How to Discuss Weaknesses During Interviews

**Embrace Growth: Articulating Weaknesses in an Interview** **🌱 How to Answer the Question: "What Are Your Weaknesses?" 🌱** As a seasoned Cloud DevOps Engineer with deep expertise in AWS services, I genuinely believe that self-awareness and the pursuit of growth are vital for professional advancement. When faced with the interview question about weaknesses, it’s important to respond with honesty, self-reflection, and an emphasis on personal improvement. **What Not to Say:** 1️⃣ **"I don't have any weaknesses."** This kind of answer may appear arrogant or overconfident. Recognizing areas for improvement shows humility and self-awareness, reminding us that no one is flawless. 2️⃣ **"I'm a workaholic" or "I'm a perfectionist."** While these might seem harmless, they can raise red flags for employers. These responses may suggest issues with work-life balance, difficulties in delegating tasks, or challenges in adapting to changing priorities. 3️⃣ **"I struggle with time management."** Even though time management is a widely acknowledged challenge, presenting it as a weakness without showing efforts to improve isn’t ideal. Employers prefer to see proactive measures taken to address weaknesses rather than just admitting to them. **What to Say Instead:** 1️⃣ **"One area I've been actively working on is improving my public speaking skills."** This response shows self-awareness and a commitment to overcoming challenges. It highlights a dedication to advancing communication skills, crucial for effective teamwork and leadership. 2️⃣ **"In the past, I had limited experience with open-source security solutions."** This answer points out a specific weakness while emphasizing a proactive effort to address it. Describe how you took the initiative to learn and integrate these solutions, demonstrating adaptability and a thirst for new skills. 3️⃣ **"I used to find it challenging to delegate tasks effectively."** This response acknowledges a common weakness but centers on personal growth. Explain how you realized the importance of delegation, and share examples of how you improved in this area by using strategies like clear communication, trust-building, and empowering your team. Remember, the goal is to frame weaknesses as opportunities for growth and enhancement. Discuss the steps you’ve taken to address these weaknesses and the positive results you’ve achieved. Employers value candidates who are self-aware, continuously seek growth, and strive to enhance their skill set. Let's embrace the journey of self-improvement and inspire others to do the same! #EmbraceGrowth #ContinuousImprovement #CareerDevelopment #SelfAwareness #InterviewTips Share#like#comment# How do you handles this question during interview? #Happy4Jully#

“My biggest weakness is that I care too much.” C'mon. As a former recruiter, I have some good ones. “I work too hard.” “I care so much about doing things perfectly, it slows me down.” “I set high expectations for myself. Maybe too high.” Oh, please. Whoever told you to answer “What’s your biggest weakness?” by turning a strength into a weakness likely never hired anyone. Why? When you give this kind of answer, it doesn’t make you sound smart. It makes you sound like you’re BSing. Interviewers are attuned to BSing. If you had given me that answer, my BS Meter would have been off the charts. And here is the thing. When people think you are BSing them, they start not to trust you. No trust. No credibility. Candidates try to use these answers because they feel safe. They sound polished. They avoid vulnerability. But they also avoid authenticity. What is the interviewer trying to learn here? —Do you have self-awareness? —Are you learning and growing from past experiences? —Are you open to feedback and self-improvement? So, own a real weakness. Obviously, not one that would be a red flag for this employer. You don't want one that makes you look incapable. But one that shows you’ve thought about how you work and saw a need for improvement. Bonus points for showing what you are doing to improve. So do yourself a favor and skip the humblebrags. Give the interviewer something real. Real is memorable. Real builds trust. Struggling with your job search? You’re not alone. As a former recruiter turned career coach, I help mid-career professionals navigate interviews, career changes, and confidence dips. 📩 DM me if you’re ready for support. 🔔 Follow me for practical, honest career advice.

I used to bomb interviews. Not because I wasn’t smart enough. Not because I lacked experience. But because I said the WRONG things to the RIGHT questions. Let me explain. I thought saying “I’m a hard worker” or “I just push through” would impress interviewers. I thought “I don’t fail often” made me sound strong. I thought “I don’t know yet” showed humility. It didn’t. It made me sound generic. Forgettable. Like 90% of other candidates. The truth? Interviewing is a skill. And just like any skill, it can be learned—or unlearned. Here’s how I flipped the script and started getting callbacks that turned into offers 👇 🟥 What’s your greatest strength? Old Me: “I’m hardworking.” New Me: “I excel in stakeholder communication, like when I led a cross-functional team through a delayed startup and realigned timelines in under 3 days.” ↳ Strength + Proof = Respect 🟥 What’s your biggest weakness? Old Me: “I work too hard.” New Me: “I used to struggle with delegation. Now I use a priority matrix and coach junior staff weekly to build their independence.” ↳ Vulnerability + Growth = Trust 🟥 Why do you want to work here? Old Me: “It seems like a good company.” New Me: “Your focus on rare disease trials inspires me. I want to apply my experience in patient recruitment to help your team reduce enrollment timelines.” ↳ Research + Relevance = Impact 🟥 Tell me about a time you failed. Old Me: “I don’t fail often.” New Me: “During a protocol deviation audit, I overlooked a report deadline. I owned it, revamped our tracking system, and cut repeat errors by 40%.” ↳ Accountability = Leadership Most people bomb interviews not because they’re unqualified… But because they’re unprepared to sell their story. This image 🔗 (save it) shows the exact pivot I coach people on daily. If you’re tired of getting ghosted after interviews… Stop rehearsing cliches. Start preparing impact stories that prove you’re the solution. Follow Rudy Malle for real talk on interviews, job search strategy, and breaking into clinical research with confidence. Thank you Justin Mecham for putting this together. I don’t teach “what to say”—I teach how to mean it. #jobsearchstrategy #interviewtips #clinicalresearchcareers #careercoaching #landthejob

After years in executive search, I’ve seen a ton of interview techniques - but this one really stands out.   What makes it so powerful? It catches people off guard in the best way.   It cuts through rehearsed answers and invites real self-reflection. It can feel a bit uncomfortable - and that’s exactly why it works.   This single question taps into a few key traits all at once:   Self-awareness - Do you truly understand your own growth areas? This reveals whether someone has a clear, honest view of their blind spots.   Grace under pressure - How do you react when the script goes out the window? It’s a great way to see how someone handles the unexpected.   Constructive mindset - Can you talk about your weaknesses without getting defensive or overly self-critical? That balance is essential for growth.   The best way to answer? Be honest about a real area you’re working on - and show how you’re actively improving it.   Something like:   "One area I’ve been focused on is gaining more experience with enterprise-scale implementations. I’ve been learning directly from mentors who've led large deployments and taking targeted courses to build that muscle."   That kind of response shows self-awareness and initiative - two things every great employer looks for.   What’s the most insightful or surprising interview question you’ve come across?   For more insights like this check out my newsletter:  https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   CC: @therobbgreenshow Dm for removal.   #executiverecruiter #eliterecruiter #jobmarket2025 #profoliosai #resume #jobstrategy #interviewquestions #hiringinsights #selfawareness #careeradvancement