What No One Tells You About The Best Weaknesses To Say In An Interview And Interview Performance
Written by
James Miller, Career Coach
Navigating job interviews, college admissions, or even critical sales calls often involves a moment of vulnerability: discussing your weaknesses. Many candidates dread this question, fearing it will expose flaws or disqualify them. However, mastering how to present the best weaknesses to say in an interview can transform a potential pitfall into a powerful demonstration of self-awareness, growth, and professionalism. It’s not about perfection; it’s about presenting yourself as a developing professional eager to learn and improve.
What Are Interviewers Really Looking for When Asking About the best weaknesses to say in an interview?
When an interviewer asks you to describe your weaknesses, they aren't trying to catch you out. Instead, they're assessing several key qualities: your self-awareness, honesty, and perhaps most importantly, your growth mindset [^1]. They want to see if you understand your areas for improvement and, more crucially, what steps you've taken to address them [^2].
They are looking beyond a simple admission of a flaw. Are you reflective? Do you take initiative to develop yourself? Can you communicate effectively about challenging topics? Avoiding clichés and insincere answers is crucial here. The goal isn't to present a "perfect" candidate, but a real one who understands their limitations and is committed to overcoming them. Answering this question strategically shows maturity and a proactive approach to personal and professional development.
What Are the best weaknesses to say in an interview?
Choosing the best weaknesses to say in an interview involves a delicate balance. You want to pick something genuine that isn't a core requirement for the role, but also something you're actively working on or that can be framed to show a positive attribute. Here are examples of good weaknesses and how to present them effectively:
Public Speaking Discomfort: Many people share this. Frame it by discussing steps you've taken, such as joining Toastmasters, volunteering for presentations, or taking a communication class. This shows initiative and a desire to improve a common skill.
Being Overly Self-Critical or Insecure: This can highlight your high standards and attention to quality. Explain that while it drives you to produce excellent work, you're learning to balance it with self-compassion and recognizing achievements.
Difficulty Delegating: This often stems from a strong sense of responsibility and a desire to ensure tasks are done perfectly. Explain that you're learning to trust team members and empower others, understanding that effective delegation boosts overall team productivity.
Trouble Asking for Help: This can indicate a drive for independence. Acknowledge that while self-reliance is valuable, you've realized the benefits of collaboration and leveraging collective expertise, learning to reach out when needed.
Impatience: This weakness can be linked to a strong drive to meet deadlines and see results. Explain that you're learning to cultivate patience, especially in complex projects, by focusing on meticulous planning and process adherence.
Being Detail-Oriented to a Fault: While attention to detail is often a strength, admitting it can sometimes lead to losing sight of the bigger picture shows balance. Describe how you’re working on stepping back and prioritizing tasks to maintain efficiency [^3].
Limited Experience in a Specific Tool or Skill: This is common, especially for entry-level roles. Emphasize your commitment to learning quickly and your track record of picking up new technologies. Mention courses you've taken or resources you've explored.
Hard Time Saying “No”: This suggests a willingness to help, but can lead to overcommitment. Explain that you're developing better time management and prioritization skills, ensuring you commit only to tasks you can effectively manage while still being a team player.
What Weaknesses Should You Avoid When Choosing the best weaknesses to say in an interview?
Just as important as knowing what to say is knowing what to avoid. Steer clear of responses that undermine your candidacy or simply don't make sense:
Core Competencies of the Job Role: If attention to detail is critical for a job, don't say you're disorganized. This directly contradicts the job requirements and flags you as unsuitable [^4].
Strengths Disguised as Weaknesses: Phrases like "I care too much" or "I'm a perfectionist" are transparent attempts to avoid the question and can annoy interviewers. These responses lack genuine self-reflection.
Irrelevant Weaknesses: Admitting you're "terrible at cooking" in an interview for a software development role is irrelevant and doesn't showcase professional growth.
