What is your Greatest Weakness? Teacher Interview Question Examples

What is Your Greatest Weakness Interview Tips & Example Answers

The interview question “What is your greatest weakness?” will come up in some form during your teacher interview. It may be phrased as “Identify an opportunity for development”, or “Which aspect of your teaching practice do you need to develop further?”. There will be a question along these lines so please do prepare an answer, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Unless your biggest weakness as a teacher is not being prepared!

One of the most effective things teachers can do is to answer this interview question with a real example of feedback you have received. Depending on the teaching role you are going for pick an appropriate feedback channel. For example, if you are going for a class teacher role use a target or area for development from lesson observation feedback.

When sharing your teaching weaknesses in a job interview, it’s crucial to frame them as areas for growth in your skills, these are not flaws in your value or self-worth. For example, identifying a weakness in public speaking is about acknowledging room for improvement in an important teaching skill. It does not mean you are incompetent or unworthy as a teacher. In fact, by thoughtfully reflecting on a skills-based weakness and showing how you take steps to address it, you demonstrate important qualities like self-awareness, commitment to growth, and humility.

School leaders want to hire candidates hungry to keep developing their teaching practice. You do not need to be the perfect teacher yet. Demonstrating that you recognise specific skill deficits and have a plan to strengthen them shows impressive maturity and initiative. Focus on observable, changeable behaviours – not nebulous traits like “being disorganised.” Frame weaknesses positively as opportunities to expand your talents. You are a work in progress with so much promise. Believe in your inherent worth.

Of course, presenting your growth mindset effectively starts with a polished resume that showcases your development journey. Resume Writing Lab online can help teachers craft compelling application materials that highlight their commitment to professional growth.

Areas to Cover in Your Answer to “What is Your Greatest Weakness?”

Here is a list of potential weaknesses to get you thinking about what you may talk about at a teacher interview. The first stage, indeed the crucial stage, is to accurately identify your “opportunities to develop”. There are a number of ways to do this.

• Time management – Reason: I sometimes have difficulty balancing lesson planning, assessment, and meetings. I end up feeling rushed and overwhelmed. I’m actively working on better planning out my week and managing my time including shared planning.
• Classroom technology – Reason: While I try to incorporate technology into my lessons, I don’t feel fully comfortable with all the latest educational software and apps. I’m taking a professional development course this summer to expand my technology skills.
• Public speaking – Reason: Although I’m comfortable with students, I sometimes get nervous speaking to large groups of adults like parents or staff. I’m working on techniques to manage my anxiety and become a more confident public speaker so I can be more effective at delivering whole-school training.
• Delegation – Reason: I often take on too many tasks myself rather than delegating them. I want to improve at utilising support staff more effectively.
• Knowledge of Effective Inclusion – Reason: I want to strengthen my skills in recognising learning disabilities early and finding ways to include every child in my lessons. I am working with colleagues in special schools and undertaking SEN specific training.
• Classroom decor – Reason: While I focus heavily on curriculum, I want my classroom to be more inclusive and purposeful. I think so many young teachers focus on creating classrooms for Instagram over education. I’m researching and experimenting with classroom design ideas to inspire students, including using anchor charts.

Example Answers to the Greatest Weakness Teacher Interview Question.

13 example answers to “What is your Greatest Weakness?” for Teachers.

