Interview question,what are your weaknesses?

berliner

How to answer that question without damaging your chances of getting the job?Have interview in the morning so please help.Thanks.

Redpunto

Im a perfectionist

I become engrossed in my work

Good luck with the interview

Tom Dunne

Yeah, make it a positive negative.

I always use the fact that I think I am too honest.

dresden8

MOD edit: This post was reported using the description "idiot". It was an accurate description.

Todoquetengo

Yes try make it a positve negative or show how you are improving, i.e. something like I take on too much sometimes, but am learning not to overstretch my self, or I'm too enthusiastic and want to get imvovlded in everything at once etc.

The perfectionist one is siad by nearly everyone, so try think of different things. If you look at the stickies at the top there are some good links to preparing for interviews and sample questions.

Good luck

berliner

Good advice so far.thanks.

smiler26

Agreed that you should turn whatever the 'weakness' is into a positive. BUt I'm sure that interviewers are sick to death of the perfectionist one.

I'd put a slight spin on it and say something along the lines of.... 'I've noticed in the past that I can be quite slow to delegate my work. Somehow, I always feel more confident if I am doing it myself. However, I'm aware that this isn't always the case, so now I always try to be a bit more objective in delegation of work.'

Depending on if it's a people manager position or not, twist it from delegating to your direct reports to assigning ownership while your on hols etc

Good luck!

leeroybrown

Don't use the perfectionist one or any similar rubbish. There's a decent chance that the one o the interviewers won't like the answer and will view it as lazy - I certainly do. Occasionally you'll run into someone who'll take you to task and grill you for a better answer.

Try to pick a weakness that's realistic but won't have a huge negative impact on that particular job and put a positive spin on it.

Stevecw

Just say i tend to take on so/too much work/responsability....i sometimes end up working thru my lunch or doing overtime in the evening..To the employers thats a weekness but a good overtime one!

Serafijn

smiler26 wrote: »

I'm sure that interviewers are sick to death of the perfectionist one.

You are correct! I have to stop myself rolling my eyes and/or slapping someone every time I hear this one.

leeroybrown wrote:

Try to pick a weakness that's realistic but won't have a huge negative impact on that particular job and put a positive spin on it.

Do this ^

Hanley

Remember, that question is all about self awareness and your own ability to acknowledge your own short comings.

Try to pick a problem from the past that you've overcome.

moverandshaker

Hi Guys,
That advice is brill and as I have an interview for my dream job (a really good sales job) tomorrow it will really help! Anyone any ideas on the best way to answer the following;

Why should this company hire you?
How do you normally react to praise/critism?
Are you considering other positions?
What kind of frustations did you encounter in your last job?

Any advice at all is greatly appreciated!

I'm ok at selling myself in interviews but this job is so important I want all my answers to be perfect!

Eoin

I tend to pick a particular skill rather than a characteristic - e.g. "I don't have much experience with the financial side of IT". Obviously tailor this so it isn't a vital skill for the job you're applying for. I think "I work too hard" is a bit naff.

Do think about it though - what can seem like an innocuous one, could be read the wrong way (if not perceived as standard bullshìt in the first place).

e.g.
"I work too long" - poor time management?
"I'm too honest" - not suitable for a customer facing role, or one that requires tact?

Agent Smith

I spend too much time on message boards...


(oh wait...)

Eoin

Agent Smith wrote: »

I spend too much time on message boards...


(oh wait...)

probably worked for CuLT!

deisebabe

i have a bad memory and so have to make lots of lists to keep on track....no lie there..

Eoin

deisebabe wrote: »

i have a bad memory and so have to make lots of lists to keep on track....no lie there..

Perhaps a little too honest though.

berliner

Never asked any questions i was expecting.That "what is your weakness" has to be the stupidest question ever.

Duckjob

I crack under pressure

gary the great

I was at an interview last year, went really bad, i really tried but I didnt really want the job that much and I think the interviwers were being dicks, so:

Interviewer - what are your weaknesses?

Me: Fat birds

Tumbleweed moment if I ever had one

deisebabe

gary the great wrote: »

I was at an interview last year, went really bad, i really tried but I didnt really want the job that much and I think the interviwers were being dicks, so:

Interviewer - what are your weaknesses?

