Handle Weakness Questions Strategically

"What is your greatest weakness?" is one of the most feared interview questions. But with the right approach, you can turn it into a positive moment.

What Interviewers Really Want

They're not looking for perfection. They want to see:

• Self-awareness about your limitations
• Ability to reflect and grow
• Honesty without oversharing
• Actions you're taking to improve

The Formula for a Strong Answer

1. State the weakness: Be specific and honest
2. Provide context: How it has affected your work
3. Show improvement: What you're doing to address it
4. Demonstrate progress: Results of your efforts

Example Answers

Good Example

"I've historically struggled with delegating tasks. As an individual contributor, I could do everything myself. But as I moved into leadership, I realized this wasn't sustainable. I've been working on this by explicitly identifying tasks that others can own, and I've built a framework for deciding when to delegate. Last quarter, I successfully delegated three major workstreams, which freed me to focus on strategy and actually improved the outcomes because team members brought fresh perspectives."

What Makes It Work

• It's a real weakness (not "I work too hard")
• It's not disqualifying for the role
• Shows concrete actions and progress
• Demonstrates self-awareness

Weaknesses to Avoid Mentioning

• Core requirements for the job
• Character flaws (dishonesty, unreliability)
• Fake weaknesses ("I'm too much of a perfectionist")
• Weaknesses with no improvement story

Good Weakness Topics

• Public speaking (if not critical to role)
• Delegation or asking for help
• Saying no to requests
• Specific technical skill you're developing
• Impatience with slow processes