How To Answer ‘What Are Your Weaknesses’ In An Interview

Have you ever been asked the dreaded question, “What are your greatest weaknesses?” Imagine you have prepared for the common interview questions then the question of your weakness is posed. Will you deny that you have none? or will you confess your weakness? If you have invested in professional interview coaching services then you will know the best way to tackle this question.

 You know how tricky it can be to answer this question in a way that impresses the interviewer.

It’s a tough question designed to see how self-aware, honest, and capable of improvement you are. Answering this question well can be challenging, but with the right preparation and framing of your answer, you can turn your weaknesses into strengths.

So how do you answer this critical question? Let us dive in and learn how to ace this question with confidence!

1. Choose the Right Weaknesses to Share

You’ll want to pick an actual weakness that won’t disqualify you for the job. Avoid sharing things like “I’m lazy” or “I don’t pay attention to detail.” Instead, opt for weaker areas that can be offset by your other strong skills.

For example, “Public speaking makes me a bit nervous, but I prepare well in advance and get more comfortable with practice.” You could also say something like “Time management is an area I’m always looking to improve, but so far I’ve been able to meet all deadlines on my projects.”

2. Frame it as a Development Opportunity

Interviewers don’t want to hear just about your flaws – they want to know what you’re doing to improve. Share the weakness, then immediately pivot to the steps you’re taking to develop that skill.

For example, “In the past, I’ve sometimes struggled with multi-tasking under pressure. To address this, I’ve taken a course on project management and developed some organizational systems to help me prioritize tasks better.”

Showing initiative makes the weakness seem like much less of a liability.

3. Provide Concrete Examples

Don’t just name a weakness in vague terms – back it up with a specific example from your work history.

For instance, “Early in my last role, I found that delegating work to others didn’t always go smoothly. There was a mix-up with an order fulfillment that I could have prevented by providing clearer instructions upfront. Since then, I’ve developed detailed checklists and hold introductory meetings to ensure expectations are crystal clear on delegated projects.”

Including examples shows depth of understanding.

4. Quantify Improvements

Whenever possible, share metrics that demonstrate the progress you’ve made in developing that weakness.

For example, “A few years ago, public speaking was extremely difficult for me. I tracked my improvement and found that after 10 practice presentations, my nerves decreased by 25% and audience engagement increased by 15% based on post-speech surveys.”

Providing data makes the improvement real and quantifiable.

5. Acknowledge Room For Growth

Even with steps taken, avoid claiming a weakness is fully resolved. Show humility and ongoing drive to develop further.

Say something like “It’s still an area I want to strengthen. I recognize there’s always room for more growth with time management skills and efficiency. “

Mentioning about continuous learning maintains realism and motivation.

6. Stay Positive

No matter what weakness you share, maintain a constructive, solution-oriented mindset throughout the response.

Don’t linger complaining about the weakness. Instead, focus emphasis on actions taken to improve and belief in the capacity to succeed despite it.

Interviews are about enthusiasm and belief in your abilities, so keeping energy high is key to an effective response.

With practice and following some best practices, you can turn the interview question, “What are your weaknesses?” into an opportunity to showcase important qualities like self-awareness, thoroughness, and drive for growth.

Do you find it difficult to answer common interview questions? We have a solution that will help you. By investing in interview coaching services, you can prepare yourself for your upcoming interviews and increase your chances of winning them.