12 Examples of Weaknesses for Your Job Interview (2023)

The ultimate guide on how to answer ‘what are your weaknesses’ in a job interview, with 12 example answers and everything you need to know about the question.

What are your weaknesses? Most people find this job interview question difficult. How can discuss your flaws and still show interviewers that you’re a good fit for the job?

The truth is you don’t need to be overly worried about this question. By answering the question in the right way and showing the efforts you make to overcome your weaknesses, you will make a positive impression on interviewers.

In this guide, we will tell you everything you need to know to answer questions about your weaknesses. This guide also includes a list of 12 example weaknesses and example answers.

Why Do Interviewers Ask About Your Weaknesses?

Interviewers ask about your weaknesses because they want to know if you have the self-awareness to evaluate your own capabilities.

They also want to find out if your shortcomings would prevent you from performing the job. Additionally, this question helps them determine if you’re capable of improving on your weaknesses.

How to Answer Questions About Your Weaknesses

The key to answering this question is to turn a negative into a positive. By showing how you don’t let your flaws impact your job and by touching on the steps you take to improve on your weaknesses, you’ll make a positive impression on recruiters.

Avoid focusing on weaknesses that would prevent you from performing your job. For example, as a customer service advisor, it would be a bad idea to say your weakness is communication. On the other hand, you should avoid answers like ‘I don’t have any weaknesses’. Answers such as this one may lead interviewers to believe that you don’t have the self-awareness to identify and work on your shortcomings.

12 Example Answers to ‘What Are Your Weaknesses?’

1. I am not very good with technology

This is a good answer for those who are not interviewing for jobs that require proficiency with technology and systems. You certainly wouldn’t want to give this answer if you’re interviewing for a job as a software engineer.

But, for jobs that don’t require proficiency with technology, you can use this answer to demonstrate a genuine weakness, as well as the steps you take to combat the weakness.

Example answer:

‘I am not very good with technology, software and computers. This has never really impacted my work as I rarely come into contact with technology, but I am eager to improve my technology skills. In 2021, I took a course to improve my proficiency with computers and gain skills with popular software packages.’

2. I have trouble saying no

Some people have trouble saying no to their colleagues when they ask for help. While this weakness may actually indicate that you’re determined and helpful, failing to say no can start to have a negative impact on your own work.

If saying no to others is one of your weaknesses, demonstrate the ways in which you organise and manage your own work to ensure it doesn’t become a problem.

Example answer:

‘One of my biggest weaknesses is saying no to people. When working on software development projects, I tend to receive many requests to help with technical issues from multiple departments. While I feel it’s good to help others, this can have a negative impact on my ability to meet my own deadlines.

In order to combat this weakness, I have recently started using a new piece of software that helps me organise my schedule and learn if I am on track to meet my deadlines. This has helped me determine if I can help my colleagues or I should say no.’

3. I find it hard to switch off from work

Many people take their work home with them and find it hard to switch off from their job. This can have a negative effect as it can cause stress.

If you find it hard to switch off from work, show the steps you are taking to combat this. For example, have you stopped checking your emails at night-time?

Example answer:

‘I sometimes find it hard to switch off from work. In my previous job, I often took my work home with me. I regularly checked my emails and attempted to solve problems for clients while off the clock.

This caused me to be stressed out and tired. In order to combat this weakness, I decided to turn my phone off and not look at my emails while out of the office.’

4. I am not very good at public speaking

Public speaking is a weakness for many people. Some people just aren’t comfortable communicating with large audiences.

If public speaking is a weakness for you, touch on the steps you have taken to improve on this weakness. For example, have you practised speaking in front of smaller groups? Have you joined a public speaking club?

Of course, it wouldn’t be wise to describe public speaking as a weakness if it is a big part of the job you’re interviewing for. For example, if you’re a teacher it wouldn’t be a good idea to state that public speaking is your weakness.

Example answer:

‘I am very shy when it comes to public speaking. Although this hasn’t had a negative impact on my job, there have been times when I have had to speak publicly and felt very uncomfortable about it.

In response to identifying this weakness, I joined a public speaking group. Over the last few months, I have been practising public speaking and learning to use various beneficial techniques.’

5. I get frustrated if deadlines are missed

This is a good answer to questions about your weaknesses because it shows that you care about deadlines.

When using this answer to describe your weaknesses, show how deadlines are important to you. State how you make efforts to ensure projects don’t go over deadlines.

