What is your greatest weakness, and what are you doing to improve?

Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
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The interviewer wants to hear about your greatest weakness in your profession to see that you are self-aware and can identify an area that needs improvement. When you admit you have a deficiency in a particular aspect of your profession and take steps to improve, it shows the interviewer that you are motivated and inspired to grow professionally.

Focus on a weakness related to your profession, but not one that is an essential job duty. For example, suppose you say your weakness is your attention to detail. In that case, the interviewer may pass you over for another candidate since that skill is an essential skill needed to work for Intuitive Surgical.

"My greatest weakness is my lack of experience in this field. I am improving this weakness by applying for this position. I just graduated college and received my bachelor's degree, and I only have experience from shadowing my mentor. My goal is to get chosen for the position to start gaining hands-on experience. I am a quick learner, and you will not be disappointed in my performance if hired for the position."

"My greatest weakness in my profession is my typing speed. I can type 40 words per minute, which is average. However, my goal is to get to 60 words per minute. I signed up for an online typing course and started one week ago. The course outline says I can go from amateur to pro in thirty days, spending one hour a day practicing. In the next thirty days, I aim to be at 60 words per minute."

Anonymous Answer

"- spreading self too thin and overcommitting to helping out others

- focus on what value I add: ensuring supply continuity"

Jaymie's Feedback

It's easy to want to help teammates and take on more than you have time for. Share ways that you're overcoming that specific weakness you mentioned, whether it's prioritizing and saying no more often or providing additional resources to team members so they can self-help, etc.