3 Ways to Answer ‘What Are Your Weaknesses?’ in a Job Interview

3 Ways to Answer ‘What Are Your Weaknesses?’ in a Job Interview

Want to get hired? Here’s what to say—and what not to say—in response to one of the most common questions employers ask potential employees.

Making it to the interview stage is a huge win during a job search. But what happens when they ask, “What are your weaknesses?” It’s a tough one—because not only is it hard to admit your faults, but you also don’t want to hurt your chances of getting hired.

Luckily it’s one of the most common interview questions, so, knowing that, you can prepare a rock-solid reply before you’re even asked.

Response No. 1: Show how you overcame a challenge.

Answering “What are your weaknesses?” is a great chance to show how you take initiative and deal with setbacks. Take this opportunity to share how you met an obstacle in the past.

What not to say: “I don’t have any weaknesses.”

Steer clear of this answer in a job interview. Your employer wants to hear not only what your limitations might be in the workplace, but also how shrewdly you approach such a hard question. A sharp, well thought-out response will win you serious points at this important stage in the hiring process. On the flip side, showing you’re not aware of your own limitations can count against you.

Response No. 2: Point out a skill you’re actively working on.

As long as you say you’re committed to continuously improving, there’s no harm in pointing out a skill you haven’t mastered yet. Mentioning you could further develop your industry knowledge or your understanding of advanced applications .

You’ll get bonus points for adding that you like to learn new things, especially if it shows you’re willing to expand the scope of your knowledge beyond what you studied in school.

What not to say: “I’m a perfectionist.”

One approach lots of people take is to answer with a weakness that’s a strength in disguise, like the classic “I’m a perfectionist” or “I work too hard.” But talking about what you could improve on is an opportunity to show you’re sincere. Employers will want to see that you’ll be honest and straightforward in the workplace.

Response No. 3: Choose a weakness that won’t seriously affect the job.

It’s a safe bet to point out a weakness that won’t be a huge obstacle in your new position. If you apply for an assistant publicist job at a public-relations firm that requires you to cold-call media outlets and write press releases, your employer won’t want to hear that you get nervous on the phone or have trouble meeting deadlines.

So it’s less problematic to say, “Since I’ve never had a managerial role, sometimes I’m uncomfortable asking others to take on a task. But since I’d like to run my own PR firm one day, I’m excited to learn from my supervisors what strategies work best for managing others.” You were able to include a reference to your future plans, which your employer will be glad to hear you’re thinking about.

Talk about your weaknesses the right way, and you’ll demonstrate that as an employee, you’ll be self-aware and committed to your own development—qualities any boss would love