How to Answer “What Is Your Greatest Weakness?” (Examples)
“What’s your biggest weakness?”
Why interviewers ask it
The interviewer is testing self-awareness and honesty, and whether you work on your gaps. They don’t expect you to have none, and they’ve heard “I’m a perfectionist” a thousand times.
What they want to hear
- A real weakness that isn’t central to the job
- Specific steps you’ve taken to improve
- Evidence it’s getting better
How to structure your answer: Weakness, action, progress
- 1The weaknessA genuine one, stated plainly, that isn’t a core requirement of this job.
- 2What you’re doingConcrete steps: a course, a habit, feedback you asked for.
- 3ProgressHow you know it’s improving, with an example.
Example answers
Made-up examples to show the shape of a good answer. Yours should use your own experience and numbers.
I’ve tended to stay quiet in design reviews when I disagree with a senior engineer, and then raise it later in a chat message, which isn’t helpful. My manager pointed it out last year. Since then I write my concerns down before each review and make myself raise at least one in the room. In the last quarter I pushed back on a caching design during review, and we changed it before building it. It still takes effort, but it’s now a habit.
Public speaking to large groups. I’m fine with small meetings, but presenting to 50 people used to make me rush. I joined Toastmasters eight months ago and I’ve given six speeches there. Last month I presented our quarterly project update to the whole division, and my manager said it was the clearest one we’ve had. I’d still rather prepare than wing it, but it doesn’t hold me back any more.
Mistakes to avoid
- A disguised strength (“I work too hard”). Interviewers see through it.
- A weakness that’s core to the job, like attention to detail for an accountant.
- Stopping at the weakness without what you’re doing about it.
Other ways it’s asked
- “What would you like to improve about yourself?”
- “What’s one thing your manager would change about you?”
- “Tell me about an area you’re developing.”
Practise it out loudAnswers that read well often run long when spoken. Practise in a mock interview and get feedback on content, pace and filler words.
See mock interviews