Facing a job interview is not easy, especially with one of the toughest job interview questions, “What is your greatest weakness?” People are often judged for their thoughts on this issue during the interview. In this regard, we have created a step-by-step guide to facilitate and prepare you for this invasive question.
In this post, you will learn how to answer one of the most dreaded questions in job interviews, “What is your greatest weakness?” You will master the right approach in turning this potential stumbling block into an opportunity to showcase your self-awareness, growth mindset, and ability to overcome challenges.
Also See: Top 5 Questions Asked in Nigerian Job Interviews
Why Do Interviewers Ask About Your Greatest Weakness?
Asking about your shortcomings is not the objective of the interviewer. I would put it in a different way: the interviewer wants to know how you see your weak points and what you have done to remedy them.
It is a way of assessing one’s level of integrity, humility, and growing capability.
Before jumping into how to answer what your greatest weakness is, it is important to note the reason why interviewers ask this question.
An employer is not going to try and catch you off guard or find out what your most personal and hidden flaws are.
Rather, what they are trying to do is gauge:
- Self-awareness: Are you aware of the challenges that you have?
- Honesty: Would you honestly talk about such flaws as weaknesses?
- Growth mindset: Are you in the process of strengthening your weakness?
- Indicate additional areas for which there may be a need for training or Support
How to Answer the Greatest Weakness Question
There are steps to follow to give a genuine answer to the “What is Your Greatest Weakness Question”
Crafting Your Answer
Step 1: Identify Your Genuine Weakness (Yes, everyone has)
You should choose a real, honest weakness that won’t affect your ability to perform in the role being interviewed for.
Try to consider the following categories in which you may pick a weakness:
- Skill-based weaknesses such as public speaking, technical skills
- Behavioral weaknesses such as overcommitting, impatience, and time management
Step 2: Showing Self-Awareness
You should be able to acknowledge the weakness openly without making excuses for yourself. For example:
“I have always found public speaking challenging.”
Don’t forget that your weakness should not be the one that should affect your job directly, and not be too far or vague, for example, you are being interviewed for a truck driver, and so public speaking being your weakness has little or no effect on the role of a truck driver.
Step 3: Demonstrate Growth
You should talk about the various steps you are taking to overcome the weakness
For example, “To improve, I have enrolled in a public speaking course and regularly volunteer to lead team meetings.”
Step 4: Relate your weakness to the Job
It is important that your response reflects positively on your professional abilities. For example, you may say something like, “This experience has not only helped me become more confident, but it has also improved my ability to communicate effectively with my team.”
Examples of Greatest Weakness Answers
Example 1. What is your greatest weakness question for a Software Developer?
An example of how a software engineer would respond to the question “What is your greatest weakness?” is as follows:
One area I’ve been working on is time management when tackling complex projects. In the past, I’ve sometimes gotten caught up in the details and lost track of time. To fix this, I have implemented the use of a project management tool where I can break a large task into smaller sections. This has helped me keep things in order and manage my work better.”
Key points to note in this response:
Honesty: The candidate mentions the fact and accepts the criticism as a real area of concern.
Specificity: He let you know what specific area of weakness he was dealing with.
Growth mindset: He expresses his willingness to find a solution to the problem.
Relevance: The weakness concerns a fact that is quite pertinent to the practice of software development, that is, project management.
Positive spin: The candidate accepts the weakness and instead views it as an opportunity for learning.
Example 2. What is your greatest weakness question for a Manager?
Here is an example of how a manager may respond to a weakness-related question in the interview “What is your greatest weakness?”
“Feeling overwhelmed by my to-do list is one issue I have been addressing and working on, which is perhaps my lack of delegation. Previously, I used to take on so much responsibility which was prone to cause burnout as well as overwhelm me most of the time. That’s why I have been trying to develop myself as a person who can inspire and delegate, rather than one who is doing everything on her own. In addition to this, I started conducting regular check-ins which aim to keep their performance on track and provide any necessary help.”
Key points to note in this response:
Honesty: This is where a manager really describes a valid area of weakness.
Specificity: They give an illustration of the weakness and the effect that it has.
Action: In this case, the managers are able to specify the measures they have taken to reduce the weakness.
Growth mindset: The attitude of wanting to learn and develop is reinforced.
In this way, the manager is able to take advantage of the situation and highlight it as a positive learning opportunity whilst providing steps and actions he has undertaken to back this up which position him as self-aware and resilient as well as a person with an add-on potential.
Example 3. What is your greatest weakness for a Sales Representative?
Here’s an example of how a Sales Representative could tackle the question “What is your greatest weakness?”
“In terms of weakness, one aspect that has been an issue is coping with rejection. When it comes to selling, it is part and parcel to get rejected. In the past, such would have dealt a blow to my motivated spirit. I now see it differently – after every ‘rejection I evaluate what has been done wrong, and what can be done differently next time, and I change that. I am more organized about all of this which makes feeling more positive about the sales process possible.”
Some important things to keep in mind:
Be sincere: Say a weakness that exists in you and which you are trying to overcome.
Exhibit the ability to introspect: Prove that you have weaknesses with such tendencies and are trying to address them.
Emphasize the development attitude: Mention the ways you are changing for the better as a result of the problems you encountered.
Make links with the job: Stress how, in the course of trying to compensate for this weakness, you have made use of it in the course of carrying out sales functions.
By adopting these techniques, you will be able to transform the apparent weaknesses into an opportunity and showcase your willingness to grow both personally and professionally.
Common Pitfalls To Avoid In The What Is Your Greatest Weakness Question
When it comes to discussing weaknesses make sure to avoid answers that are likely to raise eyebrows or sound fake:
- Being excessively vague: Leaving an unspecific weakness or offering a generic one causes one to be perceived as dodging the issue.
- Choosing a strength disguised as a weakness: Giving such an answer as ‘a weakness is my perfectionism’ is somewhat of a joke.
- Mentioning vital shortcomings: Overcome highlighting such weaknesses that may affect one’s ability to perform effectively the given job.
Tips to Nail the Greatest Weakness Question
- Prepare ahead: practicing is the key to giving a good response. Practice before a job interview. Rehearse your answer to ensure it feels natural and confident.
- Be specific: Avoid generic answers; provide concrete examples.
- Show progress: Always highlight the steps you have taken so far in addressing the weakness.
- Stay positive: Focus on growth and improvement.
Final Thoughts: What is Your Greatest Weakness Question And Answer In Job Interviews
Answering “What is your greatest weakness?” requires a delicate balance between honesty and self-promotion.
By following these “what is your greatest weakness question and answer in job interviews” guidelines and examples, you’ll be well-equipped to turn a potential weakness into a strength, showcasing your self-awareness, problem-solving skills, and growth potential.