Transcript

When an interviewer asks what your last manager would say you needed to work on, they're not just trying to determine your shortcomings. They're investigating something much deeper. You think you can dodge this one the same way you dodge the what is your weakness? Question, but you can't, because now they're asking what someone else would say about you, and that's a little more difficult to fabricate. Here's what a positive and a negative answer are going to look like in an interview. The answer that hurts you is a disguised strength. She probably would say that I take on too much because I care so much. A skilled interviewer has heard that trick before, and using it here is a sure sign that you're not being straight with them, even when they've made the question harder to evade. The answer that raises a greater concern is describing something that sounds like it's never been resolved. That makes the team wonder if you're still doing it today. The answer that works is honest, specific, and shows it's already been addressed. Your answer might look something like she probably would say, I used to jump in and fix things myself instead of coaching my team through it. I've gotten a lot more intentional about stepping back and delegating since then. That answer is legitimate. It's believable, and demonstrates that you can hear that kind of feedback without unraveling or pretending that it never happened. My name is Natalie Lemons, and I have over two decades inside hiring decisions as a recruiting firm owner. I teach you what recruiters know and job seekers deserve to hear. Download my free Secret Language of hiring workbook, the links either down below or in my bio depending on the platform. And if this helped you, save it for later, share it with your network and make sure you're hitting that follow button for more. What would your last manager honestly say that you needed to work on?