How to Describe Your Weaknesses in a Job Interview (+ Examples)

“What are your weaknesses?” is a common interview question. It is also very intimidating for job seekers because it means confessing shortcomings to a hiring manager. How might your weaknesses affect your chances of getting the job? 

Employers want to gain a holistic understanding of you as a potential employee. Asking about your weaknesses is less about getting a wrong or right answer. They want to know if you're self-aware and how you're pursuing self-improvement.

This can be your opportunity to shine during an interview. With the right mindset and strategy, you can answer the weaknesses question honestly while presenting yourself as an asset to employers. 

How to describe your weaknesses in a job interview 

To prepare your answer to this challenging question, use this strategy: 

1. Identify a "weakness" or a growth opportunity relevant to the job. 

2. Identify how you noticed it or a situation in which it arose.

3. Describe the action steps you’re taking to improve this weakness.

Remember to choose a "weakness" that isn't a core component of the role. Public speaking and time management are common weaknesses that can always be improved. They tend to be easy to provide examples of past situations and ways you've improved since that time.

The following structure is helpful as a template for developing your response:

I used to have trouble with [WEAKNESS]. I noticed it when [SITUATION], and since then, I've been working to address this by [ACTION]. I realised I was improving because [IMPACT].

Variations of the weaknesses question

Some interviewers may use alternative phrasing to "soften" this question. That might include:

• What are some of your top areas for improvement?

• What are your professional challenges, and how are you tackling them?

• What would colleagues or mentors say you need to work on?

Sample answers to the weaknesses question

Below are examples of answers you can model to demonstrate your self-awareness, interest in finding areas to improve upon, and commitment to excellence.

Sample technical skills answer

“As a content writer, one growth opportunity I’ve identified is getting better at building the right information architecture. 

In previous writing positions, my short pieces have gotten great results in the form of new subscribers, followers, and even paying customers. But as I build longer pieces of content, I’m noticing that I need a better approach to structuring content so that people read to the bottom and take action.

Two ways I’m improving in the area of information architecture are: 1) taking courses in content writing, technical writing, and UX writing, and 2) testing the success of my own blog content.”  

Sample interpersonal skills answer.

“I’d like to improve at reaching out for help and asking questions when I get stuck. 

In previous roles, I often attempted to work through challenges independently because I didn’t want to reveal gaps in my training or skill set. This would often make tasks and projects longer than if I’d contacted a colleague or manager with my questions. 

One way I’m getting better at asking for help is by reserving time each week to list my challenges and then reach out immediately to people who can help.”

Sample workplace skills answer.

“One area for improvement is sticking to my own priorities and deadlines while also being available to support colleagues. 

In previous roles, I’ve felt compelled to help colleagues with their tasks, even when my deadlines are looming, to find workplace allies. This has resulted in having to work really fast on my projects and, in some cases, skip important steps to meet deadlines.

I’ve been working on this by identifying priority projects and tasks and scheduling calendar notifications. I’ve also composed an email template to use when letting colleagues know when I can offer help once I’ve met my own deadlines.” 

Examples of weaknesses for a job interview

If you're  unsure about  which "weaknesses" to prepare responses for your upcoming job interview, the following are a few good examples you can consider:

• Perfectionism

• Fear of public speaking

• Self-doubt or  insecurity

• Disorganised

• Procrastination 

• Falling short in delegating tasks

• Conflict or confrontation-avoidant

• Overly competitive 

• Risk-averse

• Sensitive or emotional

• Overthinking

• Impatient

• Extreme introversion or extroversion

• Limited experience in a skill or software (be sure this is not essential to the job)

It might be a good idea to list two or three weaknesses and formulate answers using the template above. That way, you'll be primed and ready to tackle this question when the time comes. 

Tips for choosing a weakness

Below are some ways to reflect on past experiences to choose a weakness to talk about.

1. Reflect on growth opportunities in your professional life.

Identify growth opportunities that can help you perform your role, from skills you need to build to the productivity methods you need to implement.

Draw from these examples:

Opportunities to grow technical skills:

• Mastering the latest software in your industry 

• Improving your writing abilities 

• Learning data analysis 

Opportunities to grow workplace skills: 

• Practising active listening with colleagues 

• Paying more attention to the details of a task 

• Coming up with solutions to problems 

Opportunities to grow interpersonal skills:

• Asking for support 

• Motivating and encouraging colleagues

• Moderating difficult conversations at work 

Opportunities to improve productivity:

• Prioritising tasks

• Optimising your schedule

• Focusing your attention on one task at a time

• Delegating tasks

2. Reflect on feedback you’ve received. 

Look back on the jobs you’ve had, classes you’ve taken, or teams you’ve collaborated with to achieve a goal. Write down how mentors, managers, teachers, and colleagues evaluated your performance. 

For example, team members may have asked you to communicate with them more often when issues arose. Or perhaps there were tasks you could have completed more skillfully.  

Write down what you learned from this feedback and how you implemented it. How might there still be room for improvement in these areas? Who can you ask in your current network to offer constructive feedback?

3. Prioritise actionable growth opportunities. 

Highlight the growth opportunities you can easily take concrete action to improve upon. That way, when it comes time to answer the weakness question in your interview, you’ll be able to demonstrate the growth opportunity and your growth potential as a professional. 

For example, you can take courses to build new technical skills or join a discussion group to improve verbal communication skills. 

4. Narrow down your list of weaknesses.

Select weaknesses from your list that will best present you as an asset to the company you’re interested in working for. Consider these strategies for narrowing down your list:

Use this question as an opportunity to shine.

Exclude examples of overused weakness, such as being a perfectionist or a workaholic. Interviewers hear these answers often. Instead, take this opportunity to demonstrate your ability to self-reflect more deeply.

Next steps 

As you continue your career path and interview for new positions, you might find keeping a list of growth opportunities useful.

Periodically ask yourself: What can I do to learn more and improve? How might I apply my knowledge to my personal and professional life? That way, you can have ready-made answers to the weakness question and adopt a growth mindset. 

Coursera Plus offers hundreds of courses and Professional Certificates that you can use to boost your skill set and advance your career. Begin your journey with Lesson | Get Ready for the Interview the Georgia Institute of Technology offers.

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