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Job interviewers commonly ask candidates questions about their professional weaknesses. When asked this type of question, a job seeker will want to frame any shortcomings they share within a context that demonstrates self-awareness and a commitment to professional growth.
Below, Forbes Coaches Council members share effective ways to disclose weaknesses without falling into the traps of humble bragging or excessive self-critique. With these tips in mind, you can turn your potential vulnerabilities into narratives of resilience and adaptability.
1. Emphasize Your Ability To Move Forward
A weakness question is never about the weakness. It’s about overcoming, perseverance, positive change and learning. Say little about the weakness and emphasize your ability to move forward. Show how your process of improvement can be applied to all you do in your work. - David J. Smith, David J. Smith Consulting, LLC
2. Demonstrate Self-Reflection And Honesty
It’s important to show self-reflection and honesty in answering this question. You can say, “Something I’ve learned about myself is...” and add what you have done to rectify the tendency. You might add, “That’s one of the reasons I want to work with you and the team at this firm. I want to develop that skill with guidance and share my complementary strengths with the team.” - Cathy Bonczek, CCB Communications LLC.
3. Own Up To Your Flaws With Good Humor
Everyone has flaws. People who own their weaknesses and compensate for them are better able to focus on their strengths. Own up to what you’re not so great at, and point out gently that you are applying to a job where your strengths will shine. Lighten it up with a little humor as to why you are not applying for a job that requires your strengths to show your resilience and personality. - Lisa D. Foster, Lisa D. Foster, Coach
4. Be Honest And Straightforward
Say, “Yes, I do have some weaknesses,” and “No, unfortunately, I am not perfect. But I know one thing about me, I will always do, and be, whatever it takes to learn, improve and thrive in life. And that’s why I am here today.” - David Kubes, Access Consciousness Leadership
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5. Focus On How You Utilize ‘Lesser Strengths’
As a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, I’m always encouraging clients to focus on what they do best. If they have a weakness, it is typically because they don’t use it enough and are out of their comfort zone. I recommend honesty as the best policy. Talk about how the more you utilize those “lesser strengths” (we don’t like to call them weaknesses), the stronger you will be in that area. - Liz Trocchio Smith, The Trocchio Advantage
6. Talk About A Skill You Are Working To Develop
Hiring managers are most interested in gauging self-awareness, so use this question as an opportunity to demonstrate that. Focus on a skill you are actively working on versus a character trait, and don’t discount the power of language in your response. While subtle, refer to the weakness instead as an “area of opportunity” or “challenge” to reframe it for yourself and the interviewer. - Nathalie Weister, EPM Studio
7. Present Weaknesses As Strengths Taken To Extremes
In interviews, present weaknesses as strengths taken to extremes, per Daniel Ofman’s Core Quality Quadrant. For instance, while attention to detail is beneficial, it can lead to perfectionism. Identify such a strength, discuss its potential pitfalls, and outline steps you’re taking to maintain balance. This approach demonstrates self-awareness and a proactive stance toward continuous professional development. - Giorgios Bouronikos, International institute for Research & Human Development
8. Show How You Use Strengths To Support Weaker Areas
To effectively answer questions about your strengths and weaknesses, show your awareness of both traits and how you use your strengths to support your weaker areas. For example: “I am strong in (name your strength), but I’m not as confident in (name your weakness). This is a challenge because (explain how this weakness impedes your progress). To mitigate this, I use (highlight strengths you are applying to overcome it).” - Daria Rudnik, Daria Rudnik Coaching & Consulting
9. Define Weaknesses In Terms Of Strengths To Show Scale
It’s important to answer questions directly and briefly—don’t hide! Without humble-bragging, define your weaknesses in terms of your strengths so that the scale becomes visible: “My biggest weakness is going for too much detail, but I’m comfortable with that, as it further enhances my strength of being the go-to person when the executives want to know what’s really going on.” - Gideon Malherbe, Virtual Consulting
