How to Talk About Your Weaknesses in an Interview

Job interviews are not only a way for the hiring managers to get a feel for your skill level, but they are also testing your communication skills and ability to answer critical questions. There will always be questions an interviewer asks that you aren’t sure of, one of them being your weaknesses. There is no one correct answer for answering this interview question, but here are some options on how you can respond.

Avoid masking your weakness for a strength

It can be hard to admit that we have weaknesses, especially when we acknowledge them to a possible new employer. The interview is a way for the hiring manager to analyze and compare you to other candidates, and in that case, you will want to make yourself look as polished as possible.

One helpful tip is to avoid framing your weakness as a strength. An example of this can be if your flaw is that you sometimes work too hard. That could be a great weakness that you have, but as a professional, you most likely have a more realistic flaw that doesn’t involve proving your worth as a candidate.

Just be honest

Even if you have a hard time accepting your weakness and it makes you embarrassed, do your best, to be honest. Being honest with your future employer and showing vulnerability will prove your trust, and you are connecting with them by sharing your flaw.

Whether your weakness is time management, poor ability to handle stress, or spelling mistakes, the more honest you are with them, the more honest they will be with you. They aren’t asking you this question to make you sweat, but they want to know how you will be an asset to their team and what skills you need to improve.

Acknowledge the need for improvement

As mentioned before, try to stray away from making your weakness a strength, but it is important to accept where you need to improve. We are all human, we all have flaws, and that’s okay. If you can admit to the interviewer where you need to improve and give them a course of action, they will appreciate your efforts of self-improvement.

Here are some ways you can improve:

• Take a class/get a certificate

• Join a networking group

• Take on a mentor

• Put energy into the aspect you want to improve

Overall, this interview question can be scary, and that’s okay. We want to help you get through interviews as smoothly as possible and reduce whatever nerves and anxiety you have around unknown questions. Before any interview, prepare by answering questions with a friend or a family member to get an idea of how you want to respond. Best of luck in your interviews!