One of the most challenging interview questions to answer: What are your weaknesses?
Why does an employer want to know my weaknesses, and how do I answer without jeopardising my chances of getting the job?
First things first, the employer is asking this question to assess whether you are self-aware. However, there’s a fine line when answering. You want to choose weaknesses that still communicate some of your strengths. Let’s look at a few examples you could share:
"I have trouble saying no" – This shows you are eager to help others but are self-aware enough to recognise that this can sometimes mean sacrificing your own projects or overcommitting. You could follow this up with: "To improve on this, I now use a project management tool to assess whether I have the capacity before agreeing to new work."
"I can be too reliant on feedback" – This is for people who like receiving feedback to know they are on the right track. This is useful information for employers, as it helps them understand how you work and ensures they can provide adequate feedback.
"I don’t ask for help" – This shows you take responsibility and show consideration for others, but also that you recognise it’s not ideal for you or your team if you don’t communicate when you’re struggling.
"I find it difficult to give others feedback" – Providing feedback can be nerve wracking, especially if you’re concerned about hurting someone’s feelings. However, it’s an easy skill to improve and shows you are considerate of other people.
These examples can be used in a job interview to show you are self-aware and actively working to improve yourself. Remember, nobody is a finished product; we are all human and have areas we can develop.
If these examples don’t apply to you, other weaknesses you could mention include:
Being shy
Dealing with confrontation
Being overly self-critical
Being too competitive
Preferring structure over spontaneity