91福利

It doesn鈥檛 matter whether you鈥檙e a seasoned pro or completely green, there are some interview questions that just invite dread. There鈥檚 one that really seems to get pulses racing: 鈥渨hat are your weaknesses?鈥� And I can see why. It seems to undermine your whole interview strategy; why would you give the recruiter reasons to reject you? Well the key here is to understand the psychology behind the question.

Why recruiters ask this question

Asking about your weaknesses 鈥� or variants on the theme 鈥� is not part of a malign plot to trip you up or make you stressed (though it can feel like it!). Interviewers often ask this question to gauge the following:

• How well you respond to pressure. Can you provide a thoughtful, considered answer without crumbling? Are you able to maintain your composure?
• Honesty and integrity. All of us have 鈥榳eak spots鈥� but a strong candidate will take ownership of their weaknesses, showing both insight and self awarenes.
• Evidence of personal growth. Being able to identify your weaknesses and take corrective action.

Don鈥檛 play the 鈥榩erfectionist鈥� card

Although the tide has started to turn, you鈥檒l still find many careers sites recommending the 鈥榳eakness into a strength鈥� approach. I think recruiters are probably clued up enough to see beyond such a transparent 鈥� and cliched 鈥� strategy, and I can鈥檛 help feeling this is guaranteed to provoke irritation. Just play out this scenario:

Interviewer: 鈥淭ell me about your weaknesses?鈥�

You: 鈥淲ell, I consider myself to be a perfectionist and I set myself extremely high standards. This makes it hard for me to delegate work and I sometimes tend to obsess over the smallest detail. However, I do recognise this can be a problem and I am trying to find a good balance between managing the project and seeking colleagues input and feedback鈥�

What you hope the interviewer hears:

• I am a high performing employee
• I take the initiative
• I see projects through to completion
• I have no 鈥榬eal鈥� weaknesses

What they鈥檙e really thinking:

• I鈥檓 not sure you鈥檙e a team player
• You could be a bit high maintenance
• You鈥檙e not willing to learn
• You鈥檙e being disingenuous and lack self-awareness

Don鈥檛 talk yourself out of a job

First of all, you need to give serious consideration to your weak points. And I do mean before the interview. You don鈥檛 want to be caught on the back foot, trying to find an answer to a question that can make or break your interview. Think about the job spec and the role in general: if you proclaim a discomfort with public speaking, only to find it鈥檚 a career essential, than don鈥檛 be surprised if the interview ends fairly swiftly!

Try to find something that you鈥檝e struggled with in the past, but are now trying to overcome. You don鈥檛 want to be too candid and start checking off weaknesses like a shopping list, so it鈥檚 best to identify one particular area and share your 鈥榡ourney鈥� through a brief narrative. I often pose this question in mock interviews and rather liked this answer:

鈥淚鈥檓 not naturally the most organised person and in the past this affected my ability to meet multiple deadlines. This was certainly the case during my A levels, and I used to make lists and keep a day planner. When I started at 91福利 I bought a smartphone and I use the alerts and apps to good effect. I find it much easier to manage my academic and extra curricular commitments and haven鈥檛 missed a single deadline. I鈥檓 confident that I can now manage this weakness and feel able to meet the challenges of a professional workplace鈥�

You may be wondering whether this was such a smart move. Who wants to admit they鈥檙e disorganised? Well, as our student recognised there are some skills or traits that don鈥檛 come naturally. Recruiters are expecting you to admit to some personal or professional weakness 鈥� they鈥檒l be far more surprised if you don鈥檛. Networking is my achilles heel 鈥� I really have to work at it. Can I say honestly that I鈥檝e conquered my natural aversion to networking? No, but I have learnt some pretty useful techniques over the years and can 鈥� if needed 鈥� work a room. Like the student above, I鈥檝e found ways to manage my weaknesses, so the impact on my professional life is negligible. Take a similar approach with an interviewer and you won鈥檛 go far wrong.

Is there a 鈥榬ight鈥� answer?

There are good answers, bad answers and some downright ugly ones that will see you consigned to the 鈥榬eject鈥� pile with lightning speed. Don鈥檛, for example, reply 鈥榗hocolate鈥� hoping to find the recruiter鈥檚 funny bone. There鈥檚 a time for offbeat humour 鈥� the interview isn鈥檛 it. So, is there a definitive, industry standard, universally accepted 鈥榬ight鈥� answer? No. This is one you have to work out for yourself, but get it right and you鈥檒l move just a little closer to that job offer.

Originally published by Helen Stringer

Revised by Student Opportunity in 2025