Preparing for an interview for a senior level strategy role in industry, and struggling with getting a good answer to the “what are your weaknesses/AFDs?” question. For more senior levels, what...

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Compare your background to the role and pick one obvious gap...go with that weakness and how you plan to develop that area.

Interviewer will most likely already be aware of your professional gap/experience, and will be impressed with your self awareness and candidness. Then you can wow them with your plan to address the gap in the short term and long term

Always lead with a professional weakness, ones initial thought is to think of a personal weakness but in reality the right answer addresses a professional weakness or two.

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...would be a safe answer to give that reveals self-awareness and humility, but nothing scary?

+1 for this. I just moved to industry and was upfront that my modelling skills were more basic - don’t come from a maths background, so I’m competent but not as good as a financial analyst / investment banking alum. They were totally fine with this & it’s helped my staffing in my first few months.

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Additional Posts in Partner One

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