The correct answer to the dreaded "What is your weakness" interview question...

[llg, PhD, RN]

As someone who conducts interviews.

You have gotten some good advice here. And you have recognized the one piece of terrible advice you have received. The "I don't have any weaknesses" response will lose you the job if I interview you. I don't want people to lie to me, and I don't want to hire people not interested in learning and improving.

I also don't want to hire people who are feeding me answers that are insincere and over-reheorificed. So be prepared to give a few examples of how that weakness has played out in your life and how you are addressing it. I often ask follow-up questions after those common questions that most people prepare for -- to see if the candidate is left with nothing to say after feeding me their reheorificed script. If the candidate is sincere and discusses a natural weakness, they should be able to handle some follow-up discussions with spontaneous answers. If they can't talk about their response spontaneously, it makes me think it was just a reheorificed answer that might not be the truth. It makes me lose my trust in the candidate, which is terrible.

Good luck.

[FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN]

The best answers are true answers. I am a great interviewee and my only secret is that I tell the truth in the best way possible. The weakness question is about making sure that you are able to grow. No one wants to work with someone who can't see room for improvement of self. Pick something you are working on; if you aren't working on anything, let that be a sign to you that you should be improving on something. Don't pick unchangeable flaws. Be genuine and specific. 

[SusGob711]

As long as it doesn't paint you in a bad image. For example, if you say your weakness is that you get attached to your patients, you must be prepared to communicate that you know how to set boundaries for yourself and respect the nurse-patient relationship.

I think the biggest thing they are looking for is awareness of self. My biggest weakness is I tend to be hypercritical of myself, and this flaw pushes me toward self-improvement, and I expect a lot from myself and others.

Good luck this week!

[trueblue2000]

This is a trap question; almost anything you say here will damage your image and be used against you as an excuse not to hire you. The correct answer is "I don't have any weaknesses," period. Say no more. Now, if you are afraid you will come out as arrogant, you can add, "While I am not weak in any area, there are some areas that I feel I could improve on. For instance, I am reluctant to delegate care; I feel that it wasn't done right if I didn't do some aspect of my patient care. I probably should learn to trust more the techs in my unit."

[Bortaz, MSN, RN]

Tell them your weakness is your struggle to answer silly, contrived questions.

[Ntheboat2]

I don't know how much experience you have, so this might not be helpful to you. However, someone else might benefit from my response.

When asked this question as a new grad, I would say something like, "I think my main weakness is lack of experience. I have some experience as an aide and an intern, but I'm a new nurse, so there is a lot that I need to learn."

I got some positive feedback with that response. I feel like it's a legitimate weakness in general because new nurses are an expense and can be (although hopefully not) a liability. At the same time, it's a "weakness" that you have no control over as everyone starts as a new nurse, so it's not like a personal flaw.

[chrisrn24]

I said my biggest weakness was that I like to do everything myself, but I am learning how to divide the work for the better of everyone.

[turnforthenurse, MSN, NP]

Your strengths and weaknesses are given for any interview, I think.

When I was asked this during my nurse tech interview, I went along the lines of not having much experience. I only worked as a PCNA for about four months before getting an interview for this job, plus I was in nursing school. The HR rep LOVED my answer. When I interviewed for my first RN position as a new grad, I told them my greatest weakness was that I was a recent grad and lacked experience" etc., and they loved that answer, too.

[pockunit, ADN, RN]

"I'm looking forward to improving my time management skills."

[psu_213, BSN, RN]

llg said:

And you have recognized the one piece of terrible advice you have received. The "I don't have any weaknesses" response will lose you the job if I interview you. I don't want people to lie to me, and I don't want to hire people not interested in learning and improving.

I am glad someone said this! We all have things that we need to improve. The technical term for these things is 'weaknesses.' I have yet to meet a nurse (or anyone!) with no weakness, no matter how small.

I like the advice to frame it in terms of what you need to improve about yourself.

[Archana Shrestha, BSN, RN]

This is the trick question, and you must be prepared for this one before the interview. I have recently interviewed for the RN as an ICU nurse, which is one of the most challenging questions. I was prepared for it; I think I did great in that, and now I got the job. 

So, be true to yourself first. This is the key.  It would be best if you improvised your weakness in a relatively good way than the worst things. 

What I said in my interview was: 

 I am very independent, and it is tough to ask for help most of the time; I find it uncomfortable to make others work for me, but I am working on it and asking for help when needed.

Another weakness is that, in situations where the approach for my reaction should be emotional, I instead choose to think it according to my mind. 

[TonyaMarie, MSN]

Say, "Setting healthy boundaries." Always works. Leadership appreciates hard workers but wants employees to set healthy boundaries regarding how often they skip lunch to eat at their desk while still working, work from home up to 10-12 hours a day, etc. Not setting healthy boundaries is a weakness.