How to answer: What are your strengths and weaknesses? (with 14 examples)

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower (MOM) has revealed a decade high of 115,000 job opportunities in the past year alone. To stand out in the job market, you have to nail that all-important job interview. That means anticipating your potential employer's questions and preparing answers. This is especially true when you’re asked to describe yourself.

Interview questions about your strengths and weaknesses are almost always on an employer's list of must-asks. Why? These reveal a lot about you, and can help you create a strong impression with the potential employer. We’ll show you how to confidently answer these questions. You’ll learn to identify and highlight your strengths, and frame your weaknesses positively as challenges. We’ll also give you some useful sample answers to questions.

• Why are strengths and weaknesses important in interviews?
• Framing your answer
• How to identify your strengths
• Highlighting your strengths
• Examples of strengths (with sample answers)
• Understanding weaknesses
• Overcoming your weaknesses
• Examples of weaknesses (with sample answers)
• Common mistakes to avoid
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Why are strengths and weaknesses important in interviews?

Interview questions on strengths and weaknesses let hiring managers learn the following things about you:

If you’re a good fit for the job

All hirers want to know the areas you excel in and how these can boost their business. This way they can evaluate if you're a good fit for their offered role and work culture, and if your strengths can help them reach company goals. 

Your level of self-awareness

Self-awareness allows you to be humble enough to recognise your weak points, making room for improvement. Being self-aware means you are honest about the limitations of their skills and knowledge, which makes it easier for managers to understand your gaps and upskill them. These employees also tend to be more open to feedback and self-transformation.

Your communication skills

Often your answers are just as important as how you communicate them. How you answer questions about strengths and weaknesses shows your diplomacy skills: how you frame things, what you leave in and out, and how you can present bad news with a neutral or positive spin. 

These important skills can make you a trusted communicator in an organisation. As an effective communicator, you contribute to better collaboration, conflict resolution, and a smooth workflow for the team. You are able to express ideas, make suggestions, and even help team members focus on their work. If you frontline a company or work in customer relations, communication skills are critical to a customer’s experience.

Your ability to work under minimal supervision

When you can objectively assess your performance, it's easier to make adjustments because you know where you succeeded or went wrong. Mindful employees tend to be adaptable because they know how to adjust processes to make them work better. Adaptability translates to resilience – an essential quality in today's constantly changing environment.

Framing your answer

How can you answer "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" without sounding generic, unoriginal, or self-deprecating? Your reply should always be a balance between a healthy dose of confidence in your talents, and humility for your limitations. Honesty is a must, but you need to answer strategically to highlight your strengths and give hirers realistic expectations about you.

Tips for communicating your strengths

Show you've done your research

Hirers ask this question to get to know you better and test if you understand what the job requires. As a job seeker, you must read the job description, including its qualifications, responsibilities, and required skills to succeed in the role. Your answer should align with job requirements. 

Tailor your answer to the job description

Doing this tells hirers you're the right person for the job. Be diligent about highlighting strengths that are relevant to the role. Identify your strength, and recount how you applied it in a true-to-life situation. Point out how this trait of yours made the situation better, and how you appreciated being able to apply it.

Here’s a good example if you’re eyeing a job as a project manager:
Patience is one of my strengths. I applied it when trying to find a solution to a logistical problem of overlapping project requirements. I created detailed work charts to rearrange schedules, distribute assignments, and prioritise deadlines to give my team clarity and room to breathe. I got a lot of satisfaction from getting the work done well and on time – as well as relieving some of the pressure on my team members!

Be specific

Don't just say you excel in time management; cite a specific instance when this skill was put to good use in your past work. Doing so sets you apart from other candidates and supports your claim. It also helps hirers remember you.

Tips for communicating your weaknesses

Avoid mentioning weaknesses that may jeopardise your application

If you're applying for a sales representative position and you mention having weak customer service skills, that's an immediate red flag for your interviewer. Remember that hirers are constantly gauging if you match their job requirements. Mentioning a weakness directly connected to the role may result in a failed application.

Give a relevant answer

You may be tempted to blurt out a weakness that has nothing to do with the job opening. Spewing out irrelevant answers wastes precious interview time. Tie your answers back to the job requirements so the link is clear between your experience and the job.

Don't say you have no weaknesses

Nobody's perfect, so giving this answer shows you're not truthful. It also makes you seem arrogant and lacking in self-awareness. Instead, give it a positive spin by referring to your weakness as a “challenge” instead. 

