Need suggestions for answering the "what is your greatest weakness?" question...

[yllus]

Originally posted by: HotChic
Pick a real weakness you have that isn't related to the job. I'm an analyst in HR - the weakness I always give is that I'm terrible at Sales. I then relate it back to the job a little bit by saying that I'm not very good at "selling" people on ideas, I'm better at presenting facts and helping them make a decision (exactly what an analyst should do.)

Brilliant. Nice turnaround of a tough question to make you sound like a paragon of neutrality - the consummate analyst.

 

[shuttleboi]

I take on too many responsibilities and end up juggling too many tasks.

 

[Qwest]

"i tend to check and re-check my work too much. I like to make sure my work is perfect as it's a reflection of me and the department."
"I really should have more confidence in my work and just turn it in."

 

[FeuerFrei]

Job interviews. I don't interview well.

 

[bleeb]

Waking up late... a symptom of late night studying and excessive amounts of coffee and caffeinated beverages during the day.

 

[xtknight]

Um. My inability to go to bed before 11 pm regardless of the situation (like having school at 6:30 am).

I have an amazing inability to make a post here without editing it about a minute later, which I'd rate as my second weakness.

bleeb hit the nail on the head.

 

[BZeto]

Sometimes I take longer to complete a task, but in the end it is always well done and 100% complete.

I've used that one before. It really depends on the job you are interviewing for though. For example that one may not fly too well if you're interviewing for a reporting position, or to become a firefighter

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
The 13 year old tied up in the trunk of my car.

:laugh:

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Riverhound777
This interests me as well. I am trying to word a weakness of mine in a good way. My weakness being that I hate doing boring remedial tasks such as scanning computers for spyware daily. I tend to do half ass jobs when I get stuck doing these tasks. How can I word this in a way that doesn't sound horrible?

I was thinking of saying I enjoy learning new things a little too much. I tend to lose interest in tasks that I have to do repeatedly since I would rather be acquiring a new skill.

Any other suggestions? Oh and I know I will have to do some things I don't want to sometimes, this isn't the problem. But my last job got to the point where ALL I did was these daily and weekly rituals and I got so sick of it I had to get out.

"I really enjoy being challenged in my job, but the flip side of that is that I tend to struggle to stay engaged when tasks are extremely repetitive or mindless. When that happens, I'll often do what I need to do and then search for ways to improve the processes.

 

[BudAshes]

A chronic need to masturbate on everything in the office.

 

[Stunt]

Say a real weakness and what you do to compensate for it or how you plan to improve.
Easy question

 

[fongo888]

I can not let someone go, when I am right.

Other than that evil women that take money out of my pockets.

 

[chrisms]

I sometimes focus too much on finishing work quickly and because of that the quality can sometimes suffer.

I use this one in food/manual labor type of jobs and they love it.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Thanks all.

What do you all think of this?

"I enjoy leading the way to success. My job needs to emphasize early responsibility, and should allow me and other young hires to influence the direction of projects. I get frusturated when higher management fails to make decisions and doesn't let younger hires to take initiative."

I am interviewing for a brand/product management role at Unilever.

 

[datalink7]

Modesty.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

"My greatest weakness is my inability to think of unrehearsed answers to generic bullshiat interview questions like this. "

- JaAG

 

[AUMM]

applying for a job as a latex salesman?

 

[Schfifty Five]

give a weakness, but also give something about how you're working on making it better.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Art Vandelay
Thanks all.

What do you all think of this?

"I enjoy leading the way to success. My job needs to emphasize early responsibility, and should allow me and other young hires to influence the direction of projects. I get frusturated when higher management fails to make decisions and doesn't let younger hires to take initiative."

I am interviewing for a brand/product management role at Unilever.

Instead of leading the way, try "being at the forefront". Leading the way sounds like you don't play nice on a team.

 

[HN]

Originally posted by: Art Vandelay
Thanks all.

What do you all think of this?

"I enjoy leading the way to success. My job needs to emphasize early responsibility, and should allow me and other young hires to influence the direction of projects. I get frusturated when higher management fails to make decisions and doesn't let younger hires to take initiative."

I am interviewing for a brand/product management role at Unilever.

that statement already shows negativity towards your possible future co-workers. not recommended.

 

[Tobolo]

You care too much.

 

[Art Vandelay]

Originally posted by: HN

Originally posted by: Art Vandelay
Thanks all.

What do you all think of this?

"I enjoy leading the way to success. My job needs to emphasize early responsibility, and should allow me and other young hires to influence the direction of projects. I get frusturated when higher management fails to make decisions and doesn't let younger hires to take initiative."

I am interviewing for a brand/product management role at Unilever.

that statement already shows negativity towards your possible future co-workers. not recommended.

Its negativity towards people that don't get things done, not possible future co-workers

 

[shortylickens]

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
You become too focused on a problem and tend to overanalyze it?

Again that sounds like a BS "problem".
Though it is usually the correct answer at a job interview.

As for real weaknesses that I would not likely share in a job interview:
I'm pretty slow, with learning anyway.

I am not the kind of person who learns well by one method. (Visual, audio, tactile.)
I need all 3 types of lessons and usually need it more than three times before I really understand something.
And if someone else comes along and teaches it to me a different way, I usually get messed up and cant do either way properly until a third person comes along and un-fvcks my head.
Being an engineer this has caused me some difficulty in the past.

 

[IntrinsicValue]

Originally posted by: shortylickens

Originally posted by: Uppsala9496
You become too focused on a problem and tend to overanalyze it?

Again that sounds like a BS "problem".
Though it is usually the correct answer at a job interview.

As for real weaknesses that I would not likely share in a job interview:
I'm pretty slow, with learning anyway.

I am not the kind of person who learns well by one method. (Visual, audio, tactile.)
I need all 3 types of lessons and usually need it more than three times before I really understand something.
And if someone else comes along and teaches it to me a different way, I usually get messed up and cant do either way properly until a third person comes along and un-fvcks my head.
Being an engineer this has caused me some difficulty in the past.

Yeah that's the tough part. Some interviewers want to hear "honesty", some want to hear "rhetoric", and some want to hear something "creative".

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Wooden stake - although only if it impales the heart.