Introduction
It is the question that makes palms sweat and hearts race. “What is your biggest weakness?” It feels like a trap. If you are too honest, you might look incompetent. If you say “I’m a perfectionist,” you look insincere. At Hands HR, we believe this question is actually your biggest opportunity to show self-awareness.
The Strategy: Authentic but Solvable Interviewers don’t expect you to be perfect; they want to know if you are self-aware enough to recognize your flaws and proactive enough to fix them.
How to Construct Your Answer
- Identify a Real Weakness: Choose a skill that is not essential to the core of the job (e.g., don’t say you are bad with numbers if you are applying for accounting).
- The “Work in Progress” Method: Immediately follow the weakness with the steps you are taking to improve it.
Example Script: “In the past, I struggled with public speaking—I would get quite nervous presenting to large groups. However, I recognized this was holding me back, so I joined a local Toastmasters club six months ago. Since then, I’ve led three team presentations and feel much more confident in my delivery.”
