one of the "bad" ones (e.g., I get too involved and burn out, I am trying to speak up more with senior stakeholders, etc.)
If you want to deep dive and more examples, the "Integrated FIT guide for MBB" has been recently published in PrepLounge´s shop (https://www.preplounge.com/en/shop/tests-2/integrated-fit-guide-for-mbb-34)
It provides an end-to-end preparation for all three MBB interviews, tackling each firms particularities and combining key concepts review and a hands-on methodology. Following the book, the candidate will prepare his/her stories by practicing with over 50 real questions and leveraging special frameworks and worksheets that guide step-by-step, developed by the author and her experience as a Master in Management professor and coach. Finally, as further guidance, the guide encompasses over 20 examples from real candidates.
Furthermore, you can find 3 free cases in the PrepL case regarding FIT preparation:
- Intro and CV questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/introduction-and-cv-questions-fit-interview-preparation-200
- Motivational questions > https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/motivational-questions-fit-interview-preparation-201
- Behavioural questions (ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE) >https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/fit-interview/intermediate/behavioral-questions-entrepreneurial-drive-fit-interview-preparation-211
Feel free to PM me for disccount codes for the Integrated FIT Guide, since we still have some left from the launch!
Use the following structure for this question:
- Describe an actual weakness - it should be a weakness that doesn't raise any red flags, but a real one that has held you back in the past.
- Tell a story about a specific situation in which this weakness caused a sub-optimal result or frustration with you or the people around you.
- Then take a step back and describe what you're doing differently now to keep this weekness in check or work on it to eventually make it less impactful.
