Weaknesses in a job interview: How to convince them

Written by Kerstin Lakits, 01.10.2026

In many job interviews, you will still be asked about your weaknesses but often not with the classic question, “What are your weaknesses?” anymore. Instead, interviewers are interested in how well you can assess yourself and what areas you would still like to improve. With the right preparation, you can turn your weaknesses into strengths and even impress your interviewer. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to prepare, reflect on yourself, and present your weaknesses effectively in a job interview!

Table of contents:

Why are you asked about your weaknesses in a job interview?

Asking about your weaknesses in a job interview is a stress question. This means that the recruiters want to see how you act under stressful circumstances. The aim of this question is not to check if you are qualified for the open position or fit for this task. Instead, they want to know if you reflect on your strengths and weaknesses and if you are honest. Your future employer also wants to know whether you can work on your weaknesses and ask for help in order to deliver the best possible result. This is where your potential to grow and make a meaningful contribution to the company lies.

How are you asked about your weaknesses in a job interview?

The question about your weaknesses is not always phrased as “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”. Sometimes recruiters ask indirect questions in a job interview. The HR employees want to make sure that you cannot use prepared answers for standard questions. They are looking for a spontaneous and honest answer. Here are some examples:

  • How would your friends/family describe you?
  • Which personality trait would you want to change about yourself?
  • What would your colleagues criticise you for?
  • How resilient/conflict-avoidant/motivated to learn/responsible/good a team player are you on a scale from 1 to 10?
  • How much initiative do you bring to the table?
  • Which tasks in your last job were challenging for you?
  • Which aspect of the job description will be the most challenging for you?

These hidden questions about your weaknesses address certain qualities that are important to the company. The recruiters don’t specifically ask if this is a weakness, but rather how you would evaluate yourself.

How to identify your personal weaknesses

Being well prepared is the first step toward a confident self-presentation in a job interview and will help you answer this question without hesitation. Here are some practical preparation steps:

  1. Think about your weaknesses. Be honest with yourself and reflect on the areas in your life that you struggled with in the past. Explain your weakness using an example, so that the recruiter understands in which situations and to what extent your weakness manifests. In the following section, you will find some common weaknesses.
  2. Make sure that your weaknesses do not contradict the core competencies of your new job because this position won’t be the right one for you. For example, if you want to work as a nurse, the weakness of not enjoying working with people will be a huge obstacle.
  3. Come up with strategies and tricks that you can use to work on and balance out your weaknesses. On the one hand, this shows that you are working on yourself. On the other hand, you prove that your weakness will not affect your work significantly. For example, if you are sometimes a little bit unorganised, you can develop a system for your calendar so that you don’t miss any deadlines.
Be critical of yourself - recognizing your weaknesses and working on them is a true strength! ©Adobe Stock
Be critical of yourself - recognizing your weaknesses and working on them is a true strength! ©Adobe Stock

Which weaknesses are appropriate to mention in a job interview?

We prepared a list of common weaknesses that you can mention in a job interview. So, you can think about which one applies to you. Depending on the job you are applying for, some weaknesses are worse than others. For example, if you apply for a position as a driver or chauffeur, a poor sense of direction is a very serious weakness.

  • Easily nervous
  • Procrastination
  • Restless
  • Stubborn
  • Too direct/too reserved
  • Too introverted/extroverted
  • Fear of public speaking
  • Forgetful
  • Indecisive
  • Unable to say no
  • Not good at remembering names
  • Unorganised/chaotic
  • Controlling
  • Too emotional/too unempathetic
  • Bad sense of orientation
  • Lack of assertiveness
  • Not enjoying being on the phone
  • No work experience
  • Gaps in your CV

Once you have become aware of your weaknesses, you should also pick an example to explain your weakness. It is not sufficient to say “My weakness is…”. Explain how this weakness has affected your work so far.

How to phrase your weaknesses correctly

Everyone has weaknesses. What matters is how you communicate and present your weaknesses during a job interview. It’s important to show the recruiter that you’re aware of your weaknesses and that you’re working on them.

The best way to approach this is in three steps:

  1. Name the weakness: Be open and honest about your weakness.
  2. Give some context: Use a specific experience to explain how the weakness has affected your work or your life.
  3. Show how you’re working on it: Describe what you’ve done to work on your weakness and how you deal with it today.

