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c/interviews u/devlk Team

How do I answer "What's your biggest weakness?"

Team FAQ: this question comes up often, so we've answered it below. Add your own experience, or a different view, in the comments.

It's a classic question that many people answer badly. What works?

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devlk Team·

Pick a real, work-relevant weakness, show you're aware of it, and explain what you're doing about it.

Avoid:

  • Disguised strengths: "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work too hard". Interviewers have heard these many times.
  • Weaknesses that are central to the job: "I don't like writing code."
  • Very personal topics.

Use this structure:

  1. The weakness, stated honestly and briefly.
  2. Its impact: how it showed up at work.
  3. What you're doing about it, with concrete actions.
  4. Progress so far.

Example:

"Earlier in my career I often stayed stuck on a problem for too long before asking for help, because I wanted to figure it out myself. It slowed down a couple of tasks. Now I set myself a time limit, around an hour, after which I write down what I've tried and ask a teammate. It's made me faster, and I've learned a lot more from those conversations."

Use your own genuine example. Follow-up questions will test it.

More behavioural questions are in behavioral interview questions for developers.

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