What is your biggest weakness?

How to Answer
Answer Example

Describing your biggest weakness sounds easy, doesn't it? After all, you could answer that question by saying that sometimes you are a workaholic, something that can be viewed as a weakness and strength at the same time. And what boss doesn't love that?

However, your interviewer will see right through this type of answer, and it actually makes you seem unprepared - or even worse - calculating. Also, the manager over the position you're applying for might want someone that values a work-life balance versus an employee that will quickly burn themselves out due to their tendency to overwork. You never know, and it's best to be safe and forthcoming with your answer.

Luckily, Internet job sites abound with listicles regarding the right kind of answer to this question - so familiarize yourself with them if you want to do well during this part of the interview.

A few good sample answers can include 'I focus too much on the details' or 'I have a hard time letting go of a project.'

Then, ask the interviewer if they would like you to explain how you overcame these weaknesses. Letting them know something really concrete that you've done to improve a weakness is impressive to an interviewer, also. An example, if you feel you need some work in the communication area, you could say, 'I've joined Toastmasters to constantly improve my communication skills. My colleagues and supervisors say the difference in my communication today vs. in the past is the difference between night and day.'

Letting them know something really concrete that you've done to improve a weakness is impressive to an interviewer, also. For example, if you feel you need some work in the communication area, you could say, 'I've joined Toastmasters to constantly improve my communication skills. My colleagues and supervisors say the difference in my communication today vs. in the past is the difference between night and day.'

"I had to learn to start asking for feedback. I found out I wasn't able to recognize my weakness of time management. After discussing it with them, I focused on the problem. The most effective actions I took to overcome my weakness included building buffers and learning how to prioritize better."

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How to Answer: What is your biggest weakness?

Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Industrial Engineer job interview.

33. What is your biggest weakness?

How to Answer

Describing your biggest weakness sounds easy, doesn't it? After all, you could answer that question by saying that sometimes you are a workaholic, something that can be viewed as a weakness and strength at the same time. And what boss doesn't love that?

However, your interviewer will see right through this type of answer, and it actually makes you seem unprepared - or even worse - calculating. Also, the manager over the position you're applying for might want someone that values a work-life balance versus an employee that will quickly burn themselves out due to their tendency to overwork. You never know, and it's best to be safe and forthcoming with your answer.

Luckily, Internet job sites abound with listicles regarding the right kind of answer to this question - so familiarize yourself with them if you want to do well during this part of the interview.

A few good sample answers can include 'I focus too much on the details' or 'I have a hard time letting go of a project.'

Then, ask the interviewer if they would like you to explain how you overcame these weaknesses. Letting them know something really concrete that you've done to improve a weakness is impressive to an interviewer, also. An example, if you feel you need some work in the communication area, you could say, 'I've joined Toastmasters to constantly improve my communication skills. My colleagues and supervisors say the difference in my communication today vs. in the past is the difference between night and day.'

Letting them know something really concrete that you've done to improve a weakness is impressive to an interviewer, also. For example, if you feel you need some work in the communication area, you could say, 'I've joined Toastmasters to constantly improve my communication skills. My colleagues and supervisors say the difference in my communication today vs. in the past is the difference between night and day.'

Written by Holly Chavez on December 18th, 2020

Answer Example

"I had to learn to start asking for feedback. I found out I wasn't able to recognize my weakness of time management. After discussing it with them, I focused on the problem. The most effective actions I took to overcome my weakness included building buffers and learning how to prioritize better."

Written by Holly Chavez on December 18th, 2020

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