Best Answers for Interview Questions on Weaknesses

One of the trickiest questions asked at job interviews is “what’s your greatest weakness?” which many find hard to answer. When asked to solve such a problem, it’s vital to thinking carefully before responding. You won’t want to give an answer that will spoil your chance of getting a good job.

Reason behind the Question

The reason interviewers asked about your weakness is simply that the employer wants to find out if you are qualified to do the job. The interviewers are looking out for indicators that prove that you have been able to study new tasks and handle new challenges.

So, see this as an opportunity to prove that you are the right person for the job.

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Best Type of Answers for Interview Questions on Weaknesses

1. I Sometimes Criticize Myself

• Common weakness some people have is self-criticism. Self-criticism may be triggered by a specific event or general reactions that lead it to a spread of such reflections. For example, a person may take note of the facial expression of another and feels rejected.

•  The weakness you picked to present in your interview, emphasize why it’s essential for you to build self-confidence, and your understanding of the value you will bring to the table and ways you have practised showing confidence in the workplace.

EXAMPLE: “In the past, I’ve sometimes fought with being over critical of myself. Whenever I finish a work, I can’t help but feel that I didn’t meet the expectations even if I received a positive response.

This most times makes me to overwork and leaves me exhausted. I have tried to take time to look at my achievements and celebrate them in the last few years. This has helped to improve my work and my self-confidence, but it has also taught me to appreciate my team and other support systems that have my back in everything I do.”

Read More: Project Manager Interview Questions and Answers

2. I’m Detail Oriented

• It’s a good thing to be detail-oriented, but if you take too much time on one project, it could be labelled as a weakness. However, by informing your interviewers that you pay too much attention to every detail in a specific project, you’re proving to them that you can help the organization to avoid major and minor mistakes.

• Don’t forget to inform your interviewers of your effort towards improving in this area. While some employers may not find the idea of having an employee who is preoccupied with interesting points, a candidate who assures quality and strives for balance can be an excellent possession. 

EXAMPLE: “My greatest weakness is that at times I pay too much attention to the details of a project, and spend much time also to analyze the perfect points. I tried to improve on this by checking myself to readjust and focus more on the big picture.

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That allowed me to make sure I still deliver quality service without getting distracted and caught up in the details that affect my productivity negatively.”

3. I find it Hard to Say “NO”

• Colleagues on their projects and managing your workload can be hectic. From an employer’s point of view, someone who takes all requests is dedicated and eager—but can as well be someone who doesn’t know their capacity and end up seeking for help or project deadline extensions to round-up their work.

• Are you eager to take on new projects that you can’t find yourself refusing, share how you are trying to better self-manage by organizing your tasks and setting more sensible expectations with yourself as well as those around you?

EXAMPLE: “Before now, it has always been hard for me to say ‘no’ to request from my colleagues, which always ends up in me handling more projects than I can. In the past years, this has led me to feel stressed.

To overcome this weakness, I use a project managing application to visualize how much work I have at any given time and know whether I can take on more.”

4. I Find It Difficult To Balance My Health And Work Life

• A balance between work and life can help to motivate you at work. Though it is honourable and shows a strong work ethic to spend your time and energy on tasks, it is also necessary to take time to be with your family, go on vacation or rest at home.
  Doing all these can make you feel refreshed when you are at work and can help to increase your motivation, creativity, and bear a positive outlook.

Read More: Common Manager Interview Questions and Answers

• You decide to present this weakness during your interview, explain ways you have ‘find a balance between life and work,’ and how your work has improved as a result. You can also clarify that work and life balance is something you find important in the role you are applying for.
  Before you provide this as an example, you should do extensive research about the company’s culture. If you go for an interview to get a position in which demands to have your cell on and available at all times, never say you switched off your phone at night to achieve a balance in your work and personal life.

Example: “Because I’m dedicated and very ambitious, I find it hard to keep a healthy balance between my work and personal life. I have noticed a negative impact on my motivation and focus when I ignore my personal needs.

As a result, my no.1 priorities are to create space in my schedule to focus on volunteer work and spending time with my family and friends. Taking small actions like putting my phone on silent when I’m observing my family time has been helpful.

When I maintain good work and life balance, I have found myself being more productive, getting more work done, and feeling excited about coming to work in the morning.”

With this best weakness interview questions and answer, you can quickly identify the areas in your life that need improvement, and explain how you’re working towards overcoming your shortcomings. By presenting both your problems and the solutions, you can turn your weaknesses into strengths.