“What is your greatest weakness?” is the most infamous question you can get in an interview. Some people will recommend responding with strengths under the guise of a weakness, like “I am a perfectionist.” or “I am an overachiever.”
That’s usually a terrible idea.
You’ll come off as a person that’s lacking in self-awareness. Instead, your biggest weakness will be marked as insincerity. On the other hand, you don’t want to respond with a trait that is imperative for the role you’re applying for.
The goal of this question is to figure out what areas of opportunity you have. This is your chance to show that you’re capable of overcoming challenges and evolving.
Throughout your interview, you’re likely going to get various forms of the question. They may ask you straight or ask about a specific time you failed at something.
Here are some ways to change some stereotypically bad answers.
1. Don’t say you’re a workaholic, instead…
Talk about a time you’ve pushed yourself too far. The true weakness for this point is that you struggle to maintain a healthy work/life balance. In today’s day and age, employers like candidates that are willing to put in extra hours. It’s not a weakness to go beyond the regular grind, but it becomes a problem when you begin to lose motivation.
Just know what kind of role you’re applying for before using this weakness. Some roles demand inflexible hours.
“I’m passionate about my work and because of that, I’ve found it difficult to balance my career and personal life. In the past, it has had a negative impact on my work performance, especially when I was working remotely. Because of this, I have started scheduling time to put focus on my family, friends and hobbies. When I’m able to create a work-life balance, I’m able to complete projects faster and rarely experience burnout.”
2. Don’t say you’re a perfectionist, instead…
Avoid using the term altogether. Perfectionism can sound like a positive trait, but it often leads to missed deadlines. Plus, the majority of people who use this line aren’t actually perfectionists.
If you really are a perfectionist, you shouldn’t outright say it. Instead, talk about the consequences of perfectionism. When you get caught up in the details, or you’re afraid of negative feedback, it can distract you from completing the task at hand.
“My greatest weakness is that I sometimes focus too much on the smaller details of a project. I like to produce excellent work, but I’ve learned that over-fixating on making things perfect can lead to missed deadlines. I’ve been working on improving this by taking breaks so that I have a chance to refocus on the big picture. Completing tasks in smaller intervals has helped me look at things objectively.”
3. Don’t say you’re too independent, instead…
Provide an example of how you’re working on your team-building skills. While some roles require teamwork to succeed, others require self-motivation to get the task done. If it isn’t a collaborative role, you may want to find a way to talk about your self-sufficiency. While this can work, you want to acknowledge the downsides to this trait and how you’ve worked towards improvement.
“I am incredibly self-sufficient, so I’ve struggled to ask for help when I need it. While I typically work independently, it’s often crucial to get help from others. I’ve learned that there are people around me that have expertise in areas I don’t and can help me get the job done quicker. While it’s still an area I’m working to improve on, I have started making a habit of seeking out help when needed.”
4. Don’t say you’re overly honest, instead…
Talk about how your bluntness has impacted your role in providing employee feedback. Being straightforward is a great skill that ensures things are getting done. However, it doesn’t always translate with certain personalities.
“While my blunt nature helps me get things done as a company leader, it doesn’t always serve my employees well. There have been instances where my directness was interpreted as rude, resulting in some team members being afraid to communicate openly with me. In order to fix this, I’ve worked with other leaders to learn how to communicate empathy. I’ve also taken steps to be more conscious of how my words are being perceived by others.”
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