How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
It's the question everyone dreads, and the one most people answer badly with "I'm a perfectionist". A good answer is honest, shows self-awareness and proves you're working on it.
Why interviewers ask it
The interviewer isn't looking for a reason to reject you. They want to see self-awareness (do you know where you need to improve?), honesty (will you give a real answer?) and a growth mindset (are you doing something about it?).
A simple structure
- Name a real weakness, one that's genuine but not essential to the job you're applying for.
- Give a brief example of how it has affected your work.
- Explain what you're doing about it: the specific steps you've taken.
- Show the progress you've made since.
Spend most of your answer on steps 3 and 4. The weakness itself should take one sentence; what you're doing about it is the impressive part.
Example answers
"I've found it hard to delegate. When I first started leading projects, I'd take on the tricky tasks myself because it felt quicker, and on one project that meant I became the bottleneck in the final week. Since then I've made a point of agreeing who owns what at the start of a project, and I hold short weekly check-ins instead of redoing work myself. On my last project I delegated the whole testing phase, and it finished early."
"Presenting to large groups hasn't come naturally to me. I'm comfortable in small meetings, but I used to over-prepare slides and rush through them when presenting to senior audiences. Last year I volunteered to present our team's monthly update so I'd get regular practice, and I started rehearsing out loud rather than just rereading my notes. I'm now much calmer, and last quarter I presented our results to the leadership team."
"I used to say yes to every request, because I like being helpful, and it meant my own priorities sometimes slipped. I now check requests against my current priorities before agreeing, and if I can't take something on I suggest when I could, or who else might help. It's made my deadlines much more reliable, and colleagues still see me as someone they can come to."
What to avoid
- Disguised strengths such as "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work too hard". Interviewers hear them constantly, and they come across as evasive.
- A weakness that's core to the job. Don't tell an accountancy firm you struggle with attention to detail.
- Saying you don't have one. It suggests a lack of self-awareness.
- Something personal or unrelated to work. Keep it professional.
- Stopping at the weakness. Always finish with what you've done about it.
What about "What are your strengths?"
Pick two or three strengths that match the job advert, and back each one with a quick example, or use a full STAR example for the strongest. "I'm good at explaining complex things simply: in my last role I…" is far more convincing than a list of adjectives.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good weakness to say in a job interview?
A genuine weakness that isn't essential to the job, such as delegating, presenting to large groups or saying yes to too many requests, followed by what you're doing to improve and the progress you've made.
Is it OK to say I'm a perfectionist?
It's best avoided. Interviewers hear it so often that it sounds like an attempt to dodge the question. If perfectionism genuinely causes you problems, describe the specific effect, such as missing deadlines while polishing work, and what you've changed.
How long should my answer be?
About a minute. One sentence on the weakness, a brief example, and most of the time on what you're doing about it.
What if they ask for three weaknesses?
Prepare two or three in advance using the same structure. Keep each shorter, and make sure none is central to the role.