How to identify your strengths

As part of your job interview preparation, it's necessary to first pinpoint your strengths:

List your skills

Take time to evaluate your skills and divide them into hard and soft. Hard skills are technical, quantifiable, and specific, such as accounting, computer programming, and foreign languages. Soft or transferable skills make up your work attitudes and character traits, such as leadership, teamwork, and stress management.

Review previous experiences

Remember your achievements, positive feedback you have received, and when you felt good about accomplishing something. All these teach you what you enjoy doing and what you are good at. Your passions may be a good indicator of your strengths.

Discover your personality

Try taking a personality test to understand yourself better. Self-knowledge lets you formulate a better career plan that suits your strengths and interests. Some of the most recommended personality tests are the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), the Big Five Personality Test, and Enneagram.

Consult colleagues, friends, and family

To get a clearer picture of your strengths, ask people you've worked with and those you frequently interact with. You may be surprised by their observations, and discover talents you weren't aware of. This also gives you an idea of what image you project to others.

Highlighting your strengths

A compelling story always presents a distinct conflict, which the protagonist (you) must 

resolve well. To emphasise your strengths during a job interview, follow

the STAR method: 

S -situation

T -ask

A -ction

R -result

This lets you showcase your competence through compelling storytelling. Follow 

these steps to organise your thoughts into a coherent yet concise answer that convinces hirers of your competence.

Situation

In the same way a movie begins with an opening scene, start your answer with an example of a challenging situation. Remember to stick to the facts; don't embellish. Give a few details about the situation – just enough for the interviewer to get a clear idea.

Example: I worked as a social media executive in a company, and built its social media platforms. At first, our Instagram account only had a few followers, most of them employees. 

Task

Go into specifics by outlining your assigned task. Explain the business goal your company wants to achieve with your job.

Example: I was tasked to double our Instagram followers from 500 to a thousand within a month.

Action

What steps did you take to resolve the issue? Emphasise your creativity, initiative, and problem-solving skills by explaining your actions. Even if it involves a team effort, concentrate on your contributions to highlight your capabilities.

Example: I started posting twice daily, using lifestyle photos I took myself. I also used an online design tool to create eye-catching infographics. I cross-posted, maximising our online presence on other social media platforms like Linkedin, Twitter, and Facebook.

Result

List the positive outcomes of your initiatives. Use numbers to concretise the results. You can also mention what you learned from the challenge.

Example: After a month, our Instagram account exceeded the target by gaining over a thousand followers. Our other social media platforms also grew their reach and followers because of my cross-posting.

Examples of strengths (with sample answers)  

We’ve listed 5 of the most common positive qualities hirers look for in candidates, plus sample applications based on the STAR framework. This will help you prepare for the strengths and weaknesses question.

Leadership 

With strong leadership potential, employers can see you rising through the ranks. When you can motivate and inspire your teammates. You can bring about positive change and build solid relationships. Good leaders are also adept at managing conflict and mentoring staff members.

Sample answer: 

• Situation: Our boss was on maternity leave. 
• Task: I had to take over a project for the first time.
• Action: First, I set goals and expectations for each member, explaining why their role was essential to the project. I supervised every stage, making sure to communicate client feedback so that we could adjust accordingly. 
• Result: We completed the project 2 weeks ahead of time with zero major issues.

Collaboration

You maintain excellent professional relations when you know how to work with others. This helps the team achieve common goals and boost productivity. Teamwork also promotes better communication and job satisfaction among employees.

Sample answer: 

• Situation: A production project had too many collaborators, 
• Task: I needed to make sure everyone on the team was heard and appreciated, since I felt that making them feel valued would help motivate them. I knew how important it was to do exemplary work because if I didn’t, I would spend more time on revisions, which would delay the production schedule.
• Action: I held regular sessions to gather ideas and feedback. 
• Result: We managed to reduce contradictions, miscommunications, and misunderstandings, saving valuable time and effort.

Time management

Effective time managers are more productive because they know how to prioritise and organise tasks, and this leads to less stress, since they don't need to rush to meet deadlines. If you have time management skills, you will be viewed as a dependable asset to the company.

