3
What Is Your Biggest Weakness?
Spring 2020 session
How to Answer This Question
They want to find out...
Why Do They Ask This Question?
Whether you have a healthy level of self-awareness
1
Whether you can be open and honest
2
Whether you pursue self-improvement and growth opportunities to combat these issues
3
Some Things To Consider
What To Do
Discuss Non-Essential Skills
Skills
For example, if you're applying for a job as a writer, discuss your struggles with numbers.
Mention Skills You Have Improved
Skills
cont.
Tip: Be sure not to mention anything that you improved upon that would be critical to the position for which you are interviewing.
Turn a Negative Into a Positive
Make it Positive
Example: "I have a very strong attention to detail. Sometimes, this can turn into a tendency to perfectionism... I’ve since learned to successfully budget my time and gauge which tasks require and actually benefit from this level of precision."
"I don't have much patience when working with a team - I am incredibly self-sufficient. That's why I've pursued roles that require someone to work independently. However, I've also worked to improve this weakness by enrolling in team building workshops. While I typically work independently, it's nonetheless important I learn how to trust my coworkers and ask for outside help when necessary."
Examples
"I struggle with organization. While it hasn't ever impacted my performance, I've noticed my messy desk and cluttered inbox nonetheless could interfere with my efficiency. Over time, I've learned to set aside time to organize my physical and digital space, and I've seen it improve my efficiency levels throughout the week."
Cont.
"Public speaking makes me nervous. While I don't need to do much public speaking in my role, I nonetheless feel it's an important skill to know. To combat this, I spoke with my manager and she recommended I speak each team meeting for a few minutes. This practice has enabled me to relax and see public speaking as an opportunity to help my team member's do their jobs effectively."