Example answer:

‘One of my biggest weaknesses is getting frustrated and irritated if tasks and projects miss deadlines. I try to ensure all projects achieve their objectives and are completed within timescales; if this doesn’t happen, I can become demoralised. In recent months, I have taken steps to ensure projects don’t go over deadlines. These include organising my work in a daily planner. I have also tried to improve my productivity by prioritising daily tasks.’

6. I am too critical of myself

Some people are too critical of their own performance. The ability to evaluate your work and determine your improvement areas is a positive quality, but if you’re being overly critical you could damage your self-esteem.

Example answer:

‘Sometimes I can be far too critical of myself. After completing projects, I spend a lot of time deliberating about what could have been improved and where I went wrong. In most cases, I have actually performed to very high standards, so I am unfairly punishing myself. In recent months, I have tried to focus less on self-analysis and more on the opinion of my supervisor.’

7. I attempt to please everyone

Being too much of a people pleaser isn’t always a weakness. But if you try to people-please too much you may start to appreciate yourself less and lose confidence in yourself.

If you intend to describe this as one of your weaknesses in your job interview, be sure to say what steps you’re taking to combat it.

Example answer:

'I try to please everyone too much and lean on other people’s approval. When I worked on a project to implement new processes across all internal departments, I was taking suggestions from multiple sources that contradicted each other. At first, I went along with all suggestions. However, to combat my desire to please all people, I told myself that I do have a choice about being a people pleaser. I forced myself to say no with conviction. I was commended by Senior Management for the success of the project and in recent times I have noticed I have become less of a people pleaser.'

8. I am not as experienced as some of my colleagues

If you have no experience at all in the type of work you’re interviewing for, it would be a good idea not to draw attention to it as a weakness. If you do have some experience but still feel you are lacking, it could be a weakness to speak about in your job interview.

Example answer:

'The fact that I only have only one years’ experience could be seen as a weakness. Some of my colleagues in my last job had over 20 years’ experience, so I understand I am still learning the role of sales assistant. However, I have never found myself feeling unqualified. In fact, I believe my enthusiasm and willingness to learn makes up for my inexperience. During the last three months, I have undertaken numerous sales courses at my own expense in order to optimise my sales skills.'

9. I sometimes focus too much on the details

Focusing on the details if usually a good thing. People who are detail-oriented tend to make less mistakes and achieve higher levels of quality. However, concentrating on the details too much can take your eyes of the big picture.

Example answer:

‘When heading projects, I sometimes focus too much on the small details. This takes my focus off the big picture and leads to me failing to observe the overall direction of projects. To combat this, I introduced daily meetings with project teams, where we discuss the overall progress of projects. This has helped me to find a balance between focusing on small details and the big picture.’

10. I don’t like confrontation

For those in leadership positions, or those seeking to move into leadership positions, confrontation can be a regular occurrence. Situations like negotiations and disciplinary procedures often involve confrontation. So, if you’re not very good confrontation, it could be considered a weakness.

If confrontation is a weakness for you, explain the steps you take to improve on it. For example, do you make efforts to improve your confidence? Have you learned to keep emotions out of confrontations?

Example answer:

'I don’t like confrontation. It makes me feel nervous and stressed. As someone who has leadership aspirations, I see this as a significant weakness. In my current role I have no leadership responsibilities, so it doesn’t have a negative impact on my performance. However, I do intend to progress to a managerial role.

For this reason, I have been working with a friend who has been teaching me skills to improve my ability to take part in confrontations. So far, I have learned to keep emotions out of confrontations. I will continue to work on this weakness and learn other techniques that can prevent it from hindering my career development.’

11. I take on too much work

If you take on too much work, you will likely become bogged down and your performance levels will drop. As such, it can become a significant weakness.

If taking on too much work is a weakness for you, touch on the steps you are taking to overcome the weakness. Are you learning to say no more often? Are you becoming more efficient to enable you to take on more work?

Example answer:

'Sometimes I take on too much work by accepting workloads from other departments. This leads to me getting bogged down and underperforming in my own work. In order to combat this, I have started to organise my workload in a diary. I also use a scheduling system that informs me exactly how much work I am able to take on.'

12. I am not effective at leading people

This may seem like a weakness that you should not mention in a job interview. After all, don’t companies want to employ good leaders?

The truth is, we can’t all be great at people management. Some of us simply aren’t effective at leading teams, and that’s absolutely fine. If you don’t have good people management skills, explaining that this is a weakness will show interviewers that you are capable of evaluating your own skill set and determining what you are best at.

Of course, you wouldn’t be advised to describe people management as your weakness if you’re interviewing for a job that involved people management.