Sample answer: 

• Situation: As an accountant, I knew how hectic things could get, especially during tax season. 
• Task: I needed to manage all my tasks so I wouldn’t fall behind, which could create a cascade of issues for myself, my company, and my clients.
• Action: Before I started the day, I listed all the tasks I needed to accomplish on a whiteboard on my desk. I ensured the tasks were doable so I didn’t feel overwhelmed. I crossed out the item as soon as I finished it, which gave me a sense of accomplishment.
• Result: Not only was I able to check off my deadlines, but I even had time for myself, ensuring work-life balance.

Adaptability

Work changes happen – in workflows, policies, leadership, and technology tools. Those who can quickly adapt will thrive, making them indispensable to the company. Being open to new ideas and methods indicates a passion for learning and self-improvement.

Sample answer: 

• Situation: The company used an online project management tool to monitor workflow. Most were against it because it would add to our workload.
• Task: I was one of the first who tried it, and I discovered that though it required extra steps, it made collaboration much more accessible, which resulted in faster project completion.
• Action: My boss asked me to share my experience in a meeting to convince sceptics of the project management tool's benefits.
• Result: Everyone became much more open to the change. Despite the grace period and growing pains, we were able to learn the new tool and work faster.

Attention to detail

This strength is vital because it ensures the quality of your work, which shows your professionalism and dedication. When meticulous about details, you're less likely to commit errors, leading to overall efficiency in terms of time, effort, and company resources

Sample answer: Data analysis has taught me the importance of being detail-oriented. One tiny mistake in any data process – gathering, processing, and research – can result in erroneous findings. I know how important my role is in making business decisions, so I make sure to double-check, even triple-check, the data before submitting it.

Understanding weaknesses

At first glance your weaknesses seem like the opposite of your strengths. You have to market your weaknesses as skills you are developing during a job interview. When you don't improve on your shortcomings, they worsen and may eclipse your strong points. Working on your flaws makes you well-rounded, boosting your confidence and competence.

Self-reflection and assessment

How do you identify your weaknesses? Practising self-reflection is an effective way to get in touch with your emotions, identify priority goals, and evaluate your work performance. Here are some steps:

List down your perceived weaknesses

Using feedback and reflection, write down your weaknesses. Trust your intuition, and don't hold back.

Ask why and how these items are on your list

Now comes the analysis. How do you know you need to improve your time management and adaptability? Where did this feedback come from? Recall instances that displayed your lack of these skills.

Identify other negative behaviours and attitudes related to these items

To help ensure a thorough sweep of your weaknesses, evaluate which other weaknesses are connected to the ones you've written. For example, your tendency to reject workplace changes may stem from a reluctance to learn new skills.

Think of times when you failed

Failed projects, relations, and tasks can explain your weaknesses. Reflect on what you could've done to make this work. Doing so helps you pinpoint your areas for improvement.

Consult others

Your workmates and people you feel comfortable with are useful sources of information about your weaknesses. Remember to keep an open mind and leave your ego on the doorstep when hearing others' opinions about you. View their feedback as a means to understand yourself better.

Overcoming your weaknesses

How do you improve yourself? By adopting a growth mindset, you can pay as much attention to your weaknesses as your strengths. Follow these guidelines to overcome your flaws.

Practise humility

Whether you're self-assessing or gathering feedback, remember that we are all works in progress. Everyone has weaknesses, including you. Learn to take pride in your achievements without coming across as over-confident.

Hone the skill

You weren't born with skills; you learned them, and you can develop new ones with determination and constant practice. Think of your weaknesses as skills that you've neglected.

Seek support

Support from a trusted friend, colleague, or professional, such as a life coach or a mentor, can help you stay on track while reaching self-improvement goals. Someone who keeps you accountable can be a powerful motivator.

Look for a role model

Be inspired by someone whose strengths you wish to acquire. Learn how they developed these skills and how they excel in the workplace. Ask for advice and follow their example.

Be honest with others

Let people close to you in on your weaknesses. Tell them it's okay to call your attention when you’re crossing the line. This way, you're aware of triggers that cause you to display that weakness, such as stress.

Address your weaknesses in interviews

The biggest mistake you can make is to say “I have no weaknesses.” Be true to yourself, as experienced interviewers can see through you. But be sure to only highlight weaknesses that will not go against any requirements of the job you are seeking, so as not to jeopardise your application. Put a positive spin on a weakness to show self-awareness. Cite your inexperience, as this will already be evident in your resumé. Be sure to conclude any statement with an acknowledgement of the challenge and what you’re doing to improve.

