Every time I’ve interviewed for a position in the apartment industry, I’ve dreaded hearing those five words. Of course, I’m human and naturally flawed but I’m in this interview to cast myself in a positive light. That makes answering this question all the more difficult.
How do you tell someone you’re not the perfect leasing consultant, assistant property manager, or apartment groundskeeper while still showing that you’re perfect for the position?
Turning a Weakness into a Strength
Surprisingly, this question can be your selling moment. There’s no better time during an interview to shine than when you’re asked about your greatest weakness.
Here’s the trick:
Turn your perceived weakness into a positive attribute that benefits the position you’re seeking. The real point of the question isn’t about your flaw, it’s about how you handle and overcome it.
Examples of Strong Answers
“My biggest weakness is that I don’t have much experience with PowerPoint or Excel. However, I’m currently taking a course to improve my skills and will be at an advanced level by the time I finish.”
“I sometimes push my team too hard. I like to work with a sense of urgency, and not everyone moves at the same pace. I’m learning to be more patient and trust my team’s professionalism so we can succeed together.”
“I tend to get too focused on one task and don’t always move on as quickly as I should. I overcome this by setting personal deadlines to stay on track.”
“I struggle with public speaking. However, I take on speaking opportunities within the apartment community to gain confidence, and I’ve improved greatly over time.”
And sometimes, depending on the tone of the interview, a touch of humor can work:
“I’m absolutely terrible at baseball – it’s really quite embarrassing. But with the way Houston is playing, who would notice?”
Reflect and Prepare
Take an honest look at yourself before the interview. What is your weakness, and how do you work each day to improve it?
The key isn’t to appear flawless, it’s to show self-awareness, growth, and resilience. How you overcome challenges says far more about you than the weakness itself.