What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses? Best Answers for UK Interviews

"What are your strengths and weaknesses?" is a classic UK interview question. Interviewers want self-awareness, honesty and evidence that you improve.

Answering the strengths part

Choose two or three strengths that match the job description and back each one with a short example. Instead of saying "I am organised", say "I manage a caseload of 40 clients and have never missed a deadline because I plan my week every Friday."

Answering the weaknesses part

Pick a real weakness that is not essential to the role, then show what you are doing about it.

• Public speaking: "I used to avoid presenting, so I volunteered to lead our monthly team briefing."

• Delegating: "I tend to take on too much, so I now use a weekly task list and hand over routine work."

What not to say

• "I am a perfectionist" or "I work too hard". Interviewers hear these constantly.

• A weakness that rules you out, such as poor time keeping.

Keep each answer to about a minute and finish on a positive note about progress.

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