Plan your answer beforehand

If you let the "What's your weakness?" question take you by surprise, you might give

answers that don't make sense or put you in a bad light. Talking about your weaknesses requires sensitivity and skill, because you still need to be attractive to your interviewer after exposing your flaws.

Don't humble-brag

Hirers have become familiar with job seekers citing perfectionism and being a workaholic as weaknesses. State authentic imperfections. Employers will appreciate your honesty, which is a valuable trait to have in the workplace. 

Emphasise your passion for self-improvement

In truth, hirers don't dwell on your weaknesses; they're more interested in what you do with them. That's why letting them know you're taking steps to conquer your limitations is essential. By showing them that you're proactive, you're also accentuating your adaptability. Also, don’t highlight a weakness that may have a direct impact on the job you want.

Examples of weaknesses (with sample answers)  

Navigating job interview questions about your weak points needs a delicate but smart approach. Here are some sample common weaknesses that many people have, and ways to talk about them:

Fear of public speaking 

Though not all roles require talking in front of a group, public speaking remains an essential skill for all employees. Relaying information to your co-workers, clients, and manager involves articulating your thoughts to inform and motivate, which is an important aspect of public speaking.

Sample answer: I am comfortable speaking in meetings, but I get the jitters when I present in front of a bigger group. To ensure I remember everything, I prepare a visual presentation, which makes it easier for my audience to understand what I'm saying. I've recently taken a public speaking class, which has boosted my confidence.

Difficulty in time management

If you feel like there is never enough time for everything you have to do, then time management is a weakness of yours. The importance of effectively organising schedules and tasks is critical to being a good worker. Many bad habits, including procrastinating, being easily distracted, starting your day late, not prioritising, or multitasking can all lead to difficulty in time management.

Sample answer: I used to get so overwhelmed with my daily tasks, even if I wrote everything down. I seldom managed to make it to the end of my to-do list! I have since learned to minimise distractions, like keeping my phone on silent while I am finishing an important report. I now review my list and rank the tasks according to priority, so the most important ones are addressed first. Also, I have imposed an earlier bedtime on myself so I can wake up and start working earlier, which has given me a lot more time!

Difficulty working in a team

The challenges of working in a team come naturally because of the many different personalities and perspectives involved. Your inability to trust fellow team members, undefined goals, and simple personality clashes can all throw a wrench in the working process. Learn to clarify your goals, and set any unhealthy competitiveness aside to get the job done and build a successful team.

Sample answer: I got used to working on my own in my previous jobs, so it took a while to adjust to being part of a team. I made many assumptions about task assignments, and was unclear about what was expected of me. I have since made an effort to communicate and clarify more frequently, and to ask questions. Upon my suggestion, my supervisor, my teammates and I now work with a clear and detailed online Excel file outlining tasks and point persons.

Difficulty adapting to change

Change is inevitable if people and companies are to adapt to constantly evolving industries and environments. The most important thing you can do is to accept it. Think positive and look forward instead to more and better opportunities that may come with the change.

Sample answer: There was a lot of upheaval when my previous company changed ownership, and there were drastic changes in systems and procedures. At first, I wasn’t sure I could adapt, but after connecting with my colleagues, we resolved to be more flexible and look at things from a new perspective. It helped that our immediate supervisor met with us to reset goals and view the process as a transition. Focusing on my responsibilities and what I can control also helped ease the anxiety.

Being overly critical of oneself

Self-criticism, or being over-critical of yourself and your work, can wreak havoc on your productivity and resilience. It is also bad for your mental health and motivation, and can affect your self-esteem as well as your relationships with co-workers. Accept that perfectionism is not healthy, as people do make mistakes. Don’t be so hard on yourself; simply learn and resolve to do better next time.

Sample answer: After my supervisor called my attention to an error in my last report, I felt very disappointed with myself. He did it privately and was very amicable, but I actually lost sleep and questioned whether I was qualified for my job. It took a bit of self-reflection, and a talk with a counsellor, to help me learn to silence my inner critic and develop a healthier attitude towards mistakes. I still like to work hard, but I’ve also learned to be more compassionate with myself.

Inability to delegate tasks

Task delegation is essential, especially if you're applying for a managerial role. This skill allows you to focus on higher-level tasks while fostering teamwork. When you delegate tasks, you better manage your time and empower employees.

