“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”: how to answer this interview question

During my career, I’ve seen many candidates struggle with a common interview question: “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

When thinking of strengths and weaknesses for job interviews, try to focus on the underlying question. What this actually provides is the perfect moment to impress the hiring manager.  

To be clear, there’s no correct answer. But there is a proper way to answer this common interview question. A good — or even great — answer will depend on your skills and experiences. But your approach and structure to the answer will determine how you come across as a person. 

To give the best answer possible, it’s easier if we look at each part of the question separately. 

“What is your greatest strength?“

This question allows you to show off attributes and skills that you might not have mentioned yet in the conversation. You can also reinforce the positive image of yourself in the interviewer’s mind.

However, that doesn’t mean you should reel off a list of the qualities you feel make you look good. Despite the positive connotations, there is still a wrong way to answer this question.

Align your strengths to the job description 

First, make sure that anything you say is relevant to the company and, more specifically, the role itself. Use the job description as a reference for what you’ll need to carry out the role successfully. Then, make sure you’re ticking off the skills/experience mentioned for the role.

If you haven’t already, research the work environment and company culture. Great places to start include their website and social media channels. This research will help you to understand whether they will be the right fit for you. You can also identify what they’re looking for in terms of attributes.

Sample Answers and Examples Of Strengths 

For strengths, include a combination of:

• technical skills 
• transferable skills  
• personality traits.  

The former should be apparent in your CV or cover letter — but the person interviewing you may not have read these thoroughly. It’s always worth reminding them of what you can offer.

If you are applying for a role that demands hard skills that you lack, it’s best to focus on traits and soft skills. Demonstrate how you can apply your skills to the role. You could also say that one of your strengths is the speed at which you pick up new technical skills. Try to use past examples to prove this.

Avoid obvious answers 

Remember that this interview is an opportunity for you to stand out from the other applicants in the job search. As such, you should make sure that your listed strengths set you apart from the rest. Don’t say anything obvious that any candidate could claim.

In my opinion, one of the worst so-called strengths that candidates give is: “I work hard”. Believe me, this has the opposite effect to the one the speaker hopes to have. Everybody should feel this about themselves. I doubt any other applicants will have said, “I don’t work hard”. So think about what makes you unique and the best fit for the role.

It’s also important to be specific. It’s good to describe the traits and soft skills that make you an ideal employee. But even if you’re being honest, any vague descriptions could appear insincere. Choose a relevant area to which you can apply these successfully and, ideally, use examples again.

“What is your greatest weakness?”

The weaknesses job interview question is where people are more likely to struggle. The most important thing is to view it as an opportunity to impress, rather than a trap to catch you out.

Many people are tempted to “um” and “ah” as they struggle to think of anything that could be conceived as a weakness. Please do not make this mistake. This is a common interview question and you’ll seem unprepared or that you have a lack of confidence.

Always be honest 

Remember to always be honest. Avoid blaming others for the weaknesses you mention, or making excuses for any weaknesses. This approach will suggest that you are not willing to carry out professional development.

Instead, show self-awareness. This is a desirable trait for employers, showing you can do quality work as a team player. It highlights that you are able to carry out self-reflection and improve. Take this chance to show how you learn from constructive criticism and move forward.

Balance honesty with positivity 

Of course, there is also the risk of going too far in the other direction. If anything, it’s possible to be too honest and list too many examples of weaknesses. In this case, the person hiring for the role might think you lack the required skills or traits. 

Try to find a balance between giving a valid answer and being too harsh. Consider what the interviewer actually wants to learn. For example: you will inevitably struggle with some challenges in your new role. So, it’s important to explain how you have reacted to other problems in the past. The aim is to prove that you have learned from this and improved.

Tell the interviewer something intrinsic about yourself 

You shouldn’t try and spin your weaknesses by implying that they are a strength. We’ve all heard, “I’m a perfectionist”, “I work too hard and struggle to have a work-life balance”, or “I need to be busy”. The interviewer’s not going to fall for it.

Instead, use these as a starting point. You can talk about your self-improvement or why you want the job. For example, replace “I’m a perfectionist” with:

“Sometimes I spend too much time focusing on details. This role would allow me to develop my ability to look at the bigger picture.”

Alternatively, discuss any weaknesses you’re working on or any previous problems. Talk about how you went about learning or upskilling as a result. For example, did you take an online course or learn from team members?

Ideally, use a story from your previous work or academic experience to demonstrate your journey. This is what the interviewer really wants to know.  

Don’t Be Too Self-Critical 

When answering the weaknesses job interview question, avoid using overtly negative words. Do not use words like:  

• Failed 
• Unsuccessful 
• Poor.  

Using these won’t help the interviewer’s perception of you — even if it’s happening subconsciously. Instead, give constructive feedback on your experience. Explain that a project or task “didn’t go as well as I’d hoped” or that “results could have been better”.

This approach will show that you hold high standards and are always looking to do the best job possible. Think about how your answer reflect on your attitudes towards time management, problem-solving and work ethic.

After providing an example, let the interviewer know why you believe this happened. What would you do better next time?

Weaknesses: Job Interview Example Answers 

Another interview tip is to choose weaknesses that aren’t necessarily relevant to the role. For example: 

• Is this a role in recruitment or sales, or one that will require good communication skills? If not, then maybe mention that you have a hard time being shy at times. Or state that you’re still working on teamwork and leadership skills. 
• Will you have to speak on stage or to camera often? If not, you could say that you can be nervous before public speaking. 
• Will you need to use a particular app, piece of software or functionality? If not, you can admit your technical inexperience. Just make sure that it’s somewhat relevant to the conversation (i.e. these skills were required in a previous role). Or else it might seem strange to mention it in the first place. 

This is another case where your research around the company and the role will be used. The more you know about what you’ll need to succeed, the more you’ll know about what is relevant. These can be your listed weaknesses. 

Job Interview Weaknesses — It’s A Common Job Interview Question For A Reason 

Interviewers choose this question because they can learn a lot about your personality, skills and application. Take the time to structure each of your responses and frame the desired outcome as a positive. This approach will help you give off the best impression possible. That way, you’ll truly stand out from the other candidates in your next interview. 

Looking for more tips on answering a common interview question? You might also like:

• How to elevate your answer to: “Why should I hire you?”
• “Are you interviewing with any other companies?”
• “Why are you looking to leave your current job?”