Job Interview Question & Answer: Do You Have Any Blind Spots?

Job Interview Question & Answer: What Blind Spots Do You Have?

Why Employers Ask This Question

During an interview, hiring managers might ask a question like, “Do you have any blind spots?” While the phrasing is different, the real question is about what your weaknesses are. Employers look to your answer to evaluate your self-awareness. They also want to find out about shortcomings that might affect your work in the position you want.

How to Answer

Asking about blind spots might seem like a trick question to expose gaps in your knowledge. However, managers usually ask about blind spots to hear about your shortcomings and how you compensate for them. Be honest with your responses and give specific examples of times you’ve made a mistake in the workplace. Then, show your willingness to learn and grow as an employee.

What Not To Say

When employers ask if you have a blind spot, saying, “I don’t have one” is the wrong answer. Everyone has faults, so avoiding the question seems dishonest or arrogant. Also, don’t give employers a long list of weaknesses. Talking about bad habits is unprofessional. Keep your responses work-related and focus on less-than-ideal situations that you found a way to handle responsibly.

Tips for Answering “What Would You Consider Your Blind Spots?”

For some interviewees, the hardest thing to think about is what blind spots you have. You might have trouble coming up with weaknesses that won’t sound off-putting in an interview. Consider the following to help you think of blind spots from previous work, school, extracurricular, or other experiences:

If you have trouble saying no to people, and that’s put you in stressful situations, mention how you managed to balance your workload and get things done.
When you’ve lacked experience for an activity or a job, talk about how you admitted it and learned something new along the way.
Discuss a time where you had trouble asking for help and how you learned that accepting the help of the team benefitted you or the company.
If you’ve ever had trouble getting along with a coworker, explain how you dealt with the issue and how that made you a better employee.
A detail-oriented work ethic can get in the way of the big picture, so give the interviewer an example of how you learned self-control with your skills.

Sample Responses to “Do You Have Any Blind Spots?”

The answer you give to your employer depends on who you are since everybody has their own weaknesses. To help you form your response as you practice, read through the following sample answers to get some ideas:

Sample Answer 1 – Crew Member at a Fast Food Restaurant

“I’ve experienced blind spots in the past. My first job was at a bakery where I was responsible for tracking and packing orders. My memory wasn’t as good as I thought it was, and I accidentally gave away a few items.”

“Once it was brought to my attention, I created a system for myself of writing directly on the boxes so I wouldn’t forget to charge for anything. I always work toward doing a better job after recognizing an issue.”

Sample Answer 2 – Cashier at a Grocery Store

“Knowing I’ll be dealing with money, I want to make sure to avoid any blind spots when it comes to making change accurately. To practice, I’ve been using old receipts at home in mock transactions with some patient family members. I am confident that this will improve my skills as a cashier.”

Sample Answer 3 – Customer Service Job in Retail

“My biggest blind spot is making assumptions. I’ve worked in retail before and thought I could judge a person’s needs just by looking. After being wrong and missing key details a few times, I abandoned that as a strategy.”

“Now, I ask questions and pay close attention to what customers say so I can effectively assist them. It’s a much more rewarding interaction. Once I notice a problem, I work hard to resolve it.”

Stay Positive

Although interview questions like “What are your blind spots?” focus on weaknesses, you should approach them with a positive tone. Be confident in your responses. When talking about shortcomings, always follow up with what actions you took to correct your mistakes. Offering your solution shows employers you are a candidate that can self-evaluate and compensate for blind spots.

Do You Have Any Blind Spots?