Describing Your Weaknesses for Interviews

The interview question, ‘Could you describe your weaknesses?’ is, without a doubt, one of the most frequently asked yet challenging queries put forth by employers during an interview. This query can often stir a whirlpool of uncertainty and discomfort among interviewees.

The Myth: Never Reveal Your True Weaknesses

There is a prevailing assumption that to ace an interview; you should never lay bare a genuine weakness. Instead, the tactic often suggested is to cleverly disguise a strength as a weakness—such as asserting that you’re a ‘perfectionist,’ ‘workaholic,’ or ‘struggle to achieve a work-life balance.’ In theory, this strategy seems like it should be foolproof, right?

Many believe in this unspoken rule, assuming the interviewer anticipates such an answer. We fear disclosing a genuine weakness might result in immediate disqualification from the candidate pool.

Yet if this is the case, it begs the question: Why is this question asked in the first place? Is it inscribed in some elusive ‘interviewer’s protocol’? If both parties in the dialogue understand the ‘expected’ answer, what is the true purpose of posing this question?

Understanding the Intent Behind the Question

The reality is that this question, while potentially intimidating, serves a significant purpose. When an interviewer asks, ‘Could you describe your weaknesses?’, they are genuinely interested in your answer.

However, does this mean you should share that you’re intolerant, prone to panic attacks, struggle with accepting criticism, find it hard to focus on work each morning, or frequently daydream? The answer is an emphatic NO!

When asked to detail your weaknesses, framing your response in a professional environment is essential. Your social or home-related weaknesses are irrelevant in this context, as they are irrelevant to your prospective role, and the employer has no interest in them (or at least they shouldn’t).

As an intelligent individual conscious of your strengths and weaknesses, you likely understand your shortcomings and challenges better than anyone else.

Turning Weaknesses into Strengths: A Psychological Approach

Failures and weaknesses are inherent parts of the human condition—we have all experienced failure and harbor weaknesses (including your interviewer). It’s a fact of life. When answering this question, the critical distinction lies in our ability to learn from our mistakes, acknowledge our weaknesses, and demonstrate our commitment to improvement.

Approach this question with confidence. Identify a genuine weakness and articulate how you have worked consistently to improve it. In many instances, a weakness can be reframed as a strength.

For instance, a ‘talkative’ individual might excel in negotiations. Someone who isn’t overtly ‘sociable’ may be highly ‘focused,’ avoiding distractions at work. By describing a genuine weakness and illustrating your efforts to address it—or better yet, demonstrating how it can be an asset—you are likely to impress the interviewer.

If you claim ‘perfectionism’ as a weakness, you are unlikely to impress the interviewer; you risk compromising your credibility and reducing your chances of success.

When asked to describe your weaknesses, don’t dodge the question or hesitate to respond. You are expected to address it, not avoid it. Face the challenge and reveal a genuine weakness.

Avoid disclosing a weakness that is irrelevant to the work environment or one that could significantly undermine your success. However, strive to be honest and sincere. Demonstrate that you are aware of your shortcomings and actively working to learn and improve; prove that you are a valuable and serious candidate.

Potential weaknesses to disclose during a job interview might include:

• Tendency towards suspicion
• Difficulty accepting criticism
• Being overly demanding
• Being controlling
• Lack of humor
• Being overly sensitive
• Lack of assertiveness (particularly relevant for IT professionals, such as programmers)

Leverage Your Weaknesses as a Strength

Consider the “What are your greatest weaknesses?” interview question as an opportunity to demonstrate your self-awareness, proactive approach, and commitment to growth. It’s a chance to show the interviewer the ‘real’ you, and that you are on a journey of continuous improvement and success.

For example, if you tend to be suspicious, you could frame this as being highly detail-oriented and cautious, which can benefit many roles. If you tend to be overly critical, you could indicate high standards for yourself and others, which can drive quality work. However, you should also note that you are working on delivering feedback in a constructive and supportive way.

When you mention being too demanding or controlling, you can indicate that you strongly desire to deliver excellent results and are passionate about taking the lead in projects. But, you are also aware of the need to delegate effectively and trust in your team’s abilities.

If you consider a lack of humor or being too sensitive as your weakness, you can illustrate your high level of professionalism and empathy. However, you also strive to create a balanced work environment where light-heartedness is appreciated and where you are learning to manage criticism more constructively.

In the case of a lack of assertiveness, especially relevant for roles like programming, it’s important to show your focus and ability to work independently. However, you should also mention your efforts to improve your communication skills and actively participate in team discussions.

The key is to present your weaknesses as work-in-progress aspects of your personality that you consciously try to improve. Show your interviewer that you are aware of your weaknesses and view them as opportunities for personal and professional growth.

In conclusion, instead of fearing the question, “What are your weaknesses?”, see it as an opportunity to demonstrate your introspective abilities, growth mindset, and commitment to personal development. This will make you a more engaging interviewee and a more compelling candidate who is self-aware, honest, and constantly striving for improvement.

