Interviewers ask questions in an attempt to determine your fit into a team or an organization, as well as the role you are interviewing for. The challenge is that there is no right or wrong answer to a question like this. Though by giving a thoughtful answer, you can show that you are self-aware and willing to continue to learn about how you can be effective at work.

Being able to articulate your weaknesses (and what you’ve done to be sure they don’t hold you back) can be enlightening for an interviewer. A great place to start identifying weaknesses is to look at your strengths, since most come with a “challenge side”. For example, if “adaptability” is a strength of yours (meaning you enjoy change and can make quick adjustments to new requests, processes, or goals) you may find it a challenge to follow through with longer term projects or tasks.

When describing a “weakness” be sure to always talk about what you’ve learned to minimize the effect of this trait in your work.

Example: A strength of mine is that I’m adaptable and enjoy variety and change, and it doesn’t phase me to have my work interrupted. The challenge side of that trait is that I sometimes find it difficult to stay focused on a longer-term task or project. What I’ve learned is that I focus best in the morning, with background noise, and I’ve developed a personal system for tracking project progress that keeps me focused until the finish.

Review the Career Center’s interviewing resources for more tips on how to prepare for an interview.