Me: Fat birds

Tumbleweed moment if I ever had one

I think thats gotta be the best answer to the most ridiculous question ever!

Although that "where do you see yourself in five years time?" is another funny one. I mean will we ever be honest and say "living the dream in mexico"....methinks not.

Alun

Ah yes, the "Dummy's Guide to Interviewing Techniques" questions we all know and love. I still remember the halcyon days when I first started working many years ago when interviews were actually interviews, not half-hearted attempts at amateur psychology

Eoin

deisebabe wrote: »

Although that "where do you see yourself in five years time?" is another funny one. I mean will we ever be honest and say "living the dream in mexico"....methinks not.

I genuinely don't see the problem with that question - it's asking what your ambitions are for the next 5 years.

Ishmael

moverandshaker wrote: »

Why should this company hire you?

Because i am good at x,y,z. Basically give them a bunch of skills that are relevant to the job.

moverandshaker wrote: »

How do you normally react to praise/criticism?

For Criticism:
Understand the viewpoint of the critic, Validate if the criticism, is it something that can be changed, is there something you can do to improve the situation. Respond appropriately.

For Praise:
Not really sure but, i assume, be modest, politely thank the praise and move on.

moverandshaker wrote: »

Are you considering other positions?

Not Sure, Never been asked that one.

moverandshaker wrote: »

What kind of frustations did you encounter in your last job?

Well, personal experience is what is called for here, you can make stuff up but it won't sound nearly half as good as something realistic that happened. If you don't have something interesting, you can always try exaggerating a previous experience, that way there is a least some truth to it.

berliner

eoin_s wrote: »

I genuinely don't see the problem with that question - it's asking what your ambitions are for the next 5 years.

The Problem with this question is 99% of people would love to see themselves not having to get up in the morning to go to this ****ty job that i'm being interviewed for now.

none

A few months ago there was a thread on this subject and my personal favourite was "doing interviews": (http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=55415847&postcount=22).

moverandshaker

Ishmael wrote: »

Because i am good at x,y,z. Basically give them a bunch of skills that are relevant to the job.


For Criticism:
Understand the viewpoint of the critic, Validate if the criticism, is it something that can be changed, is there something you can do to improve the situation. Respond appropriately.

For Praise:
Not really sure but, i assume, be modest, politely thank the praise and move on.


Not Sure, Never been asked that one.


Well, personal experience is what is called for here, you can make stuff up but it won't sound nearly half as good as something realistic that happened. If you don't have something interesting, you can always try exaggerating a previous experience, that way there is a least some truth to it.

Thanks for all that, much appreciated!

faceman

Ive been the "interviewer" on many occasions and there is nothing i hate more than textbook answers like "im a perfectionist" etc etc. Its smells of bull.

Then again i dont ask that question for that very reason. Its a stupid question. Often i find aswell that people's weaknesses can be tasks they just dont enjoy doing.

Instead i ask what their areas for development are. It tends to make the candidate think more and give a more honest answer.

moverandshaker wrote: »

Hi Guys,
That advice is brill and as I have an interview for my dream job (a really good sales job) tomorrow it will really help! Anyone any ideas on the best way to answer the following;
Why should this company hire you?

Speak about your committment to roles, how you like to be challenged and you seek roles that have a career path etc.

wrote:

How do you normally react to praise/critism?

Bit of a dumb question but i guess the idea is to see moreso how you react to criticism. Focus on answers that demonstrate your ability to learn and want to grow etc.

wrote:

Are you considering other positions?

If you are, tell them. although dont have a list of 20 roles in mad different industries as it doesnt reflect well. However if you are considering a role in a similar company with the same job spec, it can be seen as a positive.

wrote:

What kind of frustations did you encounter in your last job?

Speak about an issue that arose and how you were pro active is resolving it to the company/customer's benefit.

wrote:

Any advice at all is greatly appreciated!

I'm ok at selling myself in interviews but this job is so important I want all my answers to be perfect!

Best of luck!

Eoin

faceman wrote: »

Why should this company hire you?

Speak about your committment to roles, how you like to be challenged and you seek roles that have a career path etc.

Also see if you can match your experience and/or skillset to what they do, and what this job requires.