Help me with this Interview Question!

Congratulations, first off!

The key to this particular question is to be sure to cap off whatever it is you decide with an improvement plan, things like "I tend to procrastinate, but I keep a really detailed to-do list that keeps me on track," or "I'm very social, so I have gotten quite good at strategically aligning breaks to make the most of any free time I have while at work so it doesn't distract from my job."

Personally for me, the answer is "I'm very determined. It's great 90% of the time, but when I have a pile-up of things on my desk and I'm doggedly trying to finish the thing I was working on, it can be a problem. I've learned to set due dates and reminders in my Outlook calendar, and I also keep a running to-do list beside my keyboard at all times, it really helps me focus."

This is fantastic!!

I once told an employer that my strength was attention to detail, and then told him that it is also my weakness because sometimes I can't see the big picture through all the details and have to step back and refocus sometimes. I got the job.

I just googled some examples - I like these ones! PS you'll do great let us know how it goes!


- I like to make sure that my work is perfect, so I tend to perhaps spend a little too much time checking it. However, I've come to a good balance by setting up a system to ensure everything is done correctly the first time.

- Sometimes, I spend more time than necessary on a task, or take on tasks personally that could easily be delegated to someone else. Although I've never missed a deadline, it is still an effort for me to know when to move on to the next task, and to be confident when assigning others work.

- I used to like to work on one project to its completion before starting on another, but I've learned to work on many projects at the same time, and I think it allows me to be more creative and effective in each one.

- I think one area I could work on is my delegation skills. I am always so concerned about everything being done right and on time that I can get stuck in that mentality of “If you want it done right, do it yourself.” Unfortunately, that’s not always possible and I’ve realized that I can slow things down if I am too controlling.

- Sometimes I can be a bit too honest when I provide feedback to coworkers. My personality is naturally very straightforward and to the point, and most of my colleagues really value that, but I have learned that there are times on the job when more diplomacy is required.

Sometimes I can be a bit too honest when I provide feedback to coworkers. My personality is naturally very straightforward and to the point, and most of my colleagues really value that, but I have learned that there are times on the job when more diplomacy is required.

This is a huge weakness of mine! Didn't even occur to me to list it, either. Nice!

What this question is really asking is "will this person be a liability or pose a risk to my organisation."

Therefore, think about a non essential part of the job or something not relevant and focus in on that. So for example if you are being interviewed for a post as an English Teacher saying something like "I can't add for *kitten* Mrs Interviwer person" may not be so bad but saying "My biggest weakness is my inability to communicate clearly" may be.

Alternatively you could spin it and say "my biggest weakness is my insistence on exceeding targets and expecting others to aspire to more" but that requires a certain amount of charm to pull off well...

My typical answer is that I am very independent, which can be both a strength and weakness. It can be a weakness at times because I will sometimes take too much time trying to work my way through a problem when I should have asked for help.

I have a big interview today at 4:00pm.

Woot! Go me!

But I always inevitably get asked this question.

How do you answer it?

"What is your greatest weakness?"

Because a truthful "fiddling on my cell phone instead of paying attention" will probably NOT win me the job.

Please help and thank you in advance!

:flowerforyou:

Greatest weakness -> Too focus at the task at hand and not other projects.
--> working late hours to finish up; because you don't' have time for your self.
--> Trying to find solutions your self, ( computer) because you don't' to bother others with solutions that you should be able to find.. problem with that is it take your time away from other things.

I always answer the "greatest weakness question" in terms of training that I have not received. You could say that you wish you knew <insert application here> better and would like to attend training on that tool. This way you are showing your desire to learn more and it might even lead to valuable training. It turns a negative question into a positive goal.

I like this one too! I have used this while employed at an organization...during reviews if they asked me to give feedback I would usually point out 2-3 really great things I had done and then balance it out a bit by saying, "I do feel that I would benefit from more training in (program)" or "I have recently been using (xyz) and would like to expand my skills there".

I hate questions like this... it seems to be much more about your ability to google the right answer and say something clever than it is about learning more about the job candidate. My mom told me many years ago to say "I'm a perfectionist" when asked about my weaknesses, and for many years I used it; now I try to choose an answer that will actually tell the potential employer more about myself. I'll tell an anecdote about a time that I struggled with something and overcame it, for example.

If you get a job by jumping through hoops and searching for clever answers on the internet, you can pretty much expect that the rest of your time working there you'll be subjected to the same kinds of expectations. If I went to a job interview and they thought less of me for revealing a truthful weakness that STILL shows growth or learning on my part, rather than reciting back the standard line that potential employees should all have memorized, I don't think think I'd like working there very well.

Remember, when you're interviewing for a job, they're evaluating you, but you should also be evaluating them. If the interview makes you feel like a trained seal for 90 minutes, you can pretty much expect that the job will make you feel that way for however many years you work there.

I've been a boss just about every place I've worked and done many an interview in my day. The best answer to this question is to make your weakness sound like a strength. Some of the other posts do exactly that: say your attention to detail makes you over-focus. It makes you appear thorough, yet you are conceding that you tend to scrutinize. Which is fine. Don't make your weakness sound like a negative.

One I tend to use: "I have a tendency to do things myself so I know I'll get them done, rather than relying on my team mates. As a result, I tend to overload myself with work. I can be a team player, but I want to be the Quarterback."

Just be honest and don't make-up answers. Its easy to tell when someone is giving you a line of B.S. as an interviewer. And look professional above all else, first impressions are the most lasting in an interview, especially if the interviewer has a pile of resumes to go over. You want to stand out, stick in their mind etc.

Good Luck!

When I'm asked that, I figure I'll try and spin it in a positive light. I will say that my biggest weakness is that I tend to work too hard to be perfect and get caught up in my work. Or that I have been told that I care about my job too much....then spin it and say, although it may be a weakness to others, I find that my biggest weakness supports my biggest strengths.

Most people misinterpret the purpose of the "What's your greatest weakness?" question during an interview.

As a hiring manager, I have used this question myself. However, when I ask it, I'm not necessarily interested in the specific item that the person defines (i.e. too honest or procrastinator). Rather I am looking to see if they are capable of giving a coherent & honest self assessment of their weaknesses while also providing methods for correcting them. If I have to ask the follow-up question "How do deal with (correct, manage, etc.) this weakness?" instead of having this included in the original response; I usually assume that the candidate does not take a proactive approach to self management and will therefore require too much outside "management involvement" and that I might want to consider another applicant.

Tell them that's a stupid question and has little to do with qualifications relating to the position.

Then I would walk out and go on to the next company.

Tell them that's a stupid question and has little to do with qualifications relating to the position.

Then I would walk out and go on to the next company.

LOL.

No way.

OU has benefits on par with or better than the federal government.

I'd do almost anything for these jobs.

I've never seen anything better except in the rare case that a truly Japanese company is operating in the US.

I can count on one hand how many companies (that I know of) still offer a retirement, not just a 401K, and this is one of them.

Ha.....its still an antiquated and archaic question with little or nothing to do with qualifications.
But if you're still intent on giving them an answer, make it benign; tell them your biggest weakness is chocolate truffles....then sit back and watch their reaction.