{"id":14461,"date":"2020-12-08T07:00:05","date_gmt":"2020-12-08T12:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/?p=14461"},"modified":"2023-11-09T12:16:36","modified_gmt":"2023-11-09T17:16:36","slug":"customer-service-interview-question-what-are-your-weaknesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.virtualvocations.com\/blog\/telecommuting-job-search-help\/customer-service-interview-question-what-are-your-weaknesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Customer Service Interview Question: What Are Your Weaknesses?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Updated November 2023<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It finally happened. You get a call to interview for that customer service job you’ve been hoping to get. But now you’re nervous. It’s been a while since your last interview. Or worse, you succumb to anxiety and flub your interview responses. But you are ready to Google your heart out and memorize your answers to the most frequently asked customer service job interview questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems easy enough. We are told over and over again to highlight our strengths. We are told to show interviewers our \u201cbest side.\u201d Put our best foot forward. Never be negative. Always be positive. And then that one question that has the potential to make or break a job candidate\u2019s hiring chances gets asked:<\/p>\n\n\n

\u201cWhat Are Your Weaknesses?\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>

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Of all the customer service interview questions that could be asked, this one seems like the easiest to answer \u2014 especially based on all the mainstream advice regarding interview answers. But this is not the time to take the easy route \u2014 simply because taking this path can backfire spectacularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why This Question is Vital During A Customer Service Job Interview<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Does this seem like a trick question? If you feel like this question can basically be translated to \u201cgive us a reason not<\/em> to hire you,\u201d you wouldn\u2019t be entirely<\/em> wrong. Job interviewers want to find the best person for the job. And specific interview questions simultaneously help weed out weaker candidates, saving the company time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean that interviewers want you to fail. If you’re called into an interview, something in your professional background piqued the hiring manager\u2019s interest. They want to hire you. So why do job interviewers drop such landmines during an interview?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They Want to Get to Know You Better<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A resume can give hiring managers an excellent overview of your professional background. Unfortunately, it says absolutely nothing about who you are as a person. Let’s face it; we all put on an interview facade. Job interviewers want to see past that. And yes, they want to see if you raise any red flags<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this question isn\u2019t designed to be a trap. Interviewers also want to connect and see if you actually have the skills and character needed for the job. Human nature dictates that employers will have a degree of curiosity about the person they will spend a significant amount of time with during the workweek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They Want to Know If You’re Capable of Improvement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No one is perfect. Hiring managers know this. What they want to know is how you handle failure. They want to see how you respond when facing challenges. Are you able to grow professionally or acquire new, advanced skills? If you can learn from constructive criticism and meet the milestones to advance your career, everyone wins. Not only has the company hired an excellent employee, but hopefully someone that can grow with the company as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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They Want to Make Sure You’re a Cultural Fit<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Cultural fit is vital because employers want to ensure that your personality aligns with the company or team’s core values. In fact, employees who fit well with their company and colleagues demonstrated superior job performance and greater job satisfaction<\/a>. For example, someone who works poorly with others isn’t a great cultural fit for a customer service team that’s highly collaborative. For staff required to troubleshoot issues, a lack of empathy or impatience with strangers is a disaster for developing a service-based culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ultimately, avoiding a bad hire from the get-go is more cost- and time-efficient. It’s also better for the job candidate to find a job more suited to their personality and values. Remember, this interview isn\u2019t a one-way street. You are interviewing the company as well<\/a>. Make a note to figure out if that work environment appeals to you as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why This Question Is Hard To Answer<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Self-evaluation is hard, mainly because non-judgmental self-analysis isn\u2019t easy. Moreover, interviews expose us to instant judgment from complete strangers, but the question of weaknesses does so at a deeper level. This question forces us to look inside ourselves and expose our vulnerabilities. More importantly, it opens us up to the possibility of rejection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fear of rejection<\/a> is often the reason behind job applicants avoiding new opportunities. If mishandled, fear is detrimental to career progression. Let’s be clear; no one likes rejection<\/a>, including the person interviewing you. But taking proactive steps beforehand is crucial to reducing the probability of an interview going sideways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What To Do During A Customer Service Interview<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Select Your Weakness Carefully<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make sure to choose a relatively harmless weakness. For a customer service job interview, make sure that some focused study or practice easily fixes your weakness. Lacking confidence with specific software tools or insecurity on the fluency level of a second language are good examples for customer service interviews. Make sure that you can discuss how you are learning from these challenges. Explain, in detail, the steps you are taking to make improvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to stay away from personal flaws or traits and remain focused on your professional weaknesses and how they relate to the role. Remember, it’s an interview not a confessional. Oversharing can derail your job candidacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Prepare In Advance For The Question<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your greatest weakness\u201d is sometimes asked indirectly. Interviewers may disguise it with a more innocent-sounding question. Be on alert for phrases that resemble the following:<\/p>\n\n\n