eGigHow to answer “What are your weaknesses?”
The interviewer is testing self-awareness and honesty. Everyone has weaknesses; they want to see that you know yours and are working on it.
How to answer
- Pick a real weakness that is not central to the job.
- Explain briefly how it has affected your work.
- Show the steps you are taking to improve, and the progress so far.
Sample answers
Use these as a starting point. Swap in your own experience and numbers, and practise saying your answer out loud.
I used to find public speaking difficult and avoided presenting in class. In my last year I joined the debate club to work on it and volunteered to present our group project. I am much more comfortable now, though I still prepare more than most people would. I would welcome chances to present in this role.
I have tended to take on too much myself rather than delegate. When I became a team lead I noticed I was working late while my team had capacity. I now plan the week with the team on Monday and assign tasks by strength, and I check in rather than redo work. It has freed up my time and helped two team members grow.
I am not yet strong in cloud deployment. I have mostly worked on the application side, so I started an online course on AWS two months ago and have deployed two personal projects. I am not an expert yet, but I am closing the gap steadily.
Mistakes to avoid
- Fake weaknesses such as “I work too hard” or “I am a perfectionist”.
- A weakness that is the core of the job, such as poor attention to detail for an accountant.
- Saying you have no weaknesses.
Practise for your job
Mock interviews with the questions employers ask for each job, a 2-minute timer and model answers.