25 Sample Answers to the “What are your Greatest Weaknesses” Interview Question

1. Public Speaking: “I’ve always been more comfortable in one-on-one interactions and small group settings, but I’ve found that public speaking can be a challenge for me. However, I’ve started to address this by joining a local Toastmasters club to improve my presentation skills and increase my comfort level in front of larger audiences.”
2. Delegating Tasks: “I’ve sometimes found it difficult to delegate tasks, especially when I could complete them well. However, I’ve learned that effective delegation is crucial to team success and productivity. So, I’m actively working on trusting my team and assigning tasks based on people’s strengths.”
3. Perfectionism: “I tend to be a perfectionist and can spend too much time obsessing over minute details. However, I’ve learned to manage this by setting more realistic standards and focusing on the bigger picture without compromising quality.”
4. Impatience: “In the past, I have tended to be impatient with projects, wanting them to move along quicker. However, I’ve learned to balance this by using project management tools to track progress and keep everything on schedule, turning my impatience into a drive for efficiency.”
5. Taking Criticism Personally: “I used to take criticism quite personally, which sometimes affected my professional growth. However, I’ve learned to view criticism as a tool for improvement and growth, and I actively seek feedback to help me improve.”
6. Assertiveness: “Historically, I have struggled with assertiveness, often preferring to avoid conflict. However, I’ve come to understand the value of assertiveness in professional communication and am actively working on expressing my views confidently and respectfully.”
7. Time Management: “In the past, I’ve struggled with time management, particularly when juggling multiple priorities. However, I’ve been working on this by using productivity tools and techniques such as the Pomodoro technique and prioritization matrix.”
8. Overcommitting: “I tend to say ‘yes’ to many projects, which can lead to an overwhelming workload. I’m working on this by setting clear boundaries and improving my ability to evaluate the feasibility of deadlines before committing.”
9. Procrastination: “I’ve occasionally struggled with procrastination, particularly with tasks that I find less interesting. However, I’ve been addressing this by breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable parts and setting deadlines for myself.”
10. Sensitivity: “I can be overly sensitive and take things to heart more than I should. But I’ve realized this and focused on developing a more resilient mindset.”
11. Negotiating: “Negotiating hasn’t always been my strongest suit. However, I’ve been taking steps to improve, such as reading negotiation strategies and practicing them in lower-stakes situations.”
12. Taking on Too Much Responsibility: “I often take on too much responsibility, which can lead to stress. However, I’ve learned to delegate effectively and ensure that the workload is distributed more evenly.”
13. Being Too Direct: “I’ve been told that I can be overly direct in my communication, which might come off as harsh. I’m refining my communication skills to deliver feedback and ideas more tactfully.”
14. Technical Skills: “While I have a solid foundation in my field, there are newer technologies that I’m not as familiar with. I’m taking courses to update my skills and stay current with industry trends.”
15. Networking: “Networking has always been a challenge for me, as I’m naturally an introvert. However, I’ve been pushing myself to attend industry events and meet new people in my field.”
16. Multitasking: “I’ve found that I’m not the most effective when I’m juggling multiple tasks at once. I’m improving this by focusing on one task at a time and using time management tools to prioritize my work.”
17. Self-Promotion: “I’ve often struggled with self-promotion, as I prefer my work to speak for itself. However, I’ve been working on becoming more comfortable with sharing my achievements and contributions.”
18. Adapting to Change: “I’ve had difficulty in the past adapting quickly to change. However, I’ve been working on being more flexible and open-minded by taking on projects outside my comfort zone to build my adaptability skills.”
19. Conflict Resolution: “In the past, I have avoided conflict rather than addressing it head-on. However, I’ve come to understand the importance of resolving issues promptly and am actively working on my conflict resolution skills.”
20. Over-Analyzing: “I tend to over-analyze decisions, which can cause delays. However, I’ve been working on trusting my instincts and experience to make quicker, yet still informed, decisions.”
21. Patience: “I can be impatient at times, especially when working on long-term projects. However, I’ve been developing my patience by focusing on the process, not just the end goal, and celebrating small wins along the way.”
22. Fear of Failure: “I can sometimes be held back by my fear of failure. However, I am learning to view failures as learning opportunities and am embracing the concept of ‘failing forward.'”
23. Staying Organized: “In the past, I have struggled with maintaining organization in high-stress situations. However, I’ve started using various tools and strategies to stay organized, which has significantly improved my productivity and stress levels.”
24. Taking Initiative: “I have occasionally struggled with taking initiative, especially when I’m unsure of the outcome. However, I’m improving this by taking on more responsibilities and pushing myself to step up when opportunities arise.”
25. Asking for Help: “I’ve often found it hard to ask for help, preferring to solve problems on my own. But I’ve learned that it’s okay to seek assistance when needed, and I’m working on improving my collaboration and communication skills in this area.”

For more tips on describing your weaknesses for interviews, check out our YouTube video below: “How to Answer What are Your Weaknesses.”