Example answer:

'I am not effective at leading teams. I have worked in sales for over 15 years, and many of my colleagues are surprised that I have never advanced to more senior roles. I believe I lack the people management skills required to lead teams. However, in recent years, I have taken steps to improve my leadership skills. In November 2021, I undertook a leadership course, which improved my ability to lead my own projects.'

What Not to Say When Asked About Your Weaknesses

Don’t Deny That You Have Any Weaknesses

Everyone has some form of weaknesses. You won’t gain any advantage by telling the interviewer that you don’t have any.

Questions about weaknesses aren’t designed to determine that you don’t have any weaknesses. They’re designed to see if you can self-assess your skill set and overcome your shortcomings. As such, you should focus on how you overcome them and not let them affect your work,

Don’t Describe a Weakness That Would Prevent You from Doing Your Job

While you should always be honest and describe a genuine weakness when answering this question, you should avoid talking about a weakness that would prevent you from performing your everyday tasks.

For example, if you’re interviewing for a job as a manager, it would not be a good idea to explain that your weakness is managing people.

Instead focus on weaknesses that you can work with and overcome, as demonstrated in the weakness examples in this guide.

Don’t Try to Be Perfect

No one is perfect. We all have our own flaws. Interviewers know this, so don’t try to use your answer come across as flawless.

Questions about weaknesses are not designed to determine if you’re perfect. Interviewers ask about your weaknesses to see how you respond and if you have the self-awareness to identify your weaknesses and improve on them.

Answers like ‘I work too hard’ or ‘I am too knowledgeable’ will do you no favours at all. Instead, turn your weaknesses into positives by showing how you overcome them.

We hope you have found this question to interview questions about weaknesses helpful.

If you’re planning on pursuing jobs, you will need to equip yourself with an effective CV. View our ultimate guide on how to write a CV and use our free tips to ensure your CV makes a powerful impact.

FAQs

What are 3 examples of weaknesses? ›

Examples of Weaknesses.
  • Self-criticism.
  • Shyness.
  • Lack of knowledge of particular software.
  • Public speaking.
  • Taking criticism.
  • Lack of experience.
  • Inability to delegate.
  • Lack of confidence.

How do you nail an interview? ›

How to nail an interview
  1. Do your research.
  2. Prepare an elevator pitch.
  3. Study your resume.
  4. Study the job description.
  5. Use the STAR method.
  6. Create a strong first impression.
  7. Be prepared for small talk.
  8. Body language.
Feb 16, 2023

What is strength and weakness of a person? ›

Strengths are defined as character traits or skills that are considered positive. Strengths include knowledge, attributes, skills, and talents. Weaknesses are just the opposite. Weaknesses are defined as character traits or skills that are considered negative or not as well developed.

What weaknesses should I list? ›

Examples of weaknesses on the job
  • Inexperience with specific software or a non-essential skill.
  • Tendency to take on too much responsibility.
  • Nervousness about public speaking.
  • Hesitancy about delegating tasks.
  • Discomfort taking big risks.
  • Impatience with bureaucracies.
5 days ago

What are your five greatest weaknesses? ›

List of Example Weaknesses:
  • Too self-critical.
  • Too critical of other people's work.
  • Difficulty delegating tasks.
  • Disorganized.
  • Too detail-oriented.
  • Need more experience in X.
  • Impatient with others.
  • Unfamiliar with X.

What to ask at the end of an interview? ›

Questions to ask at the end of a job interview
  • How would you describe the company's culture? ...
  • What is your favorite thing about working for this company? ...
  • How do you see this company evolving over the next five years? ...
  • How do you think the company defines and demonstrates its values?
Feb 10, 2023

What are the top 3 weaknesses that employers look for? ›

When recruiters ask you to identify your greatest weaknesses, they are looking for the following three things:
  • Honesty. They want to know if you're honest enough to give a real weakness. ...
  • Self-awareness, or the ability to analyze yourself and recognize the areas where you need to work on.
  • Willingness to improve.

What 2 types have the most weaknesses? ›

Pokemon: The Types With the Most Weaknesses
  • 8 Fire.
  • 7 Bug.
  • 6 Ground.
  • 5 Flying.
  • 4 Fighting.
  • 3 Ice.
  • 2 Rock.
  • 1 Grass.
6 days ago

What are fake weaknesses for interviews? ›

Fake weaknesses

I work so hard I get overloaded.” “I have very high standards so I have a hard time delegating.” “I get very competitive about my work.” “I'm a perfectionist.”

