Interviews · 5 min read
How do I answer 'What is your greatest weakness?'
Name a real weakness that won't stop you doing this job, show what you've done about it, and give one sign it's improving. Skip the humblebrag.
The short answer
Name a real weakness that isn't central to the job, say what you do about it, and give one sign that it's improving. For example: 'I used to take on too much myself. Now I break projects down in week one and hand parts off, and on my last project three people owned pieces I'd once have kept.' Avoid disguised strengths like perfectionism, and avoid a weakness in the main skill the role needs.
On this page 4 sections
Weakness, action, evidence
| Weakness | What you do | Sign it's working |
|---|---|---|
| Taking on too much | Split work and delegate in week one | Three owners on the last project |
| Public speaking | Volunteer for the team update every month | Ran the quarterly review in June |
| Over-long emails | Lead with the decision needed | Faster replies from my manager |
What to avoid
- A weakness in the job's main skill.
- A strength in disguise with no cost attached.
- Something personal or unrelated to work.
- A weakness with no action attached.
Finding your real one
Look at past feedback, appraisals or the things you put off. The weakness worth naming is one you've already started fixing, because then you have a story.
OffLadder CV, our free Chrome extension, hands any job post to Laddie for a five-question mock interview for that role, weighted to the parts you're least sure of. You answer in your own words.
Questions people ask
- Why do interviewers ask about weaknesses?
- To see whether you know yourself and can improve. A specific weakness with a plan says more about you than a polished non-answer.
- Is 'I'm a perfectionist' a bad answer?
- Usually. Interviewers have heard it many times and tend to read it as dodging the question, unless you describe a concrete cost and what you changed.
- Can I name a skill I'm still learning?
- Yes, if the job doesn't depend on it from day one. 'I'm newer to SQL, so I've been building small reports each week' is honest and shows effort.
- What if they ask for three weaknesses?
- Have two more short ones ready, each with what you do about it. Keep them different in kind: one skill, one habit, one preference.
- Should I mention feedback I've received?
- It helps. 'My manager told me my updates were too long, so I now lead with the decision needed' shows you listen and act.
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