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Struggling with Behavioural Questions in Interviews?
They are the most common and also the toughest for many candidates.
This free E-book shows you how to answer them with confidence.
They are the most common and also the toughest for many candidates.
This free E-book shows you how to answer them with confidence.
Career Reshaped Episode 29: Why This Common Interview Answer Will Cost You the Job
Ever felt like the “What’s your biggest weakness?” question was designed to make you squirm? You’re not alone.
In this episode of Career Reshaped, Natasha and Pauline tackle one of the most awkward and misunderstood questions in any job interview — and break down exactly how to answer it with honesty, clarity, and confidence.
For many candidates, this question feels like a trap. Say something too honest and you risk sounding unqualified. Say something too rehearsed and you come off fake. But here’s the truth: this isn’t a trick question. It’s actually an opportunity — if you know how to handle it.
Drawing from years of coaching professionals through this moment, Natasha shares why most people get it wrong, how to find a real (but job-safe) weakness, and what to absolutely avoid saying. You’ll also get a simple 3-step framework that turns a nerve-wracking moment into a powerful showcase of self-awareness and growth.
Pauline and Natasha also dive into why owning your development matters more than pretending to be perfect — and how being real in interviews is often what sets standout candidates apart.
If you’ve ever dreaded this question or didn’t know how to answer it without spiraling into over-explaining, this episode is your go-to guide.
🎧 Listen in — and walk into your next interview ready to own your story.
Discussion Overview
It may sound like a trap, but it’s actually a test of your self-awareness, honesty, and ability to handle feedback. Employers want to see if you can identify your growth areas and what you're doing about them. It reveals more than just a flaw—it shows your mindset and professionalism.
Look at moments in your past roles where you struggled or needed extra support. Ask yourself:
> What kind of feedback have I received consistently?
> Are there areas I avoid or feel uncomfortable with?
> What skill gaps have I worked on?
Be honest with yourself, but also pick something that’s relevant and has a growth story behind it.
Avoid the clichés like:
> “I’m a perfectionist.”
> “I work too hard.”
> Anything that sounds humble-braggy or dodgy.
Also steer clear of saying a weakness that’s critical to the role (e.g., saying “I struggle with communication” in a client-facing job).
Use the 3-part formula:
1. State the weakness clearly and honestly.
2. Give a quick example to show how it’s affected your work.
3. Explain what you’re doing to improve or manage it.
This shows self-awareness, accountability, and growth—three things hiring managers love.
That’s totally fine! You can still talk about it. The key is showing your journey from struggle to solution. That story is often more powerful than the flaw itself.
Podcast Transcript:
| Time | Transcript |
|---|---|
| 00:00 | let's talk about the most awkward question in job interviews |
| 00:05 | what are your biggest weaknesses you know it's coming but it still throws |
| 00:10 | most people off why because it feels like a trap say something too honest you |
| 00:15 | risk looking unqualified say something too rehearsed and you sound fake but |
| 00:19 | here's the truth most people miss this question is actually an opportunity |
| 00:25 | handled right it can set you apart from every other candidate we have coached |
| 00:31 | countless of professionals through this moment and the ones who nail it they |
| 00:35 | don't dodge the question they leverage it so in this video I'm breaking down |
| 00:39 | exactly how to answer it with honesty confidence and impact and if you're new |
| 00:45 | here I'm Natasha career coach and co-founder of My Career Angels welcome |
| 00:49 | to the Career Resape channel hit subscribe for more honest career |
| 00:53 | strategies like this one hey it's Natasha and I'm Pauline we're so pumped |
| 00:58 | to bring you even bigger and better stuff this season 2 of Career Reshaped |
| 01:03 | we've got new guests free master classes and all the good vibes you'll only find |
| 01:08 | here so don't forget to hit subscribe follow us on Spotify at Careershaped and |
| 01:13 | check us out on Instagram at my.career.angels |
| 01:18 | so first you need to know why do they even ask this question it's not about |
| 01:24 | catching you out hiring managers ask about weaknesses or the way they like to |
| 01:29 | put it these days is things you think you can improve on to be successful in |
| 01:33 | this role is because they're looking for something deeper are you self-aware do |
| 01:38 | you take responsibility are you going to be honest are you committed to growth |
