How to Answer 'What's Your Greatest Weakness?' (With Examples)

"What's your greatest weakness?"

It's one of the most dreaded interview questions—and one of the most common. You know you can't say "I'm a perfectionist" (eye roll), but you also don't want to disqualify yourself by being too honest.

The good news? This question isn't the trap it seems like. With the right approach, you can answer honestly while demonstrating self-awareness and growth.

What They're Really Asking

Interviewers ask about weaknesses to evaluate:

• Self-awareness: Do you know your limitations?
• Honesty: Can you be genuine without over-sharing?
• Growth mindset: Are you working to improve?
• Cultural fit: Is this weakness incompatible with the role?

They're not trying to disqualify you. They want to see how you handle vulnerability and criticism.

The Framework for a Great Answer

1. Choose a Real Weakness (But Be Strategic)

Pick something genuine, but not disqualifying for the role.

Don't choose:

• A core skill for the job ("I'm bad at sales" for a sales role)
• Character flaws ("I'm always late" or "I don't get along with people")
• Humblebrags ("I work too hard" or "I care too much")

Do choose:

• A skill you're actively improving
• Something not central to the role
• A weakness you've made progress on

2. Show What You're Doing About It

The weakness itself matters less than your response to it.

Structure:

1. State the weakness honestly
2. Explain why it's a challenge
3. Describe the steps you're taking to improve
4. Share evidence of progress

Example Answers That Work

Example 1: Public Speaking (Not a Presenting Role)

"I've never been comfortable with public speaking. In college, I'd get nervous giving presentations and sometimes lose my train of thought.

I knew this would hold me back professionally, so I joined Toastmasters two years ago. I've now given over 20 prepared speeches and participated in impromptu speaking exercises every week.

I'm not going to win any TED Talk competitions, but I can now confidently present to my team and stakeholders. Last quarter, I presented our quarterly results to 30 people, and my manager said I came across as clear and composed.

I still get butterflies before big presentations, but I've learned to channel that nervous energy into enthusiasm. It's gone from a limiting fear to manageable nerves."

Why it works:

• Honest about the weakness
• Shows concrete action taken
• Demonstrates measurable progress
• Ends on a positive note

Example 2: Delegation (For a New Manager)

"Early in my career as a team lead, I struggled with delegation. I'd been a high-performing individual contributor, and I wanted everything done perfectly. So I'd end up doing tasks myself rather than assigning them to my team.

I realized this was burning me out and preventing my team from growing. My manager helped me see that my job wasn't to do the work—it was to enable others to do it.

I started small by delegating low-stakes tasks and providing clear instructions. I scheduled check-ins rather than hovering. I created documentation so team members had references.

Now I regularly delegate important projects. Last month, I assigned our biggest client presentation to a junior team member, and they absolutely crushed it. I'm learning that trusting my team actually leads to better outcomes than doing everything myself."

Why it works:

• Relevant to a leadership role
• Shows insight into the problem
• Details specific improvement steps
• Provides a success story

Example 3: Technical Skill (Not Core to Role)

"My Excel skills are pretty basic. I can do standard formulas, but when it comes to pivot tables, macros, or complex functions, I struggle.

This became clear when I joined my current team and saw how much more efficient my colleagues were at data analysis. Rather than avoid Excel work, I decided to upskill.

I've been taking LinkedIn Learning courses on advanced Excel, and I practice by volunteering for projects that involve data analysis. I've learned pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and basic macros.

I'm nowhere near an Excel expert, but I can now handle most common analyses on my own instead of always asking for help. For really complex work, I still collaborate with our data analyst, which I think is appropriate given my role focuses more on strategy than number-crunching."

Why it works:

• Not a critical skill for the role
• Shows initiative in learning
• Realistic about current level
• Knows when to collaborate vs. DIY

Weaknesses That Work Well

Good Options:

Communication-related:

• "I tend to be too concise in written communication and sometimes leave out context"
• "I'm more comfortable with written communication than verbal"
• "I used to avoid difficult conversations, though I'm working on being more direct"

Work style:

• "I can get so focused on details that I sometimes lose sight of the big picture"
• "I'm not naturally organized—I've had to develop systems to stay on top of things"
• "I prefer to work independently and have to remind myself to collaborate more"

Technical/skill gaps:

• "My experience with [specific tool] is limited, though I'm actively learning"
• "I haven't worked much with [certain technology], so there's a learning curve"
• "My background is more [X] than [Y], so I'm building skills in that area"

Professional development:

• "Early in my career, I struggled with time management and missed deadlines"
• "I used to take on too many projects and burn out"
• "I had difficulty receiving critical feedback when I was younger"

Weaknesses to Avoid

Never Say:

Character flaws:

• "I'm lazy"
• "I don't get along with people"
• "I have a short temper"
• "I'm always late"

Core job requirements:

• "I'm not good with numbers" (for an analyst role)
• "I don't like working with customers" (for a customer-facing role)
• "I'm not technical" (for an engineering role)

Humblebrags:

• "I'm a perfectionist"
• "I work too hard"
• "I care too much"
• "I'm too dedicated"

No answer:

• "I don't really have any weaknesses"
• "I can't think of anything"

Advanced Tips

For Entry-Level Candidates

Focus on academic or internship experiences:

"During my internship, I realized I didn't know how to prioritize when I had multiple assignments. I'd work on everything at once and nothing got my full attention. My supervisor taught me to list tasks by urgency and importance. Now I start each day by identifying my top three priorities."

For Senior Candidates

Choose leadership or strategic weaknesses:

"Earlier in my career, I was very hands-on and wanted to be involved in every decision. As I've moved into more senior roles, I've had to learn to trust my team and focus on strategy rather than execution. I'm still working on resisting the urge to jump into the details when I should be thinking at a higher level."

For Career Changers

Acknowledge gaps honestly:

"I'm transitioning from teaching to product management, so my weakness is lack of direct industry experience. However, my teaching background gives me strong skills in understanding user needs, explaining complex concepts simply, and iterating based on feedback. I've also completed PM coursework and built personal projects to fill technical knowledge gaps."

What to Do If They Push Back

Sometimes interviewers will ask follow-up questions or challenge your answer:

"That doesn't sound like much of a weakness." Response: "You're right that it's not debilitating, but it's something I'm actively working on because I know it impacts my effectiveness. Let me give you a specific example of when this caused a problem..."

"Can you tell me about another weakness?" Response: Have a second example ready. Use the same framework: state it, show what you're doing, demonstrate progress.

"How has this weakness affected your work?" Response: Give a specific example, but emphasize what you learned and how you've improved since then.

The Bottom Line

The weakness question tests your self-awareness and growth mindset, not your ability to seem perfect.

A great answer:

• Is honest but strategic
• Shows self-awareness
• Demonstrates active improvement
• Provides specific examples
• Ends on a positive note

A weak answer:

• Is obviously fake ("I'm a perfectionist")
• Shows no effort to improve
• Reveals a critical character flaw
• Lacks specificity
• Makes you seem unaware or defensive

Choose a real weakness that won't disqualify you. Show what you're doing about it. Demonstrate progress. That's all they're looking for.

Remember: Nobody's perfect. They don't expect you to be. They expect you to be honest, self-aware, and committed to growth.

Want to practice your answer? Use Reherse's AI interview coach to refine your response and get real-time feedback. Start practicing →