What is Your Biggest Weakness?

A Series About Answering Interview Questions

It is almost a given that when going on a job interview, the employer will ask you about your biggest weakness. It is a good way for the employer to gauge how you respond to see what type of worker you will be in their company. Practice your answer so that you are better prepared to show your employer you have what it takes to be a capable employee.

Don’t fall into the trap of saying that you don’t think you have any flaws, or worse, that you “work too hard.” Employers have heard it all before and want to see that you are human. They are more interested in seeing how you overcome your natural flaws and what you do to make sure that you can still produce solid work.

If there was a time on the job where you struggled, talk about that time and then explain how you overcame the obstacle. Detail what you did to learn from your mistake or weakness and share how you plan to avoid repeating the same mistake.

When forming your answer, it can be helpful to re-frame the question to make your weakness sound better. Instead of saying “I’m bad at…” or “I can’t…” say something like, “Something I’m working on is…” That way the employer can see you are aware of your weakness and are actively working on it to better yourself. Keep your examples work related and let them know what you are doing to improve yourself in the workplace.

Prepare some responses before the interview so you are ready to go when they ask this inevitable question! Contact Career Services for more help or to set up a mock interview.