How do you answer the question "what are your weaknesses"?

[nysegop]

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This is sort of an extension from a question asked in the premed section, but how do you answer this?

Is it better to go on the side of "I have no weaknesses"? Or is it better to tell the truth and really disclose your worst weakness? What if it is something pretty bad like communication? Could you say that communication is your weakness but you're trying really hard to improve?

😱

 

[drorthoman]

This is sort of an extension from a question asked in the premed section, but how do you answer this?

Is it better to go on the side of "I have no weaknesses"? Or is it better to tell the truth and really disclose your worst weakness? What if it is something pretty bad like communication? Could you say that communication is your weakness but you're trying really hard to improve?

😱

I think it really depends on who the questioner is. If you're at a job interview, saying that you have no weakness makes you a total prick. Saying that your weakness is communication would also be detrimental in your getting the job. Personally, I would say something that doesn't portray me as a prick, nor something that would say I'm incompetent in anything.

 

[mmmcdowe]

This is sort of an extension from a question asked in the premed section, but how do you answer this?

Is it better to go on the side of "I have no weaknesses"? Or is it better to tell the truth and really disclose your worst weakness? What if it is something pretty bad like communication? Could you say that communication is your weakness but you're trying really hard to improve?

😱

I try to pick something that, while not bs like "I try to hard", is not a huge devastating black mark. The one that I used, truthfully, during my interviews for med school was that I tended to be overly trusting of the knowledge and intentions of others. I discussed how I could see a need for a healthy dose of objectivity when working with patients. Honestly though, I didn't get asked that question more than twice over ~30 interviews that I did on the trail.

 

[BlakeC93]

"I have flaws. What are they? Oh I donno, I sing in the shower? Sometimes I spend too much time volunteering. Occasionally I'll hit somebody with my car. So sue me-- no, don't sue me. That is opposite the point I'm trying to make."

Michael: Why don't I tell you what my greatest weaknesses are? I work too hard. I care too much. And sometimes I can be too invested in my job.
David: Okay. And your strengths?
Michael: Well, my weaknesses are actually... strengths.

There. I just gave you two different ways to nail that question.

 

[nysegop]

"So what are your weaknesses?"
"I'm not very good at answering questions like this"

 

[deleted462159]

"So what are your weaknesses?"
"I'm not very good at answering questions like this"

👍

 

[HolySmokes]

In all seriousness, the best answer is to be honest with something that's a weakness and then explain what steps you're already taking to correct that weakness. Applying for a job might be something like "I have a tendency to have high expectations of people around me, and sometimes those expectations are unreasonably high which can be frustrating. But, I try to get to know people I work with and find out what their role is at [Company Name] so I know who can handle problems with X and who is better at handling problems with Y, etc"

 

[futuredoctor10]

In all seriousness, the best answer is to be honest with something that's a weakness and then explain what steps you're already taking to correct that weakness. Applying for a job might be something like "I have a tendency to have high expectations of people around me, and sometimes those expectations are unreasonably high which can be frustrating. But, I try to get to know people I work with and find out what their role is at [Company Name] so I know who can handle problems with X and who is better at handling problems with Y, etc"

👍

This is what my pre-health career adviser suggested during a mock interview as well: name a weakness and explain how you've worked on it.

Since interviewers want you to be able to identify weaknesses which we all have, saying "I have no weaknesses" or "I work too hard" are probably not good responses.

 

[05silvergt]

I agree with the sentiment of explaining something you've been trying to improve on.

I used to be rather shy, and would say something along the lines of "I used to be quite shy, which often times lead me to avoid personal interactions. However, I still occasionally do this, not because I'm afraid to speak to someone, but more out of habit."

or

I would speak on overconfidence which leads to careless mistakes sometimes.

 

[michaelfischmd]

Just tell the truth as long as it's not terrible like your secretly a murderer. Admissions agents are pros at telling who's a suck up lier and who honestly has problems but is working on them. Nobody's perfect and they know that.

 

[iforget2]

Never say something like "I'm a perfectionist" or "I try too hard". Those are both cheesy and cliche

 

[oGatsby]

My weakness, the one I'm putting in my college apps, is that I'm a bit of an ego, an arrogant prick who got crushed under his own hubris his whole academic life. I'm not kidding. I have grades on the good side of average, but I've been in Gifted. I rock tests. I just don't study because I can skate by on the minimum.

But damn it all if I don't want to be a doctor so badly that I want to change who I am entirely. I'm pre-studying over the summer for my senior year classes, because I want those colleges to know, with the final shot I have -- the first half of senior year -- that I'm ready.

 

[I'm No Superman]

My weakness is the inability to answer any "what are your weaknesses" questions because I'm flawless.