How to answer
“What are your greatest weaknesses?”
How to answer it
When answering this question, choose a genuine weakness that you have been working to improve. Avoid mentioning weaknesses that are critical to the job's core responsibilities. Instead, focus on a minor area where you have made progress. Explain the steps you are taking to improve and how these efforts have helped you in your professional development. For example, 'One of my weaknesses is public speaking. I realized it was affecting my ability to communicate effectively in meetings, so I enrolled in a public speaking course and have been practicing regularly. This has significantly improved my confidence and presentation skills.'
What a strong answer includes
- •Identifies a genuine weakness that is relevant to the job role.
- •Describes specific actions taken to improve or manage this weakness.
- •Shows a positive attitude towards personal growth and learning.
- •Demonstrates critical thinking by reflecting on past experiences and outcomes.
Mistakes to avoid
- •Provides a cliché answer like 'I'm a perfectionist' without depth.
- •Fails to acknowledge any weaknesses or appears overly confident.
- •Does not offer any examples of improvement or learning.
- •Shifts blame to others instead of taking personal responsibility.
Why interviewers ask this
When interviewers ask about your weaknesses, they are looking to assess your self-awareness, honesty, and ability to learn and grow. They want to see if you can identify areas for improvement and how you are actively working to address them.