How to Answer: What is your greatest weakness, and what are you doing to improve?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Otolaryngology Residency job interview.
28. What is your greatest weakness, and what are you doing to improve?
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.
Written by Krista Wenz on December 28th, 2022
Answer Example
"My weakness as a physician is a hesitancy to delegate. I know what I want to be done and how I want it done, so it's often easier to do it myself. However, it can inhibit my ability to grow as a physician. I will need to delegate tasks to my surgical team, so I have been working on making this weakness a strength. I am reading a book called Don't Do, Delegate by James Jenks and have been practicing his exercises. My propensity to hold onto control has decreased since starting the book, so I'm certainly moving in the right direction."
Written by Krista Wenz on December 28th, 2022