During a job interview, one of the most dreaded questions for candidates is often: “What are your weaknesses?”
This question can be tricky, as it requires you to reveal your weaknesses while convincing the employer of your suitability for the job.
However, with good preparation, you can turn this question into an opportunity to demonstrate your honesty, self-evaluation ability, and commitment to continuous improvement.
Why Do Recruiters Ask This Question?
Recruiters ask this question for several reasons:
- Evaluate Your Honesty: They want to see if you can recognize your own weaknesses.
- Observe Your Self-Evaluation: This shows how you perceive your own skills and limitations.
- Measure Your Ability to Improve: They want to know if you take steps to overcome your weaknesses and continuously improve.
Why Use the STAR Method?
The STAR method is an effective technique for structuring your answers during job interviews, particularly for behavioral and competency questions.
STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
Using this method allows you to give clear, concise, and well-organized answers.
Steps of the STAR Method
- Situation: Briefly describe the situation or context in which you encountered a problem or challenge related to your weakness.
- Task: Explain the task you had to accomplish in this situation.
- Action: Detail the specific actions you took to overcome the weakness or problem.
- Result: Mention the positive results of your actions, quantifying improvements or successes if possible.
Examples of Answers on Weaknesses Using the STAR Method in Your Job Interview
1 – Perfectionism
Situation:
In my previous position, I was responsible for creating weekly reports for the marketing department.
Task:
I had to deliver these reports every Friday before noon to allow the teams to plan their activities.
Action:
Due to my perfectionism, I spent a lot of time perfecting every detail of the reports.
This led me to work late several times.
I decided to set priorities by creating checklists to ensure that the most critical points were addressed first.
I also learned to recognize when a job was good enough to submit.
Result:
Thanks to these changes, I was able to deliver the reports on time without sacrificing their quality.
Additionally, I reduced the time spent on each report by 20%, allowing me to take on additional tasks.
2 – Difficulty Saying No
Situation:
In a project team I was involved in, numerous ad hoc requests often came in.
Task:
I had to manage my own work while helping my colleagues with their urgent requests.
Action:
I had trouble saying no, which led to a work overload and delays in my own tasks.
I decided to hire a time management coach and establish clear priorities.
I started evaluating my workload before accepting new tasks and communicating more effectively with my colleagues.
Result:
As a result, I was able to manage my time more efficiently, meet my deadlines, and assist my colleagues more effectively.
My manager noticed an improvement in my overall productivity.
3 – Impulsiveness
Situation:
During an urgent project, our team had to make quick decisions to meet a tight deadline.
Task:
I had to propose solutions for unforeseen problems that arose.
Action:
My impulsiveness led me to make decisions without consulting my colleagues enough, which sometimes caused misunderstandings.
I then learned to take a step back by using stress management techniques and ensuring to think before acting.
I also set up quick meetings to discuss important decisions with the team.
Result:
This approach reduced misunderstandings and improved team cohesion.
Deadlines were met, and the quality of decisions was better due to increased collaboration.
4 – Being Too Self-Critical
Situation:
After receiving feedback on a project, I would focus only on the negative points.
Task:
I had to analyze the feedback to improve my work and make necessary adjustments.
Action:
This excessive self-criticism affected my self-confidence at work.
So, I started keeping a journal of my achievements to better appreciate my progress and see feedback as learning opportunities.
I also sought positive feedback to balance the criticism.
Result:
My self-confidence improved, and I was able to approach criticism constructively.
My work improved, and I received more positive feedback from my superiors.
5 – Being Too Reserved
Situation:
During team meetings, I often remained silent and did not share my ideas.
Task:
I had to actively participate in discussions to contribute to the success of projects.
Action:
To overcome my natural reserve, I hired a public speaking coach and made a conscious effort to speak more often in meetings.
I also prepared my interventions in advance to feel more comfortable.
Result:
My active participation was noticed and appreciated by my colleagues and superiors.
I contributed several innovative ideas that were successfully implemented.
6 – Working in Multitasking Mode
Situation:
I was working on multiple projects simultaneously, which sometimes reduced the quality of my work.
Task:
I had to meet deadlines and ensure the quality of all ongoing projects.
Action:
To manage this situation, I learned to prioritize my tasks and use project management tools.
I began to focus on one task at a time, setting dedicated time blocks for each project.
Result:
The quality of my work improved, and I met all deadlines.
I also received compliments for my organization and efficiency.
7 – Need to Control Everything
Situation:
As a project manager, I tended to want to check every detail of my colleagues’ projects.
Task:
I had to ensure that the project was progressing well while allowing the team to work independently.
Action:
To improve this, I learned to delegate more effectively and to trust my colleagues’ skills.
I set up regular follow-up points to ensure the projects were progressing correctly without micromanaging.
Result:
The team gained autonomy and confidence, and projects progressed faster and more efficiently.
I received positive feedback on my management style.
8 – Lack of Experience in a Specific Field
Situation:
I didn’t have much experience in agile project management.
Task:
I was responsible for implementing an agile methodology for a new project.
Action:
To fill this gap, I took online courses on agile project management and participated in practical workshops.
I also sought advice from experienced colleagues.
Result:
Thanks to these efforts, I successfully implemented the agile methodology for the project.
