How to Answer: What is your greatest weakness?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Osteopathic Residency job interview.
17. What is your greatest weakness?
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The interviewers want to hear about your greatest weakness as a physician 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 verbal communication skills. In that case, the interviewers may pass you over for another candidate since that skill is essential to being an excellent physician and resident.
Written by Krista Wenz on December 31st, 2022
Answer Example
"My greatest weakness 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 want to improve my typing speed because it will help me when taking notes and charting. 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 half an hour a day practicing. My goal is to be at 60 words per minute in the next thirty days. I am confident my typing speed will improve greatly during my residency as I have already seen an improvement."
Written by Krista Wenz on December 31st, 2022