Interview question: What are some of your weaknesses or things that you think you need to improve/work on?
- Thread starter Nocturnal
- Start date
Answer:
"I need to... <start twitching> uhh... <grunt a couple times> uhh... stop... uhh... <growl and druel for a sec> stop hurting the people I work with when I get angry... Then burst into tears! (giggling uncontrollably periodically makes for a really cool effect)
"I need to... <start twitching> uhh... <grunt a couple times> uhh... stop... uhh... <growl and druel for a sec> stop hurting the people I work with when I get angry... Then burst into tears! (giggling uncontrollably periodically makes for a really cool effect)
you should give this negative question a positive anwser.....
Example:
My greatest weakness would be my competitiveness (sic)....i'm ultra compatitive and I always want to be #1....this might rub people the wrong way, however I believe if something is worth doing it's worth being the best....or someother BS you might want to elaborate....might lead to workaholicism...who doesn't want to hire a hard worker?
example #2:
Detail Oriented.....I am extremely organized and I feel the most efficient way of having a productive day is being organized.....blah lbah blah....tell them how by paying attention to details saved the company lots of headaches eventhough some people might view it as anal.....
You get the point insert your own positive trait and the only thing negative or weak about that trait is that more people should have it.
Example:
My greatest weakness would be my competitiveness (sic)....i'm ultra compatitive and I always want to be #1....this might rub people the wrong way, however I believe if something is worth doing it's worth being the best....or someother BS you might want to elaborate....might lead to workaholicism...who doesn't want to hire a hard worker?
example #2:
Detail Oriented.....I am extremely organized and I feel the most efficient way of having a productive day is being organized.....blah lbah blah....tell them how by paying attention to details saved the company lots of headaches eventhough some people might view it as anal.....
You get the point insert your own positive trait and the only thing negative or weak about that trait is that more people should have it.
Does that actually ever work? From the few HR people I know personally, they hate bullsh!t like that.
- Jan 8, 2002
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My girlfriend told me to say those things as well as saying that I am a perfectionist and must have everything perfected, my way. I also tend to believe that HR is already trained to hear these types of responses and if and when they do they automatically put you down as a bullcrapper.
Have you actually tried to use these things when asked what your weaknesses were?
That question is BS. I hate getting it. Who is going to want to give a negative answer about him/herself? It leaves a negative impression on me about the interviewer if he/she has to resort to a question like that.
- Oct 30, 2000
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And it is wise to prepare for it. Define your own stock answer,
After you provide the answer, be prepared to answer questions on why and what you are doing to resolve the issue if possible.
Also, direct the answer as a weakness that in itself can benifit the company initially.
Definatly a BS question. But I think the point of the question is not to find out about your weaknesses...but more towards how well are you prepared for an interview...or how well you think on your feet.......or if it's a sales interview if you are able to give a positive spin quickly on a negative situation...
Although, the idea is definitely to take your "weakness" and turn it into a strength, for the love of god DO NOT SAY THAT YOU'RE A PERFECTIONIST. You will get a HUGE eyeroll from the interviewer. I've been to interviewing seminars in my school, have talked to HR people, and especially my friends (total of 100+ interviews.) Save yourself and DO NOT use any cliche statements.
Intreviewers know that this is a BS question, and that honesty is usually left in the dust. Few recruiters actually think that they're going to find out what your real weakness is - what they're really looking for is testing your awareness of how others percieve you and your skill in answering a "hard" question. Self-awareness is critical, especially in regards to working with other people. If you reveal profound weaknesses, it reflects on your lack of judgement and awareness of how you come across to others.
"Well, I'm interviewing for this crappy position, so I guess my resume writing and networking skills need some work."
- Oct 30, 2000
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It is called self evaluation.
And/or get a person whom you know or trust to look at you critically and tell you where your flaws are.
Then pick one or two and figure out how if they can be minimized it would improve youi and/or your value.
This advice comes from experience, I have never heard of it published.
Here's one they usually like to hear, "Sometimes I think I work too hard."
Or just say "Krispy Kreme Donuts"
Or just say "Krispy Kreme Donuts"
I've encountered the question several times and have answered it but I'll probably always feel it's a BS question. When I'm getting interviewed, I'm also interviewing the the other person and how he/she represents the company in my mind. You can get warning signs about a company as early as the first interview. Having the interviewer ask you several 'stock' or 'BS' questions can be indicative of a company that isn't well organized and doesn't have a strong focus for your position.
I'm a drunk anti social serial killing psycho.
Wait... answers you do want?
How about, "I often focus on one thing and learn as much as I can about it, but sometimes fail to broaden my horizons wide enough"
Wait... answers you do want?