The project was delivered on time and exceeded expectations in terms of quality.
| Weakness | Situation | Task | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfectionism | In my previous position, I was responsible for creating weekly reports for the marketing department. | I had to deliver these reports every Friday before noon to allow the teams to plan their activities. | Due to my perfectionism, I spent a lot of time perfecting every detail of the reports. This led me to work late several times. I decided to set priorities by creating checklists to ensure that the most critical points were addressed first. I also learned to recognize when a job was good enough to submit. | Thanks to these changes, I was able to deliver the reports on time without sacrificing their quality. Additionally, I reduced the time spent on each report by 20%, allowing me to take on additional tasks. |
| Difficulty Saying No | In a project team I was involved in, numerous ad hoc requests often came in. | I had to manage my own work while helping my colleagues with their urgent requests. | I had trouble saying no, which led to a work overload and delays in my own tasks. So, I decided to take a time management training course and set clear priorities. I started evaluating my workload before accepting new tasks and communicating more effectively with my colleagues. | As a result, I was able to better manage my time, meet my deadlines, and help my colleagues more effectively. My manager noticed an improvement in my overall productivity. |
| Impulsiveness | During an urgent project, our team had to make quick decisions to meet a tight deadline. | I had to propose solutions for unforeseen problems that arose. | My impulsiveness led me to make decisions without consulting my colleagues enough, which sometimes caused misunderstandings. I then learned to take a step back by using stress management techniques and ensuring to think before acting. I also set up quick meetings to discuss important decisions with the team. | This approach reduced misunderstandings and improved team cohesion. Deadlines were met, and the quality of decisions was better due to increased collaboration. |
| Being Too Self-Critical | After receiving feedback on a project, I tended to focus only on the negative points. | I had to analyze the feedback to improve my work and make necessary adjustments. | This excessive self-criticism affected my self-confidence. So, I started keeping a journal of my achievements to better appreciate my progress and see feedback as learning opportunities. I also sought positive feedback to balance the criticism. | My self-confidence improved, and I was able to approach criticism constructively. My work improved, and I received more positive feedback from my superiors. |
| Being Too Reserved | During team meetings, I often remained silent and did not share my ideas. | I had to actively participate in discussions to contribute to the success of projects. | To overcome my natural reserve, I took public speaking courses and made a conscious effort to speak more often in meetings. I also prepared my interventions in advance to feel more comfortable. | My active participation was noticed and appreciated by my colleagues and superiors. I contributed several innovative ideas that were successfully implemented. |
| Working in Multitasking Mode | I was working on multiple projects simultaneously, which sometimes reduced the quality of my work. | I had to meet deadlines and ensure the quality of all ongoing projects. | To manage this situation, I learned to prioritize my tasks and use project management tools. I began to focus on one task at a time, setting dedicated time blocks for each project. | The quality of my work improved, and I met all deadlines. I also received compliments for my organization and efficiency. |
| Need to Control Everything | As a project manager, I tended to want to check every detail of my colleagues’ projects. | I had to ensure that the project was progressing well while allowing the team to work independently. | To improve this, I learned to delegate more effectively and to trust my colleagues’ skills. I set up regular follow-up points to ensure the projects were progressing correctly without micromanaging. | The team gained autonomy and confidence, and projects progressed faster and more efficiently. I received positive feedback on my management style. |
| Lack of Experience in a Specific Field | I didn’t have much experience in agile project management. | I was responsible for implementing an agile methodology for a new project. | To fill this gap, I took online courses on agile project management and participated in practical workshops. I also sought advice from experienced colleagues. | Thanks to these efforts, I successfully implemented the agile methodology for the project. The project was delivered on time and exceeded expectations in terms of quality. |
Examples of Flaws to Avoid Mentioning
Some answers can be perceived negatively or as attempts to hide serious flaws.
Here are some examples of flaws to avoid:
- I work too much: This can seem like an attempt to boast under the guise of modesty and lack of sincerity.
- I am a perfectionist without mentioning corrective actions: Without explaining how you managed this flaw, you may seem inauthentic.
- I have no flaws: This shows a lack of reflection or self-awareness.
- Serious uncorrected flaws: For example, aggressive behaviors, integrity issues, or poor time management without any improvement.
Practical Tips for Responding Effectively
- Be honest but strategic: Choose a real flaw that is not a major obstacle for the job.
- Show your progress: Explain how you are working to improve this flaw.
- Stay positive: Frame your response to show your adaptability and desire for continuous improvement.
- Practice your responses: Practice with a friend or mentor to refine your speech.
Tips for Preparing Your Responses
- Memorize key points: Do not memorize answers word for word, but make sure you remember the key points you want to address.
- Use varied examples: Prepare several examples to show different aspects of your skills and progress.
- Adapt to the context: Be ready to adjust your response according to the job you are applying for.
Conclusion
Answering the question “What are your weaknesses?” honestly and thoughtfully can not only impress your interviewer with your transparency but also demonstrate your ability to grow and improve.
By using the STAR method to structure your answers, you can turn a potentially negative question into an opportunity to showcase your professionalism and resilience.
Adopt this approach to convince your future employers of your commitment to personal and professional development.
By following these tips and preparing in advance, you can confidently approach this difficult question and use the opportunity to demonstrate your problem-solving and self-improvement skills.
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Read this article in other languages
Français : Comment Répondre à la Question « Quels sont vos défauts ? » lors d’un Entretien d’Embauche
Italiano: Come rispondere alla domanda “Quali sono i suoi difetti?” durante un colloquio di lavoro
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a weakness that doesn’t affect my chances of getting the job?
Choose a minor weakness or one that is not directly related to the key skills of the job. Make sure to show how you are working to improve it.
Can I mention multiple weaknesses?
It is better to focus on one or two weaknesses to avoid giving a negative impression. Explain in detail how you are managing them.
How should I respond if I can’t think of a relevant weakness?
Take the time to reflect on your past experiences. Ask for feedback from your colleagues or friends to identify areas where you can improve.