10. Focus On A Weakness That Is Not Essential To The Job
It’s best to be prepared and speak to a weakness that is an overused strength rather than one that is considered an essential skill for performing well on the job. For example, “I am a perfectionist, and I am really working hard on allowing myself the grace to deliver what’s ‘good enough’ for a particular body of work,” and, “I am passionate about my work and need to brace myself at times to get enough rest.” - Martina Kuhlmeyer, Martina Kuhlmeyer Coaching and Consulting
11. Select A Weakness That Shows Growth Potential
Select a genuine, manageable weakness that doesn’t hinder your job performance but shows potential for personal growth. Discuss specific areas where you’ve faced challenges and are actively improving. Provide detailed examples from projects or tasks, demonstrating clear progress and enhancement of your skills. This approach underscores your commitment to continuous development and self-awareness. - Gina Martin, Gina Martin Coaching
12. Provide An Action-Oriented Answer
Focus on a weakness you’re already actively working to improve. Be positive and hopeful, and explain the specific steps you’re taking. This kind of action-oriented answer helps demonstrate your self-awareness and commitment to growth. When you frame a weakness in the context of an active learning process, you’re being authentic and truthful and demonstrating your emotional intelligence. - Laura Plato, New Frequency - Coaching and Consulting
13. Describe Failure As A Teacher
Share how you’ve turned weaknesses into strengths: “I fail fast, cheap and forward because failure is a schoolmaster for me.” Detail how setbacks have helped you refine policies and improve outcomes, providing examples. Align this focus on your growth mindset with the job’s requirements, emphasizing your resilience and dedication to continual improvement. - Severin Sorensen, ePraxis
14. Discuss What You Are Doing To Improve
First, recognize that this is a trick question. You are supposed to have weaknesses, as we all do. However, talk about them from the standpoint of what you are doing about them. For example, if you struggle with time management, talk about how you are actively working to get better at it. Self-awareness in a new employee is a highly desirable trait, especially for those applying for leadership roles. - Curtis Odom, Prescient Strategists
15. Be Comfortable With Vulnerability
Resist providing answers such as, “I am a perfectionist,” or “I am a workaholic.” Instead, be comfortable with vulnerability. Consider instead something like: “Well, if I could improve on one thing over the next year, it would be distributing leadership a little more among the teams I lead.” Self-awareness is of great value. Show them you have it. - Patrick Jinks, PhD, The Leader’s Perspective
16. Illustrate How You Addressed A Past Weakness
The first thing to do is acknowledge that everyone has weaknesses; the key is what you do to compensate for them. Follow up with a story that illustrates how you identified and successfully addressed a weakness that you had in the past. - John Lowe, Ty Boyd, Inc.
17. Frame Your Weakness As A Learning Opportunity
Approach the question with honesty and self-awareness, framing your weakness as a learning opportunity. Discuss specific actions you’ve taken to improve, demonstrating self-reliance and a desire to evolve. Connect this process to how it makes you a better fit for the role, showing self-confidence and a commitment to personal growth. Avoid disclosing too much and insincere responses. - Gamini Hewawasam, PhD, ManoLead NFP
18. Highlight Your Successes In Weaker Areas
Be honest, and make sure you let the interviewer know what you do to overcome that weakness (with examples), as well as the success you’ve experienced in that area, so that they know it won’t negatively affect you on the job. This is especially important if your weakness is related to the job function and could impede your ability to do the job well. - Sharissa Sebastian, Leadership Mastery Alliance
19. Be Humble
We all have weaknesses. We all fail. It’s how we learn. Share a story of a time you failed that highlights a skill or element of mindset that you became aware of as a result of the failure, and discuss how you worked on developing and improving it. Don’t tell stories of how strengths are really weaknesses; it will make you seem disingenuous and inauthentic. - Julian Lighton, Moo Pie Advisors Inc
