List of Weaknesses: 10 Things To Say in an Interview

Discussing Your Weaknesses as Strengths in a Job Interview

It can be hard to answer the question, “What is your greatest weakness?”—especially when you expect to be discussing the skills, talents, and capabilities that make you the strongest candidate for the job. The key to preparing for this question is to identify weaknesses that still communicate strengths. This will show the interviewer you’re introspective enough to know your areas of opportunity.

Here are a few examples of the best weaknesses to mention in an interview:

1. I focus too much on the details

Being detail-oriented is typically a good thing, but if you’re someone who tends to spend too much time on the specifics of a project, it could also be considered a weakness. By sharing that you focus too much on details, you’re showing your interviewer that you’re capable of helping the organization avoid even minor mistakes.

Example: “My greatest weakness is that I sometimes focus too much on the details of a project and spend too much time analyzing the finer points. I’ve been striving to improve in this area by checking in with myself at regular intervals and giving myself a chance to refocus on the bigger picture. That way I can still ensure quality without getting so caught up in the details that it affects my productivity or the team’s ability to meet the deadline.”

2. I have a hard time letting go of a project

When you’ve spent a great deal of time and effort on something, it’s easy to feel apprehensive about marking it complete or passing it on to another team. There’s always room for improvement and some people tend to over-criticize their work or attempt last-minute changes, which can threaten the timeline.

Example: “My greatest weakness is that I sometimes have a hard time letting go of a project. I’m the biggest critic of my work. I can always find something that needs to be improved or changed. To help myself improve in this area, I give myself deadlines for revisions. This helps ensure that I’m not making changes at the last minute.”

3. I have trouble saying “no”

Helping colleagues on projects and properly managing your workload is an artful balance. From an employer’s perspective, someone who accepts all requests seems dedicated and eager—but can also be someone who doesn’t know their limits and ends up needing help or deadline extensions to finish their work.

4. I get impatient when projects run beyond the deadline

While expressing outward stress or frustration over missed deadlines can be considered a weakness, employers value workers that place importance on deadlines and strive to keep projects within the planned timeline.

5. I could use more experience in…

Each candidate has areas to improve upon in their expertise. Maybe it’s something specific like building pivot tables in Excel. Perhaps it’s a skill like math, writing, or public speaking. Whatever the case, sharing something you want to improve upon shows the interviewer that you’re self-aware and like to challenge yourself. Be sure, however, that you don’t answer with a weakness that is essential to the role.

6. I sometimes lack confidence

Lack of confidence is a common weakness, especially among entry-level contributors. Experiencing a lack of confidence can sometimes cause inefficiencies in your work. For example, you might feel unqualified to speak up at an important meeting when your idea could help the team to achieve a goal.

7. I can have trouble asking for help

Asking for help is a necessary skill both when you are lacking expertise in a certain area and when you are feeling burned out or cannot handle your workload. Knowing when and how to ask for help shows strong self-awareness and helps the organization by getting ahead of a possible inefficiency. While having a strong work ethic and being independent are positive qualities, the business should know when to ask for help.

Example: “Because I am independent and enjoy working quickly, it has been difficult for me to ask for help when I need it. I have learned that it is much more beneficial both for me and the business to reach out when I do not understand something or feel burned out with my workload.

8. It has been difficult for me to work with certain personalities

Even the most flexible people can have trouble working with others that have certain characteristics or personality traits. Having good teamwork skills also means having a strong awareness of how you work with others and ways you can adjust your approach to better serve the organization.

Example: “In the past, I have found it difficult to work with aggressive personality types. While I understand diversity in personalities makes a business strong, I tend to quiet my own ideas and opinions around louder colleagues.

9. It can be difficult for me to maintain a healthy work/life balance

Finding work/life balance is important to maintain motivation in your job. While it is certainly honorable and shows a strong work ethic to spend your time and energy on work, it is also necessary to prioritize resting, going on vacation, spending time with your family, and enjoying hobbies. Doing so can help you feel refreshed when you are at work and can increase motivation, creativity, and a positive outlook.

10. I have been uncomfortable working with ambiguity

Many jobs require candidates who are comfortable individually defining tasks and working towards goals. This means they should be experienced, thoughtful, and responsible with ambiguity in the workplace. While it is certainly a beneficial skill to closely follow detailed instructions, it is also necessary to be able to determine what it takes to achieve the desired outcome.

Use this list of weaknesses to help identify your areas for improvement, and remember to explain how you’re working to overcome your shortcomings. By presenting both the problem and the solution, you can transform your weakness into a strength.

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