1. “Being too Self-Critical of my Pedagogical Skills. My greatest weakness as a teacher is my tendency to be too critical of myself. I often feel like I could have done more or better, even when my students have done well. This can lead to burnout and stress so I want to more positive in my reflections. To improve my self-criticism, I am practising keeping a growth mindset and self-compassion. I am also reminding myself of my strengths and accomplishments. I am confident that with more practice, I will be able to be more accepting of myself and my imperfections.”
2. “I’d say my greatest weakness is my tendency to overplan lessons (be careful with this one). While thorough preparation is crucial, I sometimes create such detailed plans that I struggle to adapt when lessons take unexpected turns. To address this, I’m working on developing more flexible planning strategies. I’m learning to create lesson outlines with clear objectives but leaving room for spontaneity and student-led discussions. This approach is helping me become more responsive to my pupils’ needs whilst still maintaining a structured learning environment.”
3. “My greatest weakness is my initial hesitancy in embracing new educational technologies. I recognise the importance of integrating technology into the classroom, but I often feel overwhelmed by the rapid pace of technological change. To overcome this, I’ve started attending regular EdTech workshops and collaborating with our school’s IT coordinator. I’m gradually building my confidence in using various digital tools and platforms, which is enhancing my lessons and helping me prepare students for an increasingly digital world.”
4. “I sometimes struggle with time management, particularly when it comes to marking and providing timely feedback. I tend to give very detailed comments, which, whilst beneficial for students, can be time-consuming and lead to delays in returning work. To address this, I’m implementing a more structured marking schedule and exploring efficient feedback methods like using rubrics and peer assessment. These strategies are helping me provide prompt, effective feedback without compromising on quality.”
5. “My greatest weakness is my tendency to take on too much responsibility, often at the expense of work-life balance. I’m passionate about supporting my students, which sometimes leads me to volunteer for extra duties or spend excessive time on lesson preparation. To address this, I’m learning to set clearer boundaries and prioritise tasks more effectively. I’m also working on delegating responsibilities where appropriate and collaborating more with colleagues to share the workload.”
6. “I find it challenging to manage very boisterous classes effectively. While I excel in creating a calm, focused environment with most groups, I sometimes struggle to maintain order with particularly energetic classes. To improve in this area, I’m attending behaviour management workshops and observing colleagues who excel in this aspect. I’m also experimenting with more engaging, active learning strategies to channel students’ energy productively.”
7. “My weakness lies in differentiating instruction for gifted and talented pupils. While I’m adept at supporting struggling learners, I sometimes fail to adequately challenge my high-achieving students. To address this, I’m researching advanced differentiation strategies and collaborating with our school’s gifted and talented coordinator. I’m learning to create more open-ended, complex tasks that stretch these pupils without isolating them from their peers.”
8. “I tend to rely heavily on traditional teaching methods and sometimes struggle to incorporate more innovative pedagogical approaches. To overcome this, I’m actively seeking out professional development opportunities focused on contemporary teaching strategies. I’m also partnering with more experienced colleagues to observe and learn from their innovative practices. This is helping me diversify my teaching methods and create more engaging, student-centred learning experiences.”
9. “My greatest weakness is my difficulty in effectively communicating with parents, particularly when discussing sensitive issues about their child’s progress or behaviour. To improve in this area, I’m working with our school’s pastoral team to develop better communication strategies. I’m also role-playing challenging conversations with colleagues to build my confidence and refine my approach. These efforts are helping me foster more positive and productive relationships with parents.”
10. “I sometimes struggle with assessment design, particularly in creating varied and meaningful formative assessments. While I’m confident in summative testing, I find it challenging to develop ongoing assessments that accurately reflect student learning without being overly time-consuming. To address this, I’m attending assessment literacy workshops and collaborating with our assessment coordinator. I’m learning to create more diverse, efficient assessment tools that provide valuable insights into student progress.”
11. “My weakness lies in effectively supporting pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL). While I’m passionate about inclusive education, I sometimes find it challenging to meet the unique needs of EAL learners within the mainstream classroom. To improve in this area, I’m undertaking specialised EAL training and working closely with our school’s EAL coordinator. I’m learning strategies to make my lessons more accessible and culturally responsive, which is benefiting not just EAL pupils, but all learners in my classroom.”
12. “Moving from Differentiation to Adaptive Teaching. My greatest weakness as a teacher is my lack of experience with adaptive teaching. I am still learning how to effectively plan and implement lessons that meet the needs of all of my students. To improve my adaptive teaching skills, I am reading books and articles on the topic. I am also attending workshops and collaborating with other teachers. I am confident that with more experience and practice, I will be able to effectively implement adaptive planning and instruction for all of my students.”
13. “Lack of EAL Teaching Experience. My greatest weakness as a teacher is my lack of experience with teaching English as a second language learners. I am still learning how to effectively modify my instruction to meet the needs of EAL students. To improve my teaching skills for ALL students, I am taking a course on EAL instruction online. I am also observing and collaborating with other teachers who have experience teaching EAL students. I am confident that with more experience and by implementing what I learn in my training, I will be able to effectively teach all of my students, regardless of their English language proficiency.”

Weaknesses to Avoid Discussing at the Interview

There are plenty of tasks, responsibilities and nuances involved in teaching to draw answers from. I would avoid any that link specifically to the key areas of effective teachers according to the UK’s Teachers’ Standards, you should be confident and consider using these in the Greatest Strengths Question:

• Strong subject knowledge – Teachers must have expert knowledge of the subjects they teach to inspire confidence and interest in their students.
• Lesson planning skills – Teachers need to plan well-structured lessons that engage students and meet learning objectives. This includes differentiating lessons to accommodate all learners.
• Classroom management – Teachers should foster positive behavior through consistent routines, clear expectations, and effective responses to disruptive behaviour.
• Assessment expertise – Teachers need to regularly assess students’ progress and provide constructive feedback to maximise learning. They use data to identify student needs.
• Adaptability – Teachers need to adjust their teaching style and lessons to account for the strengths and needs of different learners and situations.
• Communication skills – Teachers should communicate instructions, feedback, and subject matter clearly while listening effectively to students.
• Collaboration – Teachers work constructively with colleagues, parents, support staff, and the community to enhance student learning.
• Enthusiasm – Passionate, patient, and enthusiastic teaching engages students in learning. Teachers inspire and motivate through their joy for their subject.
• Reflectiveness – Great teachers continuously reflect on the effectiveness of their lessons and teaching strategies, as well as their professional conduct. They strive to improve.
• Commitment to learning – Lifelong professional development and learning new skills are hallmarks of excellent teachers. They stay up-to-date on advances in pedagogy and content.

Your Biggest Weakness as a Teacher: Summary

Remember, the interviewer is asking the “What is your greatest weakness as a teacher?” question to get to know you better and to assess your self-awareness and growth potential. By answering the question honestly and thoughtfully, you can make a positive impression on the interviewer and increase your chances of getting the teaching job.

• Be honest and specific. Don’t try to sugarcoat your weakness or say that you don’t have any. The interviewer knows that every teacher has weaknesses, and they appreciate honesty.
• Focus on the steps you are taking to improve. This shows the interviewer that you are self-aware and proactive.
• Practice your answer beforehand. This will help you to deliver it confidently and smoothly.
• Don’t dwell on your weakness. Once you have answered the question, move on to other topics.
• Use humour sparingly. A little bit of humour can be a good way to show your personality, but don’t overdo it.