So, you’ve got finally got your foot within the door at your dream company. You have submitted the right resume and made an enduring impression through the phone screen. All there’s left to do now could be to win over the hiring manager within the face-to-face interview.
As a well-informed candidate, you are doing all your research on the corporate and preparing your answers to an important interview questions you may consider — essentially the most notorious of all of them being: “What’s your biggest weakness?”
You do not need to reply, “I are likely to work too hard,” or “I’m an excessive amount of of a perfectionist.” That may easily come across as scripted and insincere at best and lacking in self-awareness at worst.
Alternatively, you don’t need to reply with weaknesses that can prevent you from succeeding within the role. As an example, in the event you’re applying to be a project manager, you don’t need to confess that you simply’re “not superb with time management.”
Fortunately, there are methods to reply this query that can assist you reveal your value as a candidate. Here, we have cultivated some incredible answers to the mainstay, “What’s your biggest weakness” query — and don’t be concerned, these answers aren’t “perfectionism.”
Best Answer for What’s your weakness?
Interviewers who ask “What’s your biggest weakness?” wish to understand how honest and self-aware you’re. Also they are searching for evidence that you’ve a drive to enhance upon your weaknesses. The very best answers to this query sincerely explain a weakness and supply an example of how you’re actively working on being higher.
Find out how to answer What are your biggest weaknesses?
- Select a weakness that is not going to prevent you from succeeding within the role.
- Be honest and select an actual weakness.
- Provide an example of how you’ve got worked to enhance upon your weakness or learn a recent skill to combat the difficulty.
- Display self-awareness and a capability to look to others to offer you the resources mandatory for growth.
- Do not be boastful and do not underestimate yourself.
1. Select a weakness that is not going to prevent you from succeeding within the role.
When an interviewer asks, “What’s your biggest weakness?” they need to search out out:
- Whether you’ve a healthy level of self-awareness
- Whether you may be open and honest, particularly about shortcomings
- Whether you pursue self-improvement and growth opportunities to combat these issues, versus letting these weaknesses hold you back
Ultimately, you’ll be wanting to make use of this query to reveal how you’ve got used a weakness as motivation to learn a recent skill or grow professionally. Everyone has weaknesses — your interviewer doesn’t expect you to be perfect.
Should you’re applying for a copywriting position with little necessity for math skills, you may admit, “I struggle with numbers, and do not have much experience with data analytics. While math will not be directly tied to my role as a author, I think it is vital to have a rudimentary understanding of Google Analytics to make sure my work is performing well. To tackle this weakness, I have been taking online courses in data analytics.”
A solution like this shows the hiring manager that you simply recognize your areas for growth and are capable of act on them without being told to achieve this. This type of self-starter attitude is a plus for virtually any team.
2. Be honest and select an actual weakness.
The reply “perfectionism” won’t cut it when talking about your biggest weakness because it isn’t an actual weakness. Perfectionism can never be attained — it is a fear-based pattern that results in short-term rewards like getting the job done early and exceeding expectations. Nevertheless, within the long-term, trying to realize perfectionism results in burnout, low-quality work, and missed deadlines. Burnout is one among the most important contributors to decreased productivity, turnover, and low worker engagement — all of which cost an organization money, time, and talent.
As an alternative, select an actual weakness. Underneath the will to do perfect work may lie a weakness of trust. Perhaps you do not trust that you’re going to give you the chance to make mistakes on the team, so that you strive to do every part perfectly. That is an actual weakness that you may definitely overcome.
3. Provide an example of how you’ve got worked to enhance upon your weakness or learn a recent skill to combat the difficulty.
Hiring managers don’t expect you to beat your weaknesses completely overnight. Everyone has areas they have to always work on to maintain them sharp. Consider it this manner — in the event you’ve dedicated six months to understanding, you will not give you the chance to stop someday and maintain your progress. It’s an ongoing process that you’ve to work at.
4. Take into consideration weaknesses in your individual personal life.
Should you humanize yourself within the interview, it’ll allow your interviewer to attach and visualize working with you in the longer term. It isn’t nearly weaknesses that pertain to the job. For instance, in the event you are an introvert and also you notice your preference for quiet time stops you from taking risks, this can be a relatable weakness. If you reveal your self-awareness this manner, it shows you understand that self-improvement correlates to work performance.
5. Consider where you want to be and what support you must get there.
Overall, growth is part of life. Take into consideration people you look as much as that could be related to the sphere that you simply’re in. Ask yourself what character traits those people have and what work you may have to do in an effort to get there. By providing an example of the way you’re working to enhance your area of weakness, you will give the interviewer a glimpse into a couple of positive attributes about your awareness, including that:
- learn how to discover and mitigate issues that come up.
