Tell me about your weaknesses!

"Tell me about your weaknesses" is one of the most common interview questions. But how should you respond?

First, let’s clarify: what exactly is a “weakness”? Typically, this question refers to personal characteristics. It’s about your preferred behaviors in the workplace and, more specifically, the behaviors that might work against you or your employer.

(Interviewers are rarely referring to technical skills or qualifications here, but if you’re unsure, feel free to ask for clarification.)

There are several reasons why this question comes up. Here are a few:

Matching

The interviewer wants to know if you’re a good match for the position. This means your strengths and weaknesses should align well with the role you're applying for.

• Example: If the job requires prioritizing tasks, meeting deadlines, and understanding the concept of "good enough," then being a perfectionist might become a burden.
• Example: If you find routine work boring, a role that heavily involves routine tasks may not be the right fit.

Self-Awareness

Different jobs require different personal qualities, but almost all employers seek candidates with self-awareness. This is because people who lack self-awareness can be challenging to manage, harder to collaborate with, and may struggle to accept feedback or grow professionally.

Not having an answer to “What are your weaknesses?” may come across as a lack of self-awareness. It’s important to have a well-thought-out response to this question.

Everyone has weaknesses—it's can even be the other side of our strengths. We are who we are, for better and worse.

• Example: “I’m quick and action-oriented, which sometimes leads me to overlook small but important details.”
• Example: “I’m very thorough, which can make it hard for me to let go of tasks.”

What makes a good response?

An honest one. Trying to fabricate a response to get the job is not a good idea.

Provide a balanced answer. Aim for about three examples, and be ready to explain why you consider these to be weaknesses. Even better, share a specific situation where one of these weaknesses posed a challenge for you or your employer, and explain how you handled it.

It’s perfectly acceptable to say, “I’m terrible at public speaking and never want to do it.” You don’t necessarily have to want to improve a weakness. However, if you are working on improving something, share that. It’s even more impressive if you can describe steps you’ve taken to improve a weakness in the past.

One common approach—though it’s pretty transparent—is to simply frame a strength as a weakness. This can be okay and, in fact, quite smart. After all, our strongest traits often have a downside in a different context.

There are more to be said, feel free to share your comments!