Real-world examples of 3 ways to discuss a technical weakness in interviews

Before we get into specific roles, let’s start with three repeatable patterns. These are the best examples of how to discuss a technical weakness because you can plug almost any skill into them and still sound thoughtful and responsible.

Think of them like templates:

• The “Old Skill, New Stack” example – You’re strong in related tools, but behind on the newest version or framework.
• The “Depth vs. Breadth” example – You’re solid in your main area, but not as deep in a neighboring specialty.
• The “Actively Fixing It” example – You had a clear gap, you noticed it, and you’re already taking concrete steps to close it.

All three patterns share the same backbone:

1. Name a real, contained technical weakness (not a fatal flaw for the job).
2. Explain the context (how it shows up in your work).
3. Show what you’re doing about it right now.
4. End with a positive outcome or progress.

You’ll see these patterns repeated in the upcoming examples of 3 examples of how to discuss a technical weakness across different careers.

Software engineer: examples of 3 examples of how to discuss a technical weakness

Let’s start in tech, since engineers get hit with this question constantly. Here are three different angles you can adapt.

Example 1: Behind on a newer framework (Old Skill, New Stack)

“One technical area I’m working on is modern front-end frameworks. I’ve done a lot of work in vanilla JavaScript and jQuery, but I’m not yet at the same level in React as some of my peers. I noticed this when I joined a cross-functional project that used React for the entire front end.

To close that gap, I built a small personal project in React and TypeScript, and I’ve been following the official React documentation and tutorial. I also completed a structured course through Harvard’s CS50 web track to get a better handle on state management and hooks. I wouldn’t call myself an expert yet, but I’m now comfortable reading and contributing to React code, and I’m continuing to take on React tickets at work to build that experience.”

Why this works:

• The weakness is specific (React), not vague.
• It’s adjacent to their strengths (JavaScript), not a red flag like “I’m bad at debugging.”
• The candidate shows concrete learning steps and current progress.

This is one of the best examples of how to discuss a technical weakness if you’re shifting into a newer stack.

Example 2: Limited cloud architecture experience (Depth vs. Breadth)

“I’m very comfortable writing backend services in Python and optimizing database queries, but I’m less experienced with designing large-scale cloud architectures. For example, I can deploy to AWS using existing patterns, but I’m not yet the person who should design a multi-region, highly available system from scratch.

I’ve been addressing that by pairing with our senior engineer who leads our AWS design work, and I recently completed the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification to ground myself in the fundamentals. I’m also working through the official AWS training resources and taking on more responsibility for reviewing infrastructure-as-code pull requests. My goal isn’t to become a full-time cloud architect, but to be strong enough to make informed tradeoffs and collaborate effectively with that team.”

This is a clean example of acknowledging a gap in depth while still sounding senior and thoughtful.

Example 3: Weakness in automated testing (Actively Fixing It)

“Earlier in my career, I didn’t prioritize automated testing as much as I should have. I could write tests, but I often leaned on manual QA, which slowed us down and occasionally let regressions slip through.

Over the last year, I’ve made this a focus area. I took the initiative to learn more about unit and integration testing using our current stack, and I’ve been following best practices from resources like Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute. I started by improving coverage on one service I owned, and we reduced production bugs by about 30% over two quarters. I’m still building my skills with property-based testing and contract tests, but I’m now much more intentional about designing testable code from the start.”

This is one of the stronger examples of 3 examples of how to discuss a technical weakness because it shows a real problem, a measurable improvement, and ongoing learning.

Data & analytics: examples include SQL, statistics, and tooling gaps

For data analysts and data scientists, technical weaknesses often center on programming depth, advanced statistics, or newer tools. Here are three real examples you can customize.

Example 4: Limited experience with big data tools

“I’m very comfortable with SQL and Python for analysis on small to medium data sets, but I’m still developing my skills with big data tools like Spark. On a recent project, our data volume pushed the limits of what we could do efficiently in our existing environment.

To address this, I’ve started working through hands-on Spark tutorials and using the official Apache Spark documentation to learn best practices. I also asked to shadow one of our senior data engineers who specializes in distributed systems, and I’m now owning smaller Spark jobs under their guidance. I’m not at the point where I’d design a full Spark pipeline alone, but I’m steadily building that capability.”

This is a good example of a growth area that matters—but doesn’t make the candidate unusable right now.

Example 5: Advanced statistics vs. applied analytics

“My strength is applying analytics to business questions—building dashboards, running A/B tests, and translating findings for stakeholders. Where I’m less strong is in more advanced statistical modeling, like Bayesian methods or custom machine learning models.

I realized this when I partnered with our data science team on a churn prediction project. I could interpret the outputs, but I wasn’t the one designing the model. To grow in this area, I’ve been taking an online course in applied statistics from a university program and reviewing open course materials from schools like MIT OpenCourseWare. I’ve also started implementing simpler models in Python so I understand the mechanics, not just the outputs. I don’t need to be a full-time data scientist, but I want to be a more informed partner.”

Notice how this answer frames the weakness as a reasonable boundary between analyst and data scientist, then shows active learning.

Example 6: Dashboarding tool vs. underlying skills

“I’m very strong in SQL and data modeling, but I’m less experienced with Looker specifically. In my last role, we used Tableau, so I’m still getting up to speed on LookML and some of Looker’s more advanced features.

To close that gap, I’ve been using Looker’s official training materials and documentation, and I rebuilt one of my old Tableau dashboards in Looker to understand the differences. Because my underlying data skills are strong, I’ve found the transition manageable, and I expect to be fully comfortable in the tool within a few weeks of hands-on use.”

