What is your greatest weakness?
The interviewer wants to know the areas where you struggle and how you manage those professional struggles. They also want to know whether you have an action plan in place to improve upon your weaknesses, whether school or work-related. Lastly, your answer may reveal your emotional intelligence, and whether you are able to admit to your weaknesses. Being hesitant to share your growth opportunities with the interviewer would suggest you are less likely to take ownership of your mistakes or development, and would therefore be less likely to learn from them and grow. Those who struggle with this are more likely to repeat their mistakes and present as a liability.
"I believe I could improve on some technical skills including Excel and PowerPoint. Currently, I am somewhere between beginner to intermediate level. However, I would be more comfortable at an advanced level to help me develop more effective reports. I have enrolled myself in an evening/weekend workshop for the next six weeks. I'm looking forward to seeing how stellar my skills are after that course and how I will be able to apply my skills on the job!"
You can be candid in your answer, recognizing that you aren't great at something and acknowledging your need to improve, whether it falls under hard or soft skills. Be sure to identify your weakness and convey your understanding of the actions required for sustained improvement. However, be discriminating and choose a growth opportunity that isn't a core skill for this position.
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