Sample answer: I enjoy being hands-on with my work, but when I got promoted, I had to relinquish some of my duties and assign them to someone else. It was challenging, and I ended up micromanaging at first. As a result, I neglected my own responsibilities, which impacted the project. From then on, I learned to delegate tasks.

Inability to accept criticism from others

Employers value self-improvement and self-awareness among their staff members. Gracefully accepting feedback lets you grow, personally and professionally. This trait is closely connected to adaptability, because you're responsive to new ideas, which improves your performance and the company's overall productivity.

Sample answer: I used to take it to heart when someone commented negatively on my work, and it felt like a personal attack! But I realised I wasn't being professional when I held back on a comment to a colleague because I didn't want to hurt her feelings. I finally understood that feedback helps us all to improve.

Failure to set boundaries

Setting boundaries means saying no to tasks beyond your jurisdiction, not answering work calls beyond a specific time, and informing your manager if you feel overly burdened. All these can promote better mental health and work-life balance while preventing burnout.

Sample answer: I used to say yes to everything that was assigned to me, including tasks that weren't. Back then, I was willing to work beyond office hours to help out a colleague. But this behaviour took its toll on my physical and mental health, and I learned to step back to better care for myself.

Fear of learning new technology

We live in an era where technology and tools are being constantly upgraded. Companies are fast-tracking digitalisation to boost business continuity. You gain a competitive edge if you can learn new software or platforms quickly.

Sample answer: I was previously not a techie, and only recently started working with digital tools. But I've learned to adjust by watching YouTube tutorials to learn faster. The more I understand, the quicker I'm able to adapt.

Common mistakes to avoid

Making broad statements

Saying “I manage my time well” or “I enjoy working with others” doesn’t give interviewers a clear picture of your potential. Using specific examples to display your strengths and weaknesses make it easier to understand your personality and worth ethic.

Exaggerating

Go ahead and try to impress your interviewer, but not to the point of lying about your traits. Interviewers are trained to detect dishonesty and pretence. By giving insincere answers, you're jeopardising your application.

Being negative

Focus too much on your weaknesses, and they’re sure to overshadow your strong points. Give both equal attention to keep your answer authentic.

Not relating your answer to the role

Always connect your answer to the job description and company culture. Let employers know that you match their needs and preferences.

Conclusion

Grab this opportunity to showcase your strengths and how you can meet the role's requirements. Present a strong case of why you're the best candidate for the job. Discussing your weaknesses displays your self-awareness, showing how much you value your growth and development. This is attractive to employers who are always looking for independent learners. Talking about your strengths and weaknesses also allows you to tackle any questions your employer may have about your qualifications. By preparing them prior to the interview, you will come across confident and self aware, and be succinct – all desirable attributes!

Ready to land that job interview? Have you updated your Jobstreet profile yet? Do it now so you can get started on your dream role – and start practising those interview skills. For more expert advice on building your career journey, visit the Career Advice page. Don’t forget to download the Jobstreet app on Google Play and the App Store for faster updates.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. Should I focus more on my strengths or weaknesses in my answer?
   ⁠
   ⁠⁠Neither. Strike a balance between the two because both can say much about you. Spending too much time on either will make you look defensive or self-disparaging. 
   ⁠
   ⁠⁠It’s easy to know the basic questions hiring managers will ask, like your motivations for working, why you want the job, and your career aspirations. As such, you can map out your answers. Use Jobstreet’s Interview Practice Tool to check your responses and tone.
   ⁠
2. Should I be candid about my weaknesses?
   ⁠
   ⁠Yes, be honest about your weak points and be conscious about how you frame them. Always emphasise your willingness to improve on them, and the concrete steps you take to be a better employee.
   ⁠
3. Can I use the same answer for every job interview?
   ⁠
   ⁠We don't recommend answering the same strengths and weaknesses because companies have different priority requirements. One employer may value creativity, while another espouses collaboration. You show that you've done your homework by customising your answer according to the hirer's preferences.
   ⁠
4. What if I have no weaknesses to talk about?
   ⁠
   ⁠Everyone has things they can improve, so saying you don't have weaknesses reveals a lack of self-awareness. To identify them, take a personality test, do some  reflection, and ask for feedback from others.
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5. Is it better to provide examples or talk in general terms about my strengths and weaknesses?
   ⁠
   ⁠Always give specific instances to illustrate your strengths and how you overcome weaknesses. But be mindful of time constraints, so include just enough details to keep your interviewer interested. The STAR method is a helpful tool in crafting your stories.