| 01:43 | this is less about what you say and more about how you think they want to see if |
| 01:48 | you reflect if you learn and if you're coachable so the next time you hear this |
| 01:53 | question don't freeze use it to showcase your maturity and emotional intelligence |
| 02:00 | that alone puts you ahead of 80% of candidates most people answer this |
| 02:06 | question wrong here's how to make it your advantage |
| 02:10 | so how do you actually figure out your weakness you can start here think about |
| 02:16 | moments you've struggled at work what patterns show up or even better ask for |
| 02:21 | feedback ask mentors colleagues ex- bosses friends people you trust to |
| 02:27 | give you honest answers and those people will often see blind spots that you miss |
| 02:33 | and don't forget your own personality traits being super detail orientated |
| 02:37 | might help until it slows you down being ambitious might push you further but |
| 02:42 | lead you to burnout so weaknesses aren't just flaws they're traits that need |
| 02:47 | managing so be honest with yourself but also be strategic now let's talk about |
| 02:52 | what not to say here's the rule don't pick a weakness that is essential for |
| 02:57 | the job please if you're applying to be a project manager don't say you struggle |
| 03:03 | with deadlines you're not going to get the job and please don't go with the |
| 03:06 | tired cliches like "I'm a perfectionist and I care too much." Even if that's |
| 03:10 | true there's a better way of saying it interviewers see through those cliches |
| 03:15 | in seconds and just think that you're picking up something randomly just to |
| 03:19 | say something instead choose a real area you've worked on something you've |
| 03:25 | actually improved over time and you're actively continuing to improve on this |
| 03:31 | shows self leadership it tells the hiring manager that this is somebody who |
| 03:36 | grows this is somebody who knows where they need to grow and they're working on |
| 03:41 | it you don't need a perfect answer you need an honest one with progress already |
| 03:47 | baked into it here's a simple framework you can follow step one name the |
| 03:53 | weakness keep it real step two add context when did this show up how did it |
| 04:01 | impact your work so give a real example step three show progress |
| 04:08 | what are you doing to improve share what you have changed and step four end with |
| 04:14 | a win share away it's already helped you the improvements you've already seen by |
| 04:21 | making the changes to no longer havethis as a horrible dreaded weakness |
| 04:26 | let's bring that to life with an example pretend I've just been asked the dreaded |
| 04:30 | weakness question my answer I used to struggle with public speaking i'd really |
| 04:36 | get nervous and overthink especially in meetings i didn't want to get anything |
| 04:42 | wrong so I joined Toast Masters i practice weekly and now I lead team |
| 04:48 | briefings with confidence it's still a work in progress but I have grown so |
| 04:54 | much that's a powerful answer it shows all the steps that we just talked about |
| 05:00 | it's real it's clear and it shows growth let's run a few more examples so you get |
| 05:06 | the idea of what I'm saying weakness or step one I can be overly |
| 05:13 | critical of myself context step two I set high standards and sometimes |
| 05:19 | overthink even small mistakes step three action i've been practicing mindfulness |
| 05:25 | and focusing on progress over perfection what was step four outcome it's made me |
| 05:32 | more efficient and less mentally drained starting to make sense let's try another |
| 05:37 | one weakness i can be a workaholic a lot of people say that but we're going |
| 05:44 | to add more context i've always thrown myself into work often at the expense of |
| 05:50 | balance action lately I've set clearer boundaries and blocked personal time aam |
| 05:59 | i'm actually more productive and less likely to burn out and doing better at |
| 06:03 | my work see the pattern the weakness is real and it's honest but the takeaway is |
| 06:10 | strength own your weakness then flip it into a leadership trait so if you're |
| 06:14 | preparing for interviews here's what I want you to remember this isn't about |
| 06:19 | being flawless it's about being honest self-aware and coachable the people who |
| 06:24 | get hired aren't always the smartestthey're the ones who communicate clearly |
| 06:30 | take ownership and keep improving that's what employers remember if you want more |
| 06:35 | content like this subscribe to Career Reshaped right now yes now we drop real |
| 06:41 | career strategies every week and for more tools tips and stories check out my |
| 06:47 | career angels on Instagram |
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