- You have found a helpful solution to an issue that you simply and maybe others on the team face, which implies you may be a direct resource to the team.
- You reveal self-awareness and a capability to take feedback from others.
Most of the time, you are going to have to look outside of yourself to beat a weakness. Whether you look to your supervisor, the HubSpot Blog, or a mentor for help, the easy act of in search of help demonstrates self-awareness and resourcefulness — two skills which can be hard to show, but precious to learn. Tapping into your resources shows the interviewers that you may solve problems when the reply will not be yet clear. That is a personality trait that has a spot on any team.
Briefly share an example of a time while you asked someone for assist in an area that you’ve got identified as a weakness. This provides the hiring team a transparent picture of how you will work with the team to balance out that weakness.
6. Do not be boastful and do not underestimate yourself.
An important thing you may do when responding to the query “What’s your biggest weakness?” is exhibit confidence in your answer. (If insecurity is your weakness, keep reading.) Even in the event you’re not essentially the most confident person, I will assume you are not less than honest with yourself. Should you’ve identified an area of weakness and also you’re sure about it, let that assurance shine through in your answer. There is not any have to feel embarrassed about something you are genuinely not good at so long as you are working to improve.
Before you begin expressing a real weakness to your interviewer, get comfortable with the kinds of answers that make hiring managers wish to work with you. Take a take a look at the next examples and find a couple of that suit your personality and work style. Then, practice reciting them aloud in order that they come naturally to you.
Find out how to Discover Your Best Weakness
As we already mentioned, your answer have to be honest while also not jeopardizing your likelihood at getting the job. So, how exactly do you determine which weakness to speak about? Listed below are some suggestions:
1. Rule out any skills which can be listed within the job description.
Scan through every detail of the job listing and be sure that weakness is not included within the required skills and responsibilities.
For instance, say you are applying to be a senior product marketing manager. The job description says that the corporate is searching for someone who’s a talented storyteller, can interpret data and market research, and is self-driven and adaptable to alter.
Because these are essential skills for the role, you would not wish to mention them as your weakness. Doing so would make you seem less competent and risk your possibilities at getting the job.
2. Consider weaknesses that you’ve overcome.
While preparing your answer, reflect on what you’ve got learned and improved while working in your current role.
Speak about your early struggles in learning or improving upon a skill and explain to the interviewer what you probably did to beat it.
For instance, early on in my profession I struggled with analyzing and interpreting marketing data. With the intention to improve these skills, my manager mentored me and gave me weekly assignments that allowed me to practice data interpretation.
Inside a couple of months, I went from being a content marketer who was averse to data to at least one who embraced it.
3. Find inspiration by searching through old performance reviews.
Should you’re having trouble considering of a selected weakness example, read through old self-assessments and performance reviews. These documents provide examples of your strengths in addition to the areas you may improve upon, making them an ideal source of inspiration.
Depending on how long you’ve worked at your current company, it’s possible you’ll be reminded of old weaknesses that you simply now consider strengths. This could assist you craft a solution that shows your willingness to work on yourself.
Ready? Listed below are examples of how you may answer “What’s your biggest weakness?” and why they work.
Best Weaknesses to Share With an Interviewer
- Lack of Patience
- Lack of Organization
- Trouble with Delegation
- Timidity
- Lack of Tactfulness
- Fear of Public Speaking
- Weak Data Evaluation Skills
- Indecisiveness
- Harsh Self-Criticism
- Micromanaging
- Talkative
- Trouble with Work-Life Balance
1. Lack of Patience
Sample Answer:
“I do not have much patience when working with a team — I’m incredibly self-sufficient, so it’s difficult when I want to depend on others to finish my work. That is why I’ve pursued roles that require someone to work independently. Nevertheless, I’ve also worked to enhance this weakness by enrolling in team-building workshops. While I typically work independently, it is vital I learn learn how to trust my coworkers and ask for out of doors help when mandatory.”
This answer works since the weakness — the lack to be patient when working with a team — doesn’t hinder your ability to perform well within the role, because it’s a job that does not depend on teamwork to succeed. Moreover, you display an eagerness to develop strategies to combat your weakness, which is a critical skill within the workplace.
2. Lack of Organization
Sample Answer:
“I struggle with organization. While it has never impacted my performance, I’ve noticed my messy desk and cluttered inbox nonetheless interfere with my efficiency. Over time, I’ve learned to put aside time to prepare my physical and digital space, and I’ve seen it improve my efficiency levels throughout the week.”