How can I impress an interviewer? ›

How can I impress the interviewer with my answers?
  1. Be passionate. Have a positive attitude and be enthusiastic when talking about yourself and your career. ...
  2. Sell yourself. ...
  3. Tell stories. ...
  4. Ask questions. ...
  5. Ask for the job.
Feb 3, 2023

How do you end an interview? ›

How to end an interview
  1. Ask specific and well-thought-out questions about the position and company. ...
  2. Reiterate your qualifications for the job. ...
  3. Inquire if the interviewer needs any additional information or documentation. ...
  4. Address any issues. ...
  5. Restate your interest in the position.
Feb 3, 2023

What not to do in an interview? ›

15 Things You Should NOT Do at an Interview
  • Not Doing Your Research. ...
  • Turning Up Late. ...
  • Dressing Inappropriately. ...
  • Fidgeting With Unnecessary Props. ...
  • Poor Body Language. ...
  • Unclear Answering and Rambling. ...
  • Speaking Negatively About Your Current Employer. ...
  • Not Asking Questions.

What are your 3 strengths and weaknesses? ›

My strength is, I am a quick learner, a hard-working and active person. My weakness is I am not felling good until I completed my work on time. My strengths are I'm self-motivated, Hard-working, a quick learner and I am a good team player. My weakness is I'm an overthinker and kind-hearted person.

What strengths and weaknesses should tell? ›

Take stock of what you believe to be your personal strengths or ask a friend to help you identify what you're good at. Make sure to include a range of strengths, including knowledge-based skills, transferable skills, soft skills and personal traits to demonstrate your versatility.

What are normal weaknesses? ›

Type chart, effectiveness and weakness explained in Pokémon Go
TypeStrong AgainstWeak Against
NormalRock, Ghost, Steel
FightingNormal, Rock, Steel, Ice, DarkFlying, Poison, Psychic, Bug, Ghost, Fairy
FlyingFighting, Bug, GrassRock, Steel, Electric
PoisonGrass, FairyPoison, Ground, Rock, Ghost, Steel
14 more rows
Dec 15, 2022

How to introduce yourself in interview? ›

Tips on How to Introduce Yourself in an Interview
  1. Greet Your Interviewers. ...
  2. Let Your Interviewers Know About Your Educational Background. ...
  3. An Alternate Approach for Seasoned Professionals. ...
  4. A Line or Two on Your Passions and Hobbies. ...
  5. The Vital Closing Statement.
Jan 27, 2023

Why do you want this job? ›

I see this opportunity as a way to contribute to an exciting/forward-thinking/fast-moving company/industry, and I feel I can do so by/with my …” “I feel my skills are particularly well-suited to this position because …” “I believe I have the type of knowledge to succeed in this role and at the company because …”

How do you handle stress and pressure? ›

2. Commit to a Positive Attitude
  1. Decide what you can do. Pinpoint which parts of the situation you have the power to change or influence for the better. ...
  2. Get support. Find someone to talk to about your situation. ...
  3. Care for yourself. Take especially good care of yourself when stress in your life is high.

What are the 5 hardest interview questions? ›

The most difficult interview questions (and answers)
  • What is your greatest weakness?
  • Why should we hire you?
  • What's something that you didn't like about your last job?
  • Why do you want this job?
  • How do you deal with conflict with a co-worker?
  • Here's an answer for you.

Why should I hire you? ›

Your skills and qualifications. If you can prove that you've got all the skills that the company is looking for in a candidate, you'll have effectively answered the question. Your passion and motivation. You can highlight how good of a company fit you'd be and how much you love working in your field or industry.

What 3 questions should I ask interviewer? ›

Asking these questions shows that you're interested in your interviewer as a person—and that's a great way to build rapport with a future colleague.
  • How long have you been with the company?
  • Has your role changed since you've been here?
  • What did you do before this?
  • Why did you come to this company?
Mar 3, 2023

What are the common weaknesses of an employee? ›

8 common employee weaknesses
  • Resistance to change. Experienced professionals often develop certain habits or routines that help them stay organised, prioritise their tasks and meet deadlines. ...
  • Lack of confidence. ...
  • Procrastination. ...
  • Trouble managing goals. ...
  • Impatience. ...
  • Close-mindedness. ...
  • Uncompromising. ...
  • Fear of risks.
Nov 15, 2022

Is Overthinking a weakness? ›

Is Overthinking a Weakness? Overthinking can be viewed as both a strength and a weakness; it is, therefore, not a strong answer to give when asked about your weaknesses at interview. What is this? In some respects, someone that overthinks can be perceived to be unsure of themselves and their decision-making.

