How to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?” with Examples!

It can be difficult to answer the interview question “What is your greatest weakness?” especially when you were expecting to discuss the skill set, talents and capabilities that make you the strongest candidate for the job.

Framing your greatest weaknesses in a job interview positively can prove challenging. You don’t want to respond, “I tend to work too hard,” or “I am too much of a perfectionist.” That can easily come across as scripted and insincere at best and lacking in self-awareness at worst.

Alternatively, you don’t want to respond with weaknesses that will prevent you from succeeding in the role. For instance, if you’re applying to be a project manager, you don’t want to admit that you’re “not very good with time management.”

Fortunately, there are ways to answer this question that will help you demonstrate your value as a candidate.

Here’s a structured way to answer the question along with some examples:

1. Acknowledge the Weakness

Start by acknowledging the weakness without dwelling on it too much. Be honest, but choose a weakness that is not a critical skill for the job you’re applying for.

2. Explain How You’re Addressing It

Highlight the steps you’ve taken to improve or overcome this weakness. This shows your commitment to self-improvement and your ability to learn and adapt.

3. Provide Examples

Share instances where you recognized this weakness and took measures to address it. Providing specific examples adds credibility to your response.

4. Emphasize Positive Traits

Connect your weakness to a positive trait. For example, how your dedication to improvement or attention to detail has positively impacted your work.

5. Keep it Professional

While it’s okay to show vulnerability, remember that the interview is a professional setting. Focus on weaknesses that are related to work skills rather than personal traits.

Here’s an example response:

Sample 1;

“I believe my greatest weakness has been public speaking. In the past, I used to get quite nervous when presenting in front of large groups. However, I recognized that effective communication is crucial in my field. To address this, I enrolled in a public speaking course and joined a local group. I’ve seen significant improvements in my confidence and ability to engage an audience. In fact, in my last role, I had to lead a presentation to senior management, and while I was still a bit nervous, the positive feedback I received afterward showed me how far I’ve come. I’ve learned to prepare thoroughly and focus on connecting with my audience, which has also helped me enhance my overall communication skills.”

Sample 2;

“My greatest weakness is that I sometimes have trouble saying ‘no’ to requests and end up taking on more than I can handle. In the past, this has led me to feel stressed or burnt out. To help myself improve in this area, I use a project management app so I can visualize how much work I have at any given moment and know whether or not I have the bandwidth to take on more.”

Remember, the goal is not just to talk about a weakness but to demonstrate self-awareness, growth, and a willingness to learn. The way you address this question can give the interviewer insight into your character and your potential as an employee.

Get to know how to answer these commonly asked interview questions by consulting our interview coach today!