Plenty of individuals have messy desks. This answer works since it’s a relatable and fixable weakness. You note that disorganization doesn’t interfere together with your ability to do your job, which is critical, but you furthermore may acknowledge it’d make you less efficient. To make sure you’re acting at 100%, you mention personal steps you’ve got taken to enhance your organization skills for the sake of self-improvement alone, which suggests a level of maturity and self-awareness.
3. Trouble with Delegation
Sample Answer:
“I sometimes find it difficult to delegate responsibility once I feel I can finish the duty well myself. Nevertheless, once I became manager in my last role, it became critical I learn to delegate tasks. To keep up a way of control when delegating tasks, I implemented a project management system to oversee the progress of a project. This technique enabled me to enhance my ability to delegate efficiently.”
This answer means that you can reveal a capability to pursue a recent skill when a job calls for it and suggests you are able to flexibility, which is critical for long-term growth. Moreover, you’re capable of showcase a level of initiative and leadership while you mention the successful implementation of a recent process that enabled you to achieve your past role, despite your weakness.
4. Timidity
Sample Answer:
“Oftentimes, I might be timid when providing constructive feedback to coworkers or managers, out of fear of wounding someone’s feelings. Nevertheless, in my last role, my coworker asked me to edit a few of his pieces and supply feedback for areas of improvement. Through my experience with him, I noticed feedback might be each helpful and sort when delivered the best way. Since then, I’ve develop into higher at offering feedback, and I’ve realized that I can use empathy to supply thoughtful, productive feedback.”
This answer works because you’ve got explained the way you were capable of turn a weakness right into a strength through real-world experience. Typically, timidity might be seen as a flaw within the workplace, particularly if a job requires someone to supply feedback to others. On this case, you are capable of reveal how timidity might be used as a strength, through thoughtful reflection and practice.
5. Lack of Tactfulness
Sample Answer:
“My blunt, straightforward nature has allowed me to succeed through the years as a team manager, because I’m capable of get things done efficiently, and folks often appreciate my honesty. Nevertheless, I’ve recognized my bluntness doesn’t at all times serve my employees well once I’m delivering feedback. To combat this, I’ve worked to develop empathy and deeper relationships with those I manage. Moreover, I took a web based leadership management course, and worked with the professor to develop my ability to deliver feedback.”
Oftentimes, facets of our personalities might help us in certain areas of our work, while hindering us in others. That is natural. Nevertheless, you need to reveal a capability to acknowledge when your personality interferes with the functions of your role, and the way you may solve for that.
In this instance, you first explain how your blunt nature means that you can achieve success in certain situations. Then, you mention that you simply understand your bluntness might be seen as a scarcity of empathy and supply examples of how you’ve got attempted to resolve this issue. Ultimately, your awareness of the way you is perhaps perceived by others shows a level of emotional intelligence, which is a critical asset for a team leader.
6. Fear of Public Speaking
Sample Answer:
“Public speaking makes me nervous. While I need not do much public speaking in my role as an online designer, I still feel that it’s a crucial skill — especially when I need to supply my opinion during a gathering. To combat this, I spoke with my manager and he or she beneficial I speak at each team meeting for a couple of minutes about our project timeline, deadlines, and goals when developing a web site for a client. This practice has enabled me to calm down and see public speaking as a chance to assist my team members do their jobs effectively.”
In this instance, you mention a skill that won’t applicable to the role, but one which you nonetheless have been working to enhance. This shows your desire to satisfy more business needs than mandatory in your current role, which is admirable. Moreover, it’s impressive in the event you can show you are willing to achieve out to your manager with areas through which you would like to improve, as a substitute of waiting in your manager to suggest those areas of improvement to you. It demonstrates a level of ambition and skilled maturity.
7. Weak Data Evaluation Skills
Sample Answer:
“I’m not great at analyzing data or numbers. Nevertheless, I recognize this flaw can prevent me from understanding how my content is performing online. In my last role, I arrange monthly meetings with the website positioning manager to debate analytics and the way our posts were performing. Moreover, I received my Google Analytics certificate, and I make it some extent to research data related to our blog frequently. I’ve develop into rather more comfortable analyzing data through these efforts.”
In this instance, you are capable of show your desire to go above and beyond a job description and actively hunt down skills that might be helpful to the success of your organization as an entire. This kind of company-first mentality shows the interviewer you are dedicated to creating yourself a precious asset, and take a look at your best to grasp the needs of the entire department, slightly than simply your role.
8. Indecisiveness
Sample Answer:
“Sometimes I struggle with ambiguity and making decisions when directions aren’t clear. I come from a piece environment that at all times gave clear and direct instructions. I had such a powerful team and leadership that I have never had much practice making decisions in the warmth of the moment. I’m working on this by leaning more into my experience and practicing listening to my gut.”
