your weakness (interview question)

iluvcats

please answer if you have a new job, possibly in the past two years.
please let me know if your employer asked about your weakness and how you handled it.
I could be going on an interview. It's been since 1997 for me! I thought about it when I read this on my homepage today
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-article ... e_job-1026
I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

81

i hate that question.

PJGARDEN

I've found the best thing to do is answer the question honestly but follow up your answer with things you've done to make it better. I always tell them I'm not the most organized person in the world (and this is very true), but I give some examples of what I've done to improve.

You can't say you don't have any weaknesses b/c they will know you're lying or just assume you are arrogent and difficult to work with.

_

You could tell them a weakness that can also double as a strength. I've answered that question before by saying my weakness is that I'm really detail-oriented. So, although the quality of my work is better, it can sometimes slow me down a little bit. That's really honest and gives them the opportunity to assess whether they value quality work over sloppy-but-faster work. If given the choice, I wouldn't want to work for a company that doesn't see the value in being detail-oriented.

I try to avoid the other honest answers to that question, like that I have the hardest time dragging my ass out of bed to get to work on time every day. :oops:

the wolf

scb wrote:

I try to avoid the other honest answers to that question, like that I have the hardest time dragging my ass out of bed to get to work on time every day. :oops:

WORD. :?

The Juggler

I TRY TOO HARD.

Ledbetterman10

I never actually give a weakness when they ask this. I tell them of something that used to be a weakness and how I improved it....thus creating the illusion that I have no weaknesses. But anyone who has ever played me in online Madden knows that my weakness is screen plays.

tcaporale

Is being awesome a weakness? 'Cause if so, that's your answer right there!

LONGRD

I always try to make a persuasive answer out of my weaknesses.

One weakness for me is I hate routine work, I always get bored after awhile. So instead of coming of like a lousy worker, I say that I like new challenges and enjoy a varied range of work. I'm not the type that likes to be tied down to one area.

So depending on the interviewer/manager, I may come of a bit cocky, a bit demanding, a bit challenging but it also shows I'm dependable for multitasks.

Don't know if that helps. Best of luck in your interview.

mookeywrench

The Jeagler wrote:

I TRY TOO HARD.

haha...yeah

"I'm a perfectionist"
"I have trouble saying no"
and sorry to say but "i'm detailed oriented"

Those are the worst responses because they're so cliched and canned whether they're true or not.

The best response is an honest weakness (nothing too harsh that will cause for an immediate deal breaker), and then follow up with how you've taken the innitiative to overcome that weakness.

The Juggler

mookeywrench wrote:

The Jeagler wrote:

I TRY TOO HARD.

haha...yeah

"I'm a perfectionist"
"I have trouble saying no"
and sorry to say but "i'm detailed oriented"

Those are the worst responses because they're so cliched and canned whether they're true or not.

The best response is an honest weakness (nothing too harsh that will cause for an immediate deal breaker), and then follow up with how you've taken the innitiative to overcome that weakness.

no. i try too hard in everything i do. it will be my ultimate demise.

iluvcats

thanks for your replies everyone. I appreciate your honesty

I don't have an interview yet; but I'll be sure I keep a copy of this thread for the future.

PatrickBateman

Ledbetterman10 wrote:

I never actually give a weakness when they ask this. I tell them of something that used to be a weakness and how I improved it....thus creating the illusion that I have no weaknesses. But anyone who has ever played me in online Madden knows that my weakness is screen plays.

lol...."my weaknesses?....well, I tend to give up a big play on 3rd and long but I know it's the *&^*&^!@# computer cheating, begging me to twist this !@#$^@!!@^controller in half"

Mcam55

David:So, let me ask you a question right off the bat. What do you think are your greatest strengths as a manager?
Michael: Why don't I tell you what my greatest weaknesses are? I work too hard. I care too much. And sometimes I can be too invested in my job.
David: Okay. And your strengths?
Michael: Well, my weaknesses are actually... strengths.
David: Oh. Yes. Very good.
Michael: Thank you.
David: Very good.

Leathe?ma?

- I hate working, I am lazy, I hate you, I want to phuck your mum.. and what's the name of the company again?

this should work

Danimal

I usually say Kryptonite. I have never been a denied a job.

eyedclaar

Just be honest and say, "cocaine and hookers." Would you want to work for someone who balked at that response? Didn't think so.

MrMerkinball

Danimal wrote:

I usually say Kryptonite. I have never been a denied a job.

I interview a lot of people and I ALWAYS ASK THIS QUESTION.

I am usually just trying to see if they have given this some thought, and I KNOW that 90% of the answers I get are bullshit.

BUT I swear to god, If I ever got "Danimal's" answer, I would hire the person immediately!

That is just fucking awesome.

PillowPants

i surf the internet all day long

and tend to get banned from message boards

dunkman

i cannot pronounce the word burglary.

Catwoman1

dunkman wrote:

i cannot pronounce the word burglary.

If I were interviewing someone and they gave me this answer, I would love it! This shows a sense of humor, and most of us want to work with people with a sense of humor. Interviewers can see through people who give the "I'm too detail-oriented" or "I'm a perfectionist" answers.

Catwoman1

MrMerkinball wrote:

Danimal wrote:

I usually say Kryptonite. I have never been a denied a job.

I interview a lot of people and I ALWAYS ASK THIS QUESTION.

I am usually just trying to see if they have given this some thought, and I KNOW that 90% of the answers I get are bullshit.

BUT I swear to god, If I ever got "Danimal's" answer, I would hire the person immediately!

That is just fucking awesome.

I love Danimal's answer too. Making the interviewer laugh is a good thing!

Catwoman1

iluvcats wrote:

please answer if you have a new job, possibly in the past two years.
please let me know if your employer asked about your weakness and how you handled it.
I could be going on an interview. It's been since 1997 for me! I thought about it when I read this on my homepage today
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-article ... e_job-1026
I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

Good luck! How exciting to be changing jobs!

Spot In The Sky

in the past ive said that i get too hands on with everything and don't delegate as much as i should.

Jeanwah

mookeywrench wrote:

The best response is an honest weakness (nothing too harsh that will cause for an immediate deal breaker), and then follow up with how you've taken the innitiative to overcome that weakness.

I try to do this. Leadership is my weakness, but I always tell the person the steps I've taken at past jobs that show that I've tried to overcome my downfall. And that I've taken Toastmasters classes for public speaking.

Danimal wrote:

I usually say Kryptonite. I have never been a denied a job.

This may be my new answer though.