About your weaknesses - 9 Things to Say in an Interview

About your weaknesses - 9 Things to Say in an Interview 

It is seemingly difficult to answer when asked by an interviewer, “What is your greatest weakness?” – more difficult when you are anticipating questions around your past performances, on job learnings,  leadership and team management skills that make you a strong contender for the job. Framing your weaknesses confidently can be rather tricky, however when you consciously frame an action plan, you can have an edge over the other job applicants.

The best way to prepare for this question is to identify weaknesses that still communicate your inner strengths. This will reflect that you’re introspective enough to know your areas of opportunity.

A few examples – Worth considering

Here is a list of examples of the best weaknesses to mention in an interview:

1. I am highly detail oriented

Being “detail-oriented” is generally a good thing, however if you’re amongst those who spend too much time on the finer details of a project then it could also be considered as a weakness. By mentioning that you focus too much on details, you’re informing your interviewer that you’re capable of enabling the organization to avoid even minor mistakes.

Do ensure that you explain how you’re making improvements in this area by your ability to look at the big picture. While companies may not like to employ someone who is preoccupied with fine points, a candidate who assures them of the quality and strives for balance can be a great asset for the company.

2. I am a self- critic

When you have spent time and have put your efforts on a project, it’s normal to feel apprehensive about calling it complete or passing it on to another team. Expectedly, there’s always a room for slight improvement, and some people tend to over-criticize their work or attempt last-minute changes, which can threaten the timelines. 

If your weakness also belongs to this category, then share how you’re striving to improve by giving yourself a deadline for all revisions and being proactive about changes so that you’re not waiting until the last minute.

3. I can’t say “no.”

Helping colleagues on projects and properly managing your workload is an artful balance. From an employer’s perspective, an employee who accepts all requests seems dedicated and eager—but can also be someone who doesn’t know their limits and ends up needing help or deadline extensions to finish their own work.

If you’re also someone who is eager to take on new projects that you can’t say “no” to then share how you’re working to better self-manage by organizing your tasks and setting more realistic expectations with yourself as well as those around you.

4. I get impatient when my work run past deadlines

In a way, expressing stress and frustration over missed deadlines can be considered a weakness, employers value employees that place importance on deadlines and strive to keep projects within the planned timeline.

If you’re expressing this as a weakness for your job interview, then frame your answer that reflect on how you appreciate work completed on time and how you’re helping to improve processes to get work done more efficiently.

5. I could use more experience in…

Every candidate has areas to improve their expertise. It may be very specific to things like building pivot tables, or using V-look up in Excel, or perhaps it’s a skill like Powerpoint presentation or public speaking. Whatever the case may be, sharing something you want to improve upon shows that you’re self-aware and like to challenge yourself. Be sure, however, that you don’t answer with a weakness that is essential to the role.

A few common areas people need improvements in include the following:

• Verbal communication
• Written communication
• Team leadership
• Data Analysis
• Art of delegation
• Providing constructive feedback
• Any other Specific programs

6. I generally lack confidence

Lack of confidence is a general weakness, especially observed among entry-level employees. Experiencing a lack of confidence can sometimes cause inefficiencies in your work. The common example being, you might feel under-qualified to speak up at an important meeting when your ideas could help the team to achieve a goal.

If you’re expressing this as a weakness for your job interview, the emphasize why you value confidence, your understanding of the value you offer, and ways you have practiced displaying confidence in the workplace.

7. I can barely ask for help

Asking for help is an essential skill both when you are lacking expertise in a certain area and when you cannot handle your workload. Knowing when and how to ask for help shows strong self-awareness and helps the organization by getting ahead of a possible inefficiency. While having a strong work ethic and being independent are positive qualities, it is better for the business to know when to ask for help/collaboration. Individual contributors in every organization can also ask for help and learn few things from others.

If you know it has been difficult to ask for help in the past, explain why you know it is beneficial and the ways you have tried to improve this skill.

8. I can’t work with certain personalities

Even the most adaptable people can have trouble working with others that have certain characteristics or personality traits. Having good teamwork skills also means having a strong awareness of how you work with others and ways you can adjust your approach to better serve the organization.

If this has been a weakness of yours in the past, explain the personality types you have had trouble working with and quickly identify the reasons why. Then discuss the ways you have adjusted your communication or work style to better work towards a common goal together.

9. It has been difficult for me to strike the right work-life balance

Striking the right work/life balance is important to maintain motivation in your job. While it is certainly considered honorable and reflects a strong work ethic to spend your time and energy on work, it is also important to prioritize spending quality time with your family, hobbies, on vacation or simply resting. Doing so can not only help you feel refreshed but this can also increase your job motivation, creativity and support a positive outlook.

If this is the weakness you choose to present during your interview, explain the ways you have made it a point to find a balance between life and work and how you have seen your work improve as a result. 

Before providing this as an example, you should do extensive research about the company culture. If you are being interviewed for a job role in which it is necessary to have your phone on and available at all times, you might not want to say you turn your phone off at night to achieve work/life balance.

I hope that this list weaknesses will help you identify your areas for improvement. Always remember to explain how you’re working to overcome your shortcomings. 

By presenting both the problem and the solution, you can transform your weakness into a strength.