How about, "I often focus on one thing and learn as much as I can about it, but sometimes fail to broaden my horizons wide enough"
I'm going to try this one next time:
My biggest weakness is probably my job interview skills. I mean, most people don't even know me. In fact, how many of us really know another person and yet within the span of half an hour, I'm suppose to open up enough for some total stranger to take a peak at my soul, my being, or what ever it is you want to call that which makes me--me and decide based on what they see or rather preceive, whether or not I'm good enough to work for the company they are working for; whether or not I'll fit in the cogs which runs their company and whether or not I can do the job I'm interviewing for well. On top of that, I'm supposed to reveal enough to prove that I'm a better fit for the company and am more qualified than any other candidate for this position. Now, I don't know about you, but anyone who does any of the previously mentioned things well are either very good liers, in which case I wouldn't hire them if I were you, because I don't like liers or they've had plenty of practice at interviewing. Now assuming they're not lying, the question you should ask yourself then is why does this person have so much practice interviewing--how long did they stay at their previous job and why did they leave? Now, there could also be a third reason as to why they're so good at interviewing, and that's they're one of these rare individuals who are really comfortable with who they are and aren't afraid of sharing with others who they are. However, what are the chances of you meeting someone like that in my age group? Heck, most people my age still have to use alcohol as a crutch to interact with each other or with a member of the opposite sex, so I doubt you'll find any individual who fall into this third catagory of people who interview well in my age group. That leads us back to people like me. I don't interview well because frankly I don't feel comfortable with letting people knowing anything about me, but what are you interviewing for here, a boyfriend or an employee? How much do you really need to know about me other than whether or not I am the best one qualified to do this job? As far as whether or now I'm qualified to do the jobs this position calls for, I think I am or I wouldn't be here, but I believe you'll get a better idea of the quality of employee I am by calling my work references, my co-workers and my manager, and talking with them as to what kind of employee and co-worker I am. Here's a list of their telephone number. Talk with them--you'll find from talking with them that I'm a quick learner, willing to go above and beyond what my job description calls for, and that my work is always of great quality.
My biggest weakness is probably my job interview skills. I mean, most people don't even know me. In fact, how many of us really know another person and yet within the span of half an hour, I'm suppose to open up enough for some total stranger to take a peak at my soul, my being, or what ever it is you want to call that which makes me--me and decide based on what they see or rather preceive, whether or not I'm good enough to work for the company they are working for; whether or not I'll fit in the cogs which runs their company and whether or not I can do the job I'm interviewing for well. On top of that, I'm supposed to reveal enough to prove that I'm a better fit for the company and am more qualified than any other candidate for this position. Now, I don't know about you, but anyone who does any of the previously mentioned things well are either very good liers, in which case I wouldn't hire them if I were you, because I don't like liers or they've had plenty of practice at interviewing. Now assuming they're not lying, the question you should ask yourself then is why does this person have so much practice interviewing--how long did they stay at their previous job and why did they leave? Now, there could also be a third reason as to why they're so good at interviewing, and that's they're one of these rare individuals who are really comfortable with who they are and aren't afraid of sharing with others who they are. However, what are the chances of you meeting someone like that in my age group? Heck, most people my age still have to use alcohol as a crutch to interact with each other or with a member of the opposite sex, so I doubt you'll find any individual who fall into this third catagory of people who interview well in my age group. That leads us back to people like me. I don't interview well because frankly I don't feel comfortable with letting people knowing anything about me, but what are you interviewing for here, a boyfriend or an employee? How much do you really need to know about me other than whether or not I am the best one qualified to do this job? As far as whether or now I'm qualified to do the jobs this position calls for, I think I am or I wouldn't be here, but I believe you'll get a better idea of the quality of employee I am by calling my work references, my co-workers and my manager, and talking with them as to what kind of employee and co-worker I am. Here's a list of their telephone number. Talk with them--you'll find from talking with them that I'm a quick learner, willing to go above and beyond what my job description calls for, and that my work is always of great quality.
Don't tell them the truth. It's a trap. Your only "growth opportunities" should be similar to this:
"I need to become less attractive so co-workers are not constantly distracted."
"In the interest of teamwork, I need to learn to control my immense intelligence in the presence of less gifted co-workers."
"I need to learn how to relax instead of working my typical nineteen-hour days."
"I need to make contact with an alien civilization, since their technology is the only thing I don't already understand."
"I need to become less attractive so co-workers are not constantly distracted."
"In the interest of teamwork, I need to learn to control my immense intelligence in the presence of less gifted co-workers."
"I need to learn how to relax instead of working my typical nineteen-hour days."
"I need to make contact with an alien civilization, since their technology is the only thing I don't already understand."
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