This is one of the best examples of how to discuss a technical weakness when the underlying skill is strong but the tool is new.

Non-technical roles: examples of technical weaknesses for marketers, PMs, and ops

You don’t have to be an engineer to get asked about technical weaknesses. Product managers, marketers, HR, and operations professionals all work with tools and systems. Here are more examples of 3 examples of how to discuss a technical weakness outside of pure engineering.

Example 7: Product manager with limited SQL

“I’m very comfortable using analytics dashboards and working with data teams, but my own SQL skills are still at an intermediate level. I can write basic queries and pull key metrics, but I’m slower when it comes to more complex joins or window functions.

I’ve been improving this by practicing in a sandbox environment and using free SQL exercises from university-backed resources. I also set a goal to self-serve at least 80% of my own data questions instead of always asking an analyst. That’s pushed me to get faster and more confident. I don’t need to be a data engineer, but I do want to be able to explore data independently and ask better questions.”

This is a strong example of a PM being honest about a technical weakness while still sounding highly effective.

Example 8: Marketer learning marketing automation tools

“My background is in content and campaign strategy, and I’m relatively newer to the more technical side of marketing automation platforms. For example, I can work within existing workflows in HubSpot, but I’m still gaining confidence designing complex nurture sequences and integrations from scratch.

To strengthen this, I’ve been working through vendor certifications and documentation, and I recently completed a series of HubSpot Academy courses. I also volunteered to own a smaller lifecycle campaign end-to-end, including the technical setup. That project went well—we saw a 15% lift in engagement—and it gave me a safe way to practice the more technical aspects with support from our marketing operations lead.”

Again, we see the same pattern: real weakness, clear action, tangible progress.

Example 9: Operations manager and advanced Excel / scripting

“I use Excel and Google Sheets daily and feel very comfortable with formulas and pivot tables. Where I’m less strong is in more advanced scripting, like writing complex VBA macros or using Python for automation.

I’ve started addressing this by taking a beginner Python course and focusing on small, high-impact automations, like cleaning data or generating recurring reports. I’ve also been using resources from sites like edX to build a more formal foundation. I don’t need to be a full-time developer, but even modest scripting skills have already saved my team several hours a week.”

This is one of the most relatable examples of how to discuss a technical weakness for non-engineering roles.

How to build your own answer using these real examples

Let’s turn these real examples into a repeatable process you can use.

Step 1: Pick a safe but honest technical weakness

Look for a weakness that:

• Is real (you can tell a story about it).
• Is not a core requirement of the job.
• Is improvable with reasonable effort.

For a backend engineer, for example, saying “I’m not strong at debugging production issues” is risky. Saying “I’m newer to Kubernetes, but I’m actively learning” is safer and more believable.

Step 2: Add context with a short story

One reason the best examples work is that they feel grounded in real life. Instead of just saying, “I’m weak in Spark,” add a quick moment:

• “I noticed this when we started working with larger data sets…”
• “This came up on a project where we migrated to React…”

That single sentence makes your answer feel like a real example of your work history, not a memorized line.

Step 3: Show what you’re doing about it right now

Interviewers care less about the weakness itself and more about your approach to learning. You can:

• Mention a course, certification, or tutorial you’re using.
• Reference documentation or resources from reputable institutions (for example, open courseware from Harvard or MIT).
• Talk about a project you took on specifically to practice that skill.

The key is to be specific. “I’m reading documentation and practicing” is weaker than “I rebuilt an existing dashboard in Looker to learn the tool.”

Step 4: End with progress and confidence

Most of the strongest examples of 3 examples of how to discuss a technical weakness end on a note like:

• “I’m not an expert yet, but I’m now comfortable contributing to…”
• “I don’t plan to be a full-time X, but I want to be a better partner to that team.”

This signals that you’re realistic, you’re improving, and you’re not hiding from the weakness.

FAQ: examples of common questions about technical weaknesses

Q: What are good examples of technical weaknesses that won’t hurt my chances?
Good examples include: being new to a specific framework (React, Django, Spark), limited experience with a non-core tool (Looker vs. Tableau), intermediate-level SQL for a PM or marketer, or early-stage experience with cloud architecture. The pattern in all these examples of weaknesses is that they’re real but not central to the job’s main responsibilities.

Q: Can I use the same example of a technical weakness for every interview?
You can start from the same base story, but you should adjust it. For a data role, highlight a statistics or tooling gap. For a PM role, emphasize something like SQL or analytics. Use the structure from the real examples above, but customize the skill to match the job description.

Q: Should I ever say I have no technical weaknesses?
No. That usually reads as a lack of self-awareness. Even senior professionals have areas they’re still developing. The best examples of 3 examples of how to discuss a technical weakness all share honesty plus a clear improvement plan.

Q: Is it okay to mention a weakness I’m only just starting to work on?
Yes, as long as you can point to at least one concrete action you’ve already taken—signing up for a course, building a small project, pairing with a teammate, or reading official documentation. Interviewers are looking for initiative, not perfection.

Q: How long should my answer be when I give an example of a technical weakness?
Aim for 30–60 seconds. Long enough to explain the weakness, context, and what you’re doing about it, but short enough that you don’t sound defensive. Most of the real examples in this article fit that length when spoken aloud.

If you use these patterns and adapt the real examples above to your own experience, you’ll be able to answer the technical weakness question calmly and confidently—without sounding rehearsed or sabotaging yourself. The goal isn’t to pretend you have no gaps; it’s to show that you notice them early, take action, and keep growing.