This way, you’re not only showing your weakness, but also your personal development process. Two to three well-chosen weaknesses are more than enough.

Here’s an example of what this could look like: “I don’t really enjoy speaking in front of an audience. At school, my voice would always shake during presentations and I would turn red. During my studies, I attended public speaking and rhetoric courses. Now, I’m able to give confident and effective presentations in front of an audience.”

Dos and don’ts when answering the ‘weaknesses’ question

When answering the question about your weaknesses, there are a few common pitfalls to watch out for. Here are the most important dos and don’ts for a job interview:

DoDon’t
Only list 2–3 weaknesses.Don’t list all of your negative qualities.
Show that you can realistically assess your weaknesses.Don’t claim that you don’t have any weaknesses.
Explain how you’re working on your weaknesses.Don’t disguise a strength as a weakness, e.g. “I’m too organised.”
Be honest and authentic.Don’t use memorised or unconvincing answers.
Answer seriously and thoughtfully.Don’t try to brush off your weaknesses with jokes, e.g. “I have a weakness for chocolate!”
Stick to weaknesses that are relevant to the job.Don’t use the question as an opportunity to rant about former employers or your problems.

Strengths in a job interview: your chance to shine

Your strengths are the other side of self-assessment. Here recruiters also want to know whether you’re aware of your positive qualities and can assess them realistically. It’s not about presenting yourself as Superman or Superwoman, but about showing your strengths honestly and confidently.

So, make sure you also prepare for the question, “What are your strengths?” Think about what you’re particularly good at, what comes easily to you, and what value you can bring to the company. Choose strengths that fit the position you’re applying for and, if possible, back them up with specific examples from your previous experience.

Some possible strengths include:

  • Willingness to learn
  • Empathy
  • Ability to work well under pressure
  • Organisational skills
  • Initiative
  • Creativity
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Communication skills
  • Analytical thinking
  • Reliability
  • Ability to work independently

The most important thing when answering is to be honest, authentic, and self-aware. Avoid exaggerating and find a good balance between presenting yourself confidently and staying down-to-earth.

Tips for students and those starting out in their careers with no work experience

Especially during your first job interview, you probably don’t have any professional work experience yet. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have practical experience or relevant skills to bring to the table.

Think about what you’ve already learned during your studies, internships, part-time jobs, or projects. If you’re studying a subject that’s closely related to the job, then practical courses or projects can show that you’ve already gained some initial experience in your field. You can also gain valuable experience from part-time jobs such as working with different people, teamwork, reliability, and handling stressful situations.

An internship abroad or semester abroad is another experience worth mentioning. It shows that you can adapt to a new environment and are willing to step outside your comfort zone.

You don’t have to hide a gap in your CV either. Briefly and honestly explain how it happened and what you did or learned during that time. What matters less than how much work experience you have is being able to show what you can already do and how you’re continuing to grow.

If you’re still unsure about what you want to do after your studies, check out our best tips for life after graduation.

Conclusion: turning weaknesses into strengths in a job interview

The job interview is the perfect opportunity to present your authentic self. Your strengths are your biggest assets that will convince your future boss. By presenting your weaknesses as areas you are actively working on, you show your interview partner that you are thoughtful, self-critical and honest. These character traits are strengths that will balance out your weaknesses. So, in the end, it is more about the way you present and handle your weaknesses than which weakness you mention.

Here are more tips for the perfect job interview and special tips for working during your studies here.

Frequently asked questions about weaknesses in job interviews

You can identify your own weaknesses by thinking about which tasks you find difficult, what feedback you’ve received so far, and where you’d still like to improve. Friends, family, or colleagues can also give you an honest assessment.

A likeable weakness is honest, understandable, and not something that would affect your ability to do the job. Even better if you can also show that you’re already working on it.

To phrase weaknesses positively, name the weakness, give some brief context, and explain what you’re doing to work on it.

There are many possible weaknesses you can mention in a job interview. The most important thing is that they’re authentic and genuinely apply to you. Examples include procrastination, impatience, or nervousness when giving presentations.

A strengths and weaknesses profile is an overview of your key strengths and weaknesses. It helps you assess yourself and prepare for your job interview.

Questions?

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