TheApple

What are your biggest weaknesses?

What are your biggest weaknesses?

Your response could include something that may have been a challenge in the past, and you have taken steps to rectify the problem. It is also important to be honest, they will be testing your honesty … and they also want to see what concerns they should be aware of. The key to answering the question is to turn a negative into a positive.

I don’t suggest using that traditional, “I’m a perfectionist”, as it is often overused, and will tend to sound phony. It is also important that you don’t get defensive and try to justify why you are weak in a particular subject area, such as social studies. This would make a bad impression, because it may be relevant to the position that you are seeking. Whatever you decide to use, ensure it is not one of the key skills of the position you are seeking. In other words, don’t pinpoint classroom discipline and/management or subject area.

==

==

Think of this question as an opportunity to sell yourself. Here is an example: You wouldn’t say, “I have a difficult time organizing my day.” Instead, rephrase the answer by saying. “There are so many creative activities I plan for my students and class time is limited. It is difficult to incorporate all of the activities that I would like my students to learn from. Overtime, I have realized to prioritize what lessons are the most important to enhance my student learning. I now realize that I can’t do everything I would like to.”

The above example shows you are excited about designing new and creative lessons for your students. In their mind, this will not be a negative. It will position you that much closer to getting a job offer.

Continue to Question 2: How Do You Handle Classroom Discipline?

Return to How to Handle the 6 Toughest Interview Questions

==

==

==

© 2008, TheApple

---