When you’re asked to share your biggest weakness in an interview, it’s important to give a genuine answer and share how you’re working to improve. I recommend a 3-step approach to answering this common question:
- Reflect on your biggest strengths and weaknesses in your current role. Choose something that will also apply to your new role if you get the job.
- Refer to the feedback you’ve received from managers and co-workers in the past. They may have already identified areas you can improve in.
- After choosing a weakness to share, outline what steps you’re taking, or planning to take, to boost your skills in that area.
Here’s how some of my fellow recruiters at Journey Search Partners recommend answering:
Partner Marc Gilker recommends choosing your biggest skills gap or concern with your fit for the position. He emphasizes the importance of following up with actionable ways you plan to overcome that gap or concern if hired.
Director of National Strategic Sales Kristina Romero suggests sharing a genuine weakness that doesn’t undermine your ability to do the job and adding a closing statement with steps you've taken to improve on that weakness. She offered some example answers that use this approach:
“My Excel skills are intermediate, but I've signed up for online courses to improve. My goal is to leverage Excel as a tool to foster better organizational and efficiency skills.”
“I tend to take on too much, but I’m working on trusting my team and delegating more effectively. I’ve had a habit of saying yes to everything, but now I use tools to prioritize tasks and set more realistic expectations.”
Recruiter Sammy Brown echoes the importance of sharing how you’re working on a weakness. For example:
“My greatest weakness is being impatient at times because I’m eager to see the results of my work. I am actively working on this by reminding myself of the importance of attention to detail and thoroughness.”
We recommend avoiding these weaknesses:
- Working too hard (this can come off as a strength or disingenuous weakness)
- Not working hard enough (this can make you sound lazy and won’t reflect well on your work ethic)
- Caring too much about your job (this also tends to come off as disingenuous or more of a strength than a weakness)
There is no universal right answer to the question, “What is your biggest weakness?” and it’s important that you approach your answer strategically. Through careful reflection and a clear plan of action, you can give your interviewer a thoughtful answer that makes you stand out from other candidates.
If you’re seeking a new role in a specialized field, our recruiters may be able to help you find it. Just fill out our careers form and we’ll be in touch.