What are job performance weaknesses? ›

Common weaknesses include procrastination, impatience, impulsiveness, and forgetfulness. Use the abilities that come to you easily – find out what you're naturally good at and exploit that skill for all it's worth.

What are the weakness types? ›

Pokémon strengths and weaknesses
TYPESUPER EFFECTIVE (ATK)WEAK AGAINST (DMG)
TYPESUPER EFFECTIVE (ATK)WEAK AGAINST (DMG)
PsychicFighting, PoisonBug, Dark, Ghost
RockBug, Fire, Flying, IceFighting, Grass, Ground, Steel, Water
SteelFairy, Ice, RockFighting, Fire, Ground
15 more rows
Nov 16, 2019

What types only have one weakness? ›

Thankfully, for those wanting to know what Pokémon types have the least weaknesses, there are a few combinations out there that only have one or even no weaknesses. These types are Electric, Normal, Ghost/Dark, Poison/Dark, Water/Ground, Bug/Steel, Water/Electric, and one of the more recent combinations, Normal/Ghost.

What type has the least weaknesses? ›

The singular type with the least weaknesses is electric, with a weakness to only ground, so it is also tied with the dual types above.

What are fixable weaknesses? ›

Common 'fixable' weaknesses include time management, delegation skills, team leadership, networking and public speaking. Describe your weakness in a concise manner and then outline the steps you've taken to improve it.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years best answer examples? ›

Sample answer template for “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” In five years, I see myself continuing to develop my skills and expertise in [list skills related to the role] in a [name future position] contributing to the growth and success of the organization.

How do you see yourself 5 years from now? ›

I would like to be financially independent and gain more time-to-time knowledge in the company's goals. And to get a respected position that is my future endeavour to easy. As a person, I want to be a more skilled, more capable person. As a professional, I see myself as handling more responsibilities.

Why do we hire you? ›

Your skills and qualifications. If you can prove that you've got all the skills that the company is looking for in a candidate, you'll have effectively answered the question. Your passion and motivation. You can highlight how good of a company fit you'd be and how much you love working in your field or industry.

Can you work under pressure? ›

The answer is Yes. We surely can work under stress but the cons in working under pressure or stress is that it hinders or blocks your creativity and ability to take smart decisions. So to overcome this situation, we should stay calm and breathe more.

What can you bring to the company? ›

How to (and how not to) answer the interview question 'What can you bring to the company?' The simple answer to this question is you : you bring all of your skills, qualities, values, interests, academic knowledge, internships and life experience to the company.

What are three strengths? ›

Some examples of strengths you might mention include:
  • Enthusiasm.
  • Trustworthiness.
  • Creativity.
  • Discipline.
  • Patience.
  • Respectfulness.
  • Determination.
  • Dedication.

How do you tell me about yourself in an interview? ›

Your answer to the "tell me about yourself" question should describe your current situation, your past job experience, the reason you're a good fit for the role, and how you align with the company values. Tell the interviewer about your current position and a recent big accomplishment or positive feedback you received.

What motivates you the most interview question? ›

Good answers to the question 'what motivates you?'
  • meeting deadlines, targets or goals.
  • mentoring and coaching others.
  • learning new things.
  • coming up with creative ideas to improve something, or make something new.
  • analysing complex data in order to draw clear and simple conclusions.
  • working well as part of a team.

Can you work under pressure and deal with deadlines? ›

And yes, dealing with work pressure is a skill you can learn. While some people relish the challenge of deadlines and love juggling multiple projects, others prefer to plan ahead and diligently work through things to prevent themselves from getting overwhelmed.

How do I stay calm in stressful situations? ›

Here are a few tips for staying calm in stressful situations.
  1. Breathe. Take a few slow, deep breaths. ...
  2. Count to 10. In the time it takes you to do so, you may be able to look at your situation with a fresh pair of eyes.
  3. Take a walk. ...
  4. Try a 3-Minute Meditation. ...
  5. Practice gratitude. ...
  6. Eat well. ...
  7. Get moving. ...
  8. Let it go.

How do you work under high pressure? ›

In this post we offer tips to help your team maintain composure and cope better with stress and pressure in the workplace.
  1. Maintain control and focus. ...
  2. Create a plan. ...
  3. Evaluate your priorities. ...
  4. Avoid procrastination… ...
  5. 5. … ...
  6. Break down tasks and simplify. ...
  7. Communicate effectively with your team. ...
  8. Execute the plan.

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