This answer works since you’re demonstrating that you may each follow a frontrunner and sharpen your leadership skills. It’s alright to not know what to do within the moment. Admitting that you simply relied on strong leadership shows that you may be a follower when needed, but knowing when to step up is very important, too. With this answer, you are showing that you’re going to step up if a situation calls for decisiveness.
9. Harsh Self-Criticism
Sample Answer:
“My inner critic might be debilitating at times. I take pride in producing good work, but I feel like I struggle feeling satisfied with it, which has led to burnout up to now. Nevertheless, I’ve began to beat back against this inner voice by caring for myself before and after work. I’m also learning to acknowledge when my inner critic is true and when I want to dismiss it.”
This answer works because your interviewer may relate; all of us have harsh inner critics. It is also effective because 1) It shows that you simply’re willing to work in your weaknesses outside of labor, not only during business hours, and a couple of) It demonstrates your inner critic could have valid points. Discerning when to dismiss it is essential to forestall burnout and increase productivity. Realizing how the inner critic may inhibit good work ethic demonstrates your willingness to grow and be an efficient employee.
10. Micromanaging
Sample Answer:
“I used to work in industries where I needed to cultivate a solid work ethic in my employees. This sort of training has been so ingrained in me that I’ve forgotten to discern who might have that coaching and who doesn’t. I have been reading books on effective delegation and team constructing to work on this shortcoming. One technique that works for me is assuring myself that if I establish clear expectations, then my team will follow. I’ve also learned to trust my team members.”
This answer works best in the event you’ve been in a leadership position before and are applying to a managerial role. Nevertheless, you may still apply it to past experiences where you probably did have to point out leadership. This answer shows that while it’s possible you’ll be used to running your crew or team a selected way, you are willing to confess when your method is not essentially the most effective. Showing your flexibility demonstrates your ability to grow.
11. Talkative
Sample Answer:
“I enjoy developing a relationship with my coworkers by engaging in conversation, and that is an ideal team-building skill. Nevertheless, I even have a habit of carrying on a conversation to some extent where it might distract other coworkers. I even have learned since then that there are other ways to attach with my coworkers, and that if I’m asking about their day, I want to maintain it transient and redirect myself back to my work.”
This answer works since it shows you are aware of how your talkative tendencies could also be distracting within the workplace. It takes lots of courage to confess that. It also shows you’re willing to develop a relationship with coworkers but not at the associated fee of productivity.
12. Trouble Maintaining a Work-Life Balance
Sample Answer:
“I’ve struggled with work-life balance, especially after I began working remotely through the pandemic. This increased my stress levels to the purpose where my productivity was at an all-time low and I didn’t bring my best self to work. Because I need to proceed working remotely, I’ve began adding more structure to my day and instituted a pointy start and end time. I’ve already seen improvements in my levels of focus during work hours.”
At first, this might seem to be a “strength” weakness — pouring yourself into work is great, right? Meaning you like your job. But when it impacts your productivity and your relationships with coworkers, that will not be so great. This answer works since it doesn’t just say, “I work lots, so my home life suffers.” It says, “I work lots to the purpose of burnout, and I’ve realized that I want to structure my day.” Should you’ve struggled with work-life balance issues up to now, it is vital to state the way you’re restoring that balance and the way it has impacted your work.
Suggestions for Talking About Weaknesses in Job Interviews
Now that you recognize essentially the most effective answers and best practices for selecting a weakness, it’s time for the hard part: Actually delivering the reply to the interviewer. Let’s go over some suggestions for answering “What’s your biggest weakness?” live.
1. Practice your answer beforehand.
Practice doesn’t make perfect, nevertheless it actually makes higher. While it’s not guaranteed that an interviewer will ask you about weaknesses, there’s a high possibility that they are going to. You wish to be prepared for that moment by practicing the tone and delivery of your answer with a friend or within the mirror.
There’s nothing worse than stumbling over an interview answer, especially for this query about weaknesses. It’s totally okay to stutter a bit — all of us get nervous — but you would like your answer to be as coherent and transient as possible. Should you ramble, stumble an excessive amount of, or return in your words, you’ll seem unprepared or, worse, such as you’re lying.
When you’ve written up your answer, be sure you read it out loud to yourself several times, then retrieve it from memory. Change your wording here and there, and know that it’s okay to improvise as long as the bones of your answer remain the identical.
2. Look the interviewer in the attention and project confidence.
Because you’ve hopefully practiced several times, this could come naturally, but we are able to’t overemphasize it: When answering “What’s your weakness?,” try to keep up eye contact together with your interviewer during a lot of the answer, and project confidence whilst you speak.
