How to Interpret Responses to 'What's Your Biggest Weakness?'

"What's Your Biggest Weakness?" Has Become Cliche

"What’s your biggest weakness?” is a classic interview question, that's almost reached the point of parody. If you're someone who conducts job interviews, how often have you listened to job candidates say "they work too hard" or "that they're a perfectionist?" One almost can't blame them for these canned responses. It's a tricky question to answer, and there's plenty of advice content out there suggesting candidates turn this question around and highlight a positive.  While many wonder why interviewers even ask this question, the reality is that it still comes up often.

The truth is that this question actually can help you understand candidates. But you have to stop focusing on which candidates pick, and concentrate on how they deliver this information. It's not what candidates say, but how they say it. 

When evaluating interviewee's answers to "what's your biggest weakness?", here’s what to look for:

Personality

Listen for something interesting that sets a candidate apart. An interviewee who offers a flat, robotic answer is less likely to work out than someone with a dynamic response. The key is all about the spin the candidate offers. Does he or she turn the question around and eventually point out strengths? Does he or she find a way to turn it into a humble brag moment? Does he or she weave a personal tale about overcoming a difficult situation? These are all ways in which candidates unashamedly show their personalities.

The Ability to Think Outside the Box

While candidates can't necessarily be blamed for giving the type of answers anyone who Googles this question can find, a candidate who can think of an outside-the-box response is someone you should take a closer look at.  This shows creativity, the ability to look at oneself critically, and someone unafraid to possibly make themselves look less than perfect, which are all qualities of good employees. 

Problem-Solving Skills

Take note of candidates who list their weaknesses then explain how they are working to overcome them. This shows they don’t just accept their shortcomings but seek improvement. They have plans and aren’t afraid to share them. For example: “My biggest weakness is a fear of public speaking, but since I know it’s important to my career, I’m taking a public speaking course and making a point to speak up at least once in every group meeting I attend.” That's the kind of answer you want to hear. The candidate has named a weakness and is taking action.

Concentrate on How and Not Why

Don’t worry too much about the particular weaknesses interviewees mention if that trait isn’t an absolute must for the position. You can learn plenty just by analyzing how they formulate answers. Consider what their responses say about their personalities. This will help you evaluate whether they’ll fit and whether they can go beyond lame answers and impress you with unique, meaningful insight.

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