Applying for a Job: How to Turn Your Weaknesses Into Strengths, with Examples

It’s easy to focus on our weaknesses. After all, they are the areas of our lives that we are most aware of and that cause us the most difficulty.

But what if we could turn our weaknesses into strengths? What if we could use them as a foundation for building a successful career?

With the right strategies in place, job seekers can turn their weaknesses into strengths and land their dream job.

How to turn your weaknesses into strengths to find a job

• Take a personal inventory of your weaknesses
• Celebrate your strengths
• Seek feedback from those you trust and respect
• Nurture a growth mindset 
• Prioritize your weaknesses
• Make time to learn new skills to improve upon your weaknesses
• Step outside your comfort zone to face your weaknesses
• Ask for help when you need it
• Learn how to talk about your weaknesses in interviews

Take a personal inventory of your weaknesses

Take some time to perform a personal and professional SWOT Analysis. This will help you to inventory your weaknesses and understand how they might be viewed by potential employers.

It can also help you to be more honest with yourself about where your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities for improvement, and Threats to achieving your goals.

Celebrate your strengths

While it’s important to acknowledge your weaknesses, it’s also important to focus on and celebrate your strengths to build confidence in yourself and your abilities as you move forward in your growth and evolution.

Your strengths are what make you unique and they are the foundation on which you can build a successful career.

Seek feedback from those you trust and respect

One of the best ways to get an accurate assessment of your weaknesses is to seek feedback from those you trust and respect.

This could be a friend, family member, mentor, or even a professional coach. The important thing is that you choose someone whose opinion you value and who will give you honest feedback.

Nurture a growth mindset 

When it comes to our weaknesses, it’s important to nurture a growth mindset. This means that we view our weaknesses as areas for improvement rather than insurmountable obstacles.

With a growth mindset, we understand that our abilities and intelligence are not fixed traits. We can develop them over time with effort and practice.

Prioritize your weaknesses

Once you have taken inventory of your weaknesses, it’s time to prioritize them. Not all weaknesses are created equal and some will have a greater impact on your ability to succeed than others.

Focus on the weaknesses that are most likely to hold you back from achieving your goals, put a plan in place to address them, and work on them one at a time.

Make time to learn new skills to improve upon your weaknesses

In order to turn your weaknesses into strengths, you will need to make time to learn new skills. This could involve taking courses, attending workshops, or simply doing some research on your own.

Whatever route you choose, be sure to dedicate some time each week to learning and growing in the areas where you are weakest.

Step outside your comfort zone to face your weaknesses

One of the best ways to overcome your weaknesses is to step outside your comfort zone and face them head-on.

This could involve taking on new challenges at work, volunteering for projects that are outside of your normal scope, or simply saying “yes” more often when opportunities arise.

Ask for help when you need it

There is no shame in admitting that you need help. In fact, asking for help is a strength in and of itself.

When you’re struggling with a weakness, reach out to those around you and ask for their assistance. This could be a colleague, friend, or family member.

Learn how to talk about your weaknesses in interviews

When it comes to interviews, it’s important to be prepared to talk about your weaknesses.

This doesn’t mean that you should share every single one of your flaws, but you should be prepared to discuss a few in a way that is positive and self-aware.

For example, you could talk about a time when you overcame a difficult challenge or how you’re working to improve upon a particular skill.

Examples of weaknesses that can be turned into strengths 

Turning active listening from a weakness to a strength

If you’re not a great listener, it can be easy to become overwhelmed or miss important details. This is especially true in fast-paced environments or when there are multiple people talking at the same time.

To turn this weakness into a strength, make an effort to really focus when others are speaking. Repeat back what you’ve heard to ensure that you understand, and ask questions if you need clarification.

Turning time management from a weakness to a strength

If you’re someone who struggles to stay on top of deadlines or often feels overwhelmed by your to-do list, time management is an area you can focus on.

There are a number of ways to improve your time management skills, such as creating a daily schedule, setting priorities, and delegating tasks when possible.

Turning stress management from a weakness to a strength

If you’re someone who tends to get easily frazzled or stressed out, learning how to better manage your stress is key.

There are a number of ways to do this, such as taking breaks throughout the day, practicing meditation or mindfulness, and getting regular exercise.

Turning conflict resolution from a weakness to a strength

If you have a difficult time handling conflict, it can be helpful to learn some basic conflict resolution skills.

Some things you can do include staying calm, listening to the other person’s perspective, and being willing to compromise. You can even consider taking a conflict resolution course.

Turning attention to detail from a weakness to a strength

If you’re someone who tends to gloss over details or make mistakes, paying closer attention to detail is important.

This could involve proofreading your work before you submit it, taking more time to complete tasks, or breaking down large projects into smaller steps.

Turning written communication from a weakness to a strength

If you’re not a great writer, hone your skills by reading more often, practicing writing in a journal, or taking a class.

You can also try using bullet points or lists to make your writing more concise and easier to read.

Turning teamwork from a weakness to a strength

If you’re not a natural team player, there are a few things you can do to improve.

First, try to be more communicative and collaborative when working on projects. Secondly, make an effort to get to know your team members and build relationships with them.

Finally, be willing to step up and take on leadership roles when needed.

Turning flexibility from a weakness to a strength

If you’re someone who prefers things to be done a certain way or has trouble adapting to change, it’s important to work on being more flexible.

One way to do this is to practice thinking outside the box and coming up with creative solutions. You can also try to take on new challenges or take courses to learn new skills.

Turning delegation from a weakness to a strength

If you’re someone who likes to be in control or has trouble trusting others, delegation can be a difficult skill to learn.

However, it’s important to delegate tasks when possible in order to free up your time and energy for more important things. When delegating, make sure to choose someone you trust and provide clear instructions.

Turning decision-making from a weakness to a strength

If you’re someone who has trouble making decisions, it’s important to take the time to weigh all your options and consider the pros and cons.

You can also try to get input from others before making a decision. When in doubt, trust your gut instinct.

Turning your weaknesses into strengths to land your dream job

By taking the time to understand your weaknesses and learning how to turn them into strengths, you will be well on your way to landing your dream job.

Last but not least, it’s important to be patient with yourself as you work to turn your weaknesses into strengths. Change takes time and there will be setbacks along the way.

But if you stay focused on your goals, continue to put in the effort, and celebrate your progress along the way, you will eventually achieve the success you’re working toward.

More articles about job searching and industry trends:

• How to Ace an Online or Virtual Interview: Tips for Success
• Interview Tips for Introverts: How to Ace Your Interview
• How to Write a Resume When You Have No Work Experience
• Cliche Interview Answers to Avoid & What to Say Instead
• 7 Things to Never Say to a Recruiter When Looking for a Job
• The 9 Workplace Soft Skills Most Valued By Employers
• Best Questions to Ask to Impress Hiring Managers