"I have no weaknesses": This is unrealistic, insincere, and shows a complete lack of self-awareness. No one is perfect, and claiming otherwise demonstrates arrogance or an inability to reflect critically [^5].
How Do You Structure Your Answer When Discussing the best weaknesses to say in an interview?
The structure of your answer is just as important as the content. The STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is an excellent framework for discussing any behavioral question, including your chosen weakness:
Situation: Briefly describe a specific situation where your weakness became apparent.
Task: Explain what you needed to accomplish in that situation.
Action: Detail the specific steps you took to address or mitigate the weakness in that scenario. This is where you demonstrate your growth mindset.
Result: Describe the positive outcome of your actions. Even if the weakness isn't fully "fixed," show improvement or a new approach.
For example, if your weakness is "difficulty delegating":
Situation: "In my previous role as project lead, I often found myself taking on too many tasks personally, believing it was faster to do it myself."
Task: "This often led to feeling overwhelmed and occasionally delaying project timelines, despite my dedication to meeting deadlines."
Action: "To address this, I started actively seeking out delegation opportunities, providing clearer instructions, and investing time in upskilling my team members. I also practiced letting go of control on smaller tasks to build trust."
Result: "As a result, our team's overall productivity increased, and I was able to focus on strategic tasks, leading to more efficient project completion and better team morale."
This structure demonstrates self-awareness, accountability, and a commitment to professional development – the hallmarks of the best weaknesses to say in an interview.
How Can You Prepare Effectively to Discuss the best weaknesses to say in an interview?
Preparation is key to confidently discussing the best weaknesses to say in an interview.
Reflect Genuinely: Think about real challenges you've faced and areas where you truly strive for improvement. Authenticity resonates.
Choose Wisely: Select weaknesses that are not essential for the role and that you have a plan to improve.
Practice and Tailor: Rehearse your responses. While you might have a go-to weakness, be ready to tailor your examples and explanation to the specific role and company culture.
Be Ready with Multiple Examples: Having more than one example can help you sound authentic and prepared, especially if the interviewer asks follow-up questions.
Frame as Opportunities: Always present your weaknesses as opportunities for growth. This positive framing transforms a potential negative into a testament to your proactive attitude.
How Can Verve AI Copilot Help You With the best weaknesses to say in an interview?
Preparing to discuss the best weaknesses to say in an interview can be daunting, but tools like Verve AI Interview Copilot can make it significantly easier. Verve AI Interview Copilot offers personalized feedback on your responses, helping you refine your answers to crucial behavioral questions. You can practice articulating your weaknesses and receive real-time coaching on clarity, conciseness, and impact. Verve AI Interview Copilot helps you structure your answers using methods like STAR, ensuring you present a compelling narrative of growth and self-awareness. By simulating interview scenarios, Verve AI Interview Copilot builds your confidence, making sure you're fully prepared to articulate the best weaknesses to say in an interview and turn a challenging question into a winning moment. Visit https://vervecopilot.com to learn more.
What Are the Most Common Questions About the best weaknesses to say in an interview?
Q: Is it okay to mention a weakness that's not fully resolved?
A: Yes, it's encouraged! The focus should be on your awareness of it and the active steps you are taking for improvement.
Q: Should I pick a professional or personal weakness?
A: Focus on professional weaknesses or personal ones that impact your work, always linking them to professional development.
Q: How many weaknesses should I mention?
A: Typically, one or two, presented concisely with a clear improvement plan. Quality over quantity is key.
Q: What if I genuinely can't think of a weakness?
A: Everyone has areas for growth. Reflect on past feedback, challenging projects, or skills you're actively trying to develop.
Q: Can a strength be a weakness?
A: Only if you frame it as an "overused strength" that can become a hindrance, like "being too detail-oriented" and losing sight of the big picture.
[^1]: Societe Generale
[^2]: Indeed
[^3]: Coursera
[^4]: Bright Network
[^5]: Handshake