“Project confidence while talking about my weakness?” it’s possible you’ll ask. Yes! You wish to come clean with your most urgent opportunities of growth — not seem to be you’re cowed or intimidated by your individual shortcomings, or like your self-esteem has suffered dramatically. (Hint: It totally could have, and that’s okay, but your interviewer shouldn’t know that tidbit). You may take solace in that you simply’re not alone. All of us have weaknesses to work on.
You may increase your level of confidence during your answer by identifying the way you’ve been working on this weakness. The truth is, by focusing the core of your answer on the way you’ve already improved on this area, you’ll seem more self-assured and actualized by default.
3. Be transient and to-the-point.
We don’t wish to linger an excessive amount of on weaknesses; try to maintain your answer short, between the length of thirty seconds and one minute. Even still, only the primary statement should directly state your weakness, and the remaining of the reply must be dedicated to the tools and techniques you’re using to beat it.
Alternatively, it’s possible you’ll give a transient anecdote on what you learned from coping with that weakness in your personal life or at work.
Don’t think you’ve to over-elaborate, either. State, in as easy terms as possible, the steps you’ve taken to enhance. Your interviewer likely has rather more pressing inquiries to ask about your direct experience, and the reply to this query will not be as critical in the general process as all of us might imagine.
4. Understand the interviewer’s goal.
Your interviewer’s goal will not be to intimidate you, scare you, or create a “gotcha!” moment. They’re also not seeking to disqualify you based in your answer. The “What’s your biggest weakness?” query is solely one other way for interviewers to get to know your soft personal and skilled attributes.
They’re not looking to search out out that you simply “totally suck” on the job you applied for — in the event you applied, you’re likely qualified. They’re also not looking to search out out about your hard skilled skills and attributes; other questions are higher suited to that. Reasonably, they need to know if you’ve enough self-awareness to discover your opportunities for growth. Do you’ve poise when speaking about your weakness? Do you gracefully accept feedback?
Including anecdotes about previous feedback you’ve received, projecting confidence, and making it clear that you simply’re taking steps to enhance will likely be enough to fly with high marks during this query.
5. Don’t stress an excessive amount of over your answer.
Excellent news: Hiring decisions don’t come all the way down to your answer to “What’s your weakness?” Shocking, I do know! Sometimes it looks as if it, because it may feel like such a loaded query.
Not to fret: You may rest easy. So long as you’re honest and state the way you’re attempting to improve, this query will likely be low in your interviewer’s notes, unless you lie about your weakness, use a “fake” weakness comparable to “I’m too organized,” or just evade the query entirely.
Even in the event you stutter somewhat bit, you’ll be okay. So, calm down, make sure in your answer, stay self-aware, and easily take it as a part of the conversation between you and the interviewer. The opposite questions regarding your skills and the way you might help their company are much, rather more critical to their hiring decision.
6. Showcase your personality while keeping it skilled.
Is humor your style? How about dry wit? You may introduce a few of that in this query, but only frivolously, and only after you’ve gauged the corporate’s culture and examined the interviewer’s personality. Should you’re interviewing for a highly corporate job, we recommend keeping humor to a minimum. But irrespective of what, you may at all times show your personality in your inflection, tone, and delivery.
Take, as an illustration:
“, I’ve had such a tough time with [X] up to now, but I’m grateful to my previous managers, who gave me useful feedback once I began my profession. Now, I’m ‘thriving.’ Each day, I do [Y] to enhance upon that skill. It was such a pain point for me, but I’ve improved tremendously and have been lucky enough to have a powerful support system every step of the way in which.”
Compare that with:
“I won’t lie. I struggle with [X] sometimes. Fortunately, I’ve picked up [Y] to work on it, and like all recent learning experience, it’s been eye-opening and humbling. I’ve improved in [Z] areas — not a lot that it might be first on my list of skills, but perhaps second or third. Either way, I’m blissful to report I’m getting there and sit up for improving much more in the longer term.”
Neither of those is healthier over the opposite, but they each show different personality types, and you may do the identical.
There’s Strength In Every Weakness
No matter whether you are bad with numbers otherwise you tend not to talk up in group settings, there is a strength behind every weakness. The strength is in how you’re employed to beat it. Leaning in your teammates who excel in those areas is an ideal approach to show that you’re going to work well on the team and that you recognize learn how to use your resources to resolve problems. Taking skilled development courses shows that you simply’re willing to work toward improvement. Regardless of which of those answers you share with the hiring team, they’ll be greater than blissful to assist you grow and exceed the expectations of the role.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
