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Interview: what is a "good" weakness

S

SONYFX

Senior member

I know this question must have been beaten to death in the interview, what would be the best way to state your "weakness"?

 
You work too much.

This is what I say: I hate to pass on something so if I get hung up on something I tend to spend too much time on it and eat a lot of hours to be within budget.
 
Originally posted by: Kalbi
You work too much.

This is what I say: I hate to pass on something so if I get hung up on something I tend to spend too much time on it and eat a lot of hours to be within budget.
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This is what pisses me off about that question - anyone who answers in a way that makes himself look good is lying, but if you answer in a way that makes you look bad... it makes you look bad.

I wish I were in charge of hiring people so I could do away with crappy questions like this one.
 
Just be honest about what you could improve on. You have to understand that these HR people have heard literally "everything", and they're probably so sick of applicants saying; "I work too hard", "I focus too much", etc...trying to pull one of those pseudo weaknesses and pass it off as positive. If you're sincere about what you could improve on, that'll show the interviewer that you have enough confidence to tell them something negative about yourself.
 
Originally posted by: Rhombuss
Just be honest about what you could improve on. You have to understand that these HR people have heard literally "everything", and they're probably so sick of applicants saying; "I work too hard", "I focus too much", etc...trying to pull one of those pseudo weaknesses and pass it off as positive. If you're sincere about what you could improve on, that'll show the interviewer that you have enough confidence to tell them something negative about yourself.
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I'd tell them my weakness was sex on the first date.
 
Originally posted by: jasoned
Originally posted by: Rhombuss
Just be honest about what you could improve on. You have to understand that these HR people have heard literally "everything", and they're probably so sick of applicants saying; "I work too hard", "I focus too much", etc...trying to pull one of those pseudo weaknesses and pass it off as positive. If you're sincere about what you could improve on, that'll show the interviewer that you have enough confidence to tell them something negative about yourself.
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I'd tell them my weakness was sex on the first date.
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That might work if the interviewer was a guy 😛
 
I like to tell people that I'm unable to withstand garlic, crosses, and especially chocolate brownies. Then I pretend to be afraid of these things for a while...until they're cornered at the dead end of a dark alley somewhere and I tell 'em it was all a joke.
 
Originally posted by: axelfox
"Kryptonite"
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I'd actually respond with something like that, then say "well, seriously, . . ." then name a weakness that for the company is actually a strength. But, I'm honest about that weakness and back it up with specific examples.

 
Be honest and name one of your biggest weaknesses. But don't end your reply there. Describe to the interviewer how you are aware of your weakness and what you are doing to fix it. IE, for foreign-born applicants it might be a lisp or bad pronounciation. But you are aware of it and you are taking language classes in your spare time to improve it.
 
Originally posted by: DrPizza
Originally posted by: axelfox
"Kryptonite"
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I'd actually respond with something like that, then say "well, seriously, . . ." then name a weakness that for the company is actually a strength. But, I'm honest about that weakness and back it up with specific examples.
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This = win.
 
This type of question is meaningless. It's right up there with "why do you want to work here?" Honest answer: I need a job, you guys are supposedly hiring, and from the job description, it doesn't sound like it sucks too much. Come to think if it, most job questions are meaningless.
 
Originally posted by: sandmanwake
This type of question is meaningless. It's right up there with "why do you want to work here?" Honest answer: I need a job, you guys are supposedly hiring, and from the job description, it doesn't sound like it sucks too much. Come to think if it, most job questions are meaningless.
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It's all about playing the game...
 
I answered that I really don't feel like I have any glaring weaknesses. Yeah I know it sounds arrogant as hell, but it's really the answer they're looking for - shows confidence. Anyway I got the job and a pretty damn good raise last year so it must have been the right one.

Bottom line: No one's perfect, they know it and you know it but don't fall into the trap of selling youself out of a job.
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Kalbi
You work too much.

This is what I say: I hate to pass on something so if I get hung up on something I tend to spend too much time on it and eat a lot of hours to be within budget.
Click to expand...

This is what pisses me off about that question - anyone who answers in a way that makes himself look good is lying, but if you answer in a way that makes you look bad... it makes you look bad.

I wish I were in charge of hiring people so I could do away with crappy questions like this one.
Click to expand...

That's the whole point of the question. This is a trick question to see if you'd really give them a weakness.
 
Originally posted by: Kalbi
Originally posted by: mugs
Originally posted by: Kalbi
You work too much.

This is what I say: I hate to pass on something so if I get hung up on something I tend to spend too much time on it and eat a lot of hours to be within budget.
Click to expand...

This is what pisses me off about that question - anyone who answers in a way that makes himself look good is lying, but if you answer in a way that makes you look bad... it makes you look bad.

I wish I were in charge of hiring people so I could do away with crappy questions like this one.
Click to expand...

That's the whole point of the question. This is a trick question to see if you'd really give them a weakness.
Click to expand...

So by that logic, they'd prefer to hire a liar? 😕
 
when i met with a recruiter a few months ago fo a job, they told me that i can say something along the lines of "i haven't worked very much doing [this and this specific task], so i have so much to learn in that area." obviously, you'll have other strengths that will just downplay this weakness, since you're obviously applying for a job in a subject matter that you are pretty knowledgeable in.
 
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