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what is your weakness best answer what is your weakness best answer

What Is Your Weakness Best Answer: Complete Interview Guide

3 min read 52,423 views
Posted by Aarna Tiwari Aug 31, 2025

The dreaded question “What is your greatest weakness?” has stumped countless job seekers across India’s competitive employment landscape. For college students and recent graduates entering the job market, this seemingly simple question can make or break an interview. Understanding how to craft the perfect response is crucial for landing your dream job in today’s challenging market.

Why Interviewers Ask “What Is Your Weakness?”

Understanding the what is your weakness interview question is crucial to answering it with confidence:

interview question and answer for fresher
  1. Self-Awareness – Recruiters want candidates who understand their own limitations.
  2. Growth Mindset – They look for those committed to self-improvement.
  3. Honesty & Humility – A genuine vulnerability, communicated well, reflects maturity.
  4. Job-Fit – The weakness should not conflict deeply with core job competencies.

Addressing Your Weaknesses In An Interview

To effectively address weaknesses during interviews, use the STAR-P framework specifically adapted for Indian job seekers:

  • S – Specific Weakness: Choose a genuine but manageable weakness.
  • T – Task/Situation: Provide context where this weakness became apparent.
  • A – Action: Describe concrete steps you’ve taken to address it.
  • R – Result: Share measurable improvements you’ve achieved.
  • P – Progress: Outline your ongoing development plan

This structured approach demonstrates the analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities that Indian employers highly value, particularly in sectors like technology, engineering, and business services.

What Is Your Greatest Weakness? Sample Answers

Here are three sample answers suitable for college students and recent graduates in India:

WeaknessSample Answer
Over-detail orientation“My greatest weakness is that I tend to focus too much on details. In college, I often spent extra hours polishing presentations or academic reports. I realized it delayed my project delivery. Recently, to manage this, I adopt time-boxing and set internal deadlines. I also ask peers to review my work early. This helped me deliver presentation decks and assignments on time without compromising quality.”
Hesitant to delegate“During group assignments, I sometimes hesitate to delegate tasks because I want things done correctly. Realizing it leads to burnout, I started delegating based on team strength and regularly checking progress. This not only improved our output but also enhanced team collaboration and reduced stress.”
Public speaking anxiety“I used to feel quite nervous when presenting in front of large groups. Recognizing it’s a critical skill, I joined my college’s drama club and volunteered to lead small sessions. Gradually, with practice, my confidence improved, and now I comfortably present in front of 20–30 audiences.”

Follow-Up Strategy: What Happens After You Answer

Your response about weaknesses shouldn’t exist in isolation. Prepare for these common follow-up questions that Indian interviewers frequently ask:

  • “Can you give me another example of a weakness?”
  • “How do you handle criticism about this weakness?”
  • “What resources have you used to improve in this area?”
  • “How has this weakness affected your academic or work performance?”

Having thoughtful responses ready demonstrates thorough preparation and authentic self-reflection.

Successfully answering “What is your weakness?” requires careful preparation, genuine self-reflection, and strategic communication. For Indian students and fresh graduates, this question represents an opportunity to demonstrate the maturity, self-awareness, and growth mindset that employers increasingly seek.



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Career Guidance > HR interview question & answers > What Is Your Weakness Best Answer: Complete Interview Guide