The words to use
- Insight
- Seeing your own strengths and limits accurately, and acting on them. The Medical Schools Council lists insight into your own strengths and weaknesses among the values schools look for.
- Humblebrag
- A strength dressed up as a weakness, such as "I'm a perfectionist" or "I care too much". It sounds rehearsed and avoids the question.
- Red-flag weakness
- A weakness that touches a core professional value, such as honesty, reliability or respect for people. Do not use one as your main example.
- Evidence of improvement
- Something specific and checkable that shows a weakness shrinking, such as a deadline met, a job handed over or better feedback.
