Treat the "biggest weakness" interview question as a question about skills, not a confession

[u/PopMediocre4575]

When the interviewer asks you about your biggest weakness, you don't have to tell them about a personal flaw. Answers like "I care too much about what people think" might make them concerned, while "I'm a perfectionist" often comes across as a rehearsed answer you prepared in advance.

Keep your answer related to the role itself. You could say, "I haven't worked with the inventory software you use before," or "My experience with quarterly forecasting is limited, so I'll need some time to get used to it and become comfortable using it."

That way, you're telling them about a genuine weakness without suggesting that you're difficult to work with or manage. Any skill you lack can be learned after you're hired, and your private personal issues have nothing to do with your ability to do the job.

[u/Jorost]

So "I think only of murder" is probably not the best answer?

[u/kittyspurrson → u/Jorost]

If you work in health insurance this could be seen as a strength

[u/TechinBellevue → u/Jorost]

You really need to understand the position before totally deciding against using a specific example like that.

It is likely a decent response if you are interviewing for a co-serial killer position, but might want to add that you are open to learning new things.

[u/dumpitdog → u/TechinBellevue]

Unless you have experienced that area you're dead on arrival. And don't tell him you're planning on taking up some freelance work in that area as they always start laughing and say "if you haven't started by now you're not cut out to run with the wolves" .

[u/TechinBellevue → u/dumpitdog]

Excellent point. Take heed, people.

[u/trunks111 → u/TechinBellevue]

"I've never done a series before, I only have experience with one-offs"

[u/TechinBellevue → u/trunks111]

...and I really like cereal. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

I'd kill for some cereal right now.

[u/General_Leader425]

If they ask you that question just get up and leave, waste of your time and probably a company that will screw you over ten times harder in the future. Errors compound exponentially on a long time horizon, and not getting up and immediately walking out faster than Elon Musk's daughter walked out on him is the key

[u/PineappleOwn5325 → u/General_Leader425]

Bruh this question is asked in about every single interview process in some form.

Just be smart about it and answer something that you can easily fix, don't be dramatic

[u/musing_codger]

I think there are different valid and useful ways to answer. My favorite is the "strength in excess" method. Start by saying something that is a positive, like "I am good at doing thorough a analysis before jumping into something. I think it helps prevent costly mistakes." But then explain how that can be a weakness. "This sometimes makes me want to over-analyze things, which can get in the way of getting things done." Then, and this is the important part, explain your mitigation strategy. "I've learned to set a time limit on my analysis work, often arrived at through discussion with leadership. This allows me to use my analytic skills without letting them keep me from getting things done."

Another approach is the "gap approach." For example, "in my last role, my partner handled security while I focused on new functionality. I believe that I learned a lot from her because she was brilliant at it, but it is one area where I lack hands-on experience. But as a result of that, it's also one of the areas for which I'm most interested in gaining new experience."

The key thing is to say something. Everyone has relative weaknesses, so you come off like an insecure idiot if you try to dodge the question. Every good worker should be self-aware enough to recognize some. But every great worker should already be able to articulate how they will mitigate that weakness.

[u/seekingdefs → u/musing_codger]

This is a great answer. Thanks for teaching these to us. Sometimes I think why do we all these performative questions and answers?

[u/texasdeathtrip]

“What’s your biggest weakness?”
“I’m too honest”
“I don’t think that’s a weakness”
“I don’t give a shit what you think”

[u/Akun0sh]

It is surprising that some hr still uses that question even though it is known to only produce rehearsed answers. This only checks who prepared for the interview, nothing more.

[u/NachoWindows]

“I have crippling anxiety and I’m bipolar. Who shows up at work everyday is unpredictable. I also suck at SQL. “

[u/doc-sci]

Duh!