{"id":4256,"date":"2011-08-18T23:59:48","date_gmt":"2011-08-19T06:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bspcn.com\/?p=4256"},"modified":"2011-08-19T03:53:11","modified_gmt":"2011-08-19T10:53:11","slug":"what-is-the-correct-answer-to-what-is-your-greatest-weakness-in-a-job-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/localhost\/wordpress\/2011\/08\/18\/what-is-the-correct-answer-to-what-is-your-greatest-weakness-in-a-job-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the correct answer to “what is your greatest weakness” in a job interview?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Collected by AskReddit<\/a><\/p>\n

Probably the most annoying, yet common question to be asked in a job interview. I’ve encountered this question in job interviews at least twice. In the past I’ve amateurishly tried the old "I work too hard!", but I get the feeling it’s not the answer they’re looking for. It seems like such a troll question. Why would anyone want to admit their own weaknesses, especially in a job interview? How are you supposed to camly and sincerely admit to a weakness, while also impressing the interviewer, all without sounding phony, egotistic or defensive.<\/p>\n

The Answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anticipate the question and immediately shout "INTERRUPTING PEOPLE" before they finish. ‘Now, what would be your greate-"INTERUPTING PEOPLE!!!" …greatest… accomplishment?…’Welp, this interview is done.You could just ask them to repeat the question and then interrupt them the second time.Or you could wait a few minutes, think hard, and say "I tend to over think my responses too much."<\/p>\n

I would assume that the point of the question is to indicate how well you know yourself and whether you’re mindful enough to manage your weaknesses\/know your limitations.Pick a weakness that isn’t a trivial cop-out and make sure you’ve prepared a mitigation strategy, e.g., I tend to X, but I’ve found if I A, B and C, it’s all good.Yes, this is what I’ve heard. Tell them an actual weakness and what you’re doing about it.<\/em>Lucky for me, no one else is in the office today, else they would wonder what, exactly, is wrong with the sys admin and why he’s laughing hysterically in his office, all by himself, again……LOOK EVERYBODY, THIS GUY HAS AN OFFICE<\/p>\n

As someone who interviews others and knows this question well, I think this is the most useful answer.Being funny in a job interview is great, but you have to actually answer or you look like you avoid tough problems. So make your joke, then actually answer the question.I always list a weakness I have overcome first: e.g. "I used to be disorganized and miss deadlines from time to time, but now I make and check a daily to do list and haven’t missed a deadline since."Then go for gold and follow up with a current weakness like Joseph suggests.<\/p>\n

"I feel that BMing at work is like stealing company time, so I hold my BMs until I get home."Dammit, Idra.<\/p>\n

The trick is to say a problem, but then explain why it’s not an issue. For instance, say you tend to get too focussed on one task so that you don’t get around to the rest when you should, but you get around this by setting yourself deadlines to work to. You can probably phrase that a lot better, but that’s the general idea.I actually asked an interviewer once when I knew I’d flubbed the phone screen. I said, OK, what would YOU want to hear as the answer? This is pretty much exactly what he said — take your "greatest strength" answer and turn it into your greatest weakness.Respectfully: please explain what he meant.Unrepressed excitement: This is my first time seeing another elcor at reddit. Hopeful: Wanna hang out sometime?Annoyed: If she was expecting you, you’d be inside.Playfully: That’s what she said.<\/p>\n

Basically: most HR people are morons who repeat every trick in the "HR for dummies" book. There’s probably a good reasoning for this kind of questions, but I assure you that your average HR robot is not aware of it.<\/p>\n

Managing moronic "human resources" will eventually turn HR people into morons, if it hasn’t already happend to them at "business school".<\/p>\n

Thing is, good employees don’t come with ready-made answers to the most common HR management questions (like "where do you see yourself in three years", "what are you three greatest strengths"); they come with a relaxed but confident attitude and openly share their expectations to the new job, their engagement in the subject matter, and their reason for why their profile fits this job.<\/p>\n

The stupid HRM questions are designed to root out wankers, losers and people who are not serious – but if you can’t tell if an applicant is serious or not from his application, curriculum vitae AND a normal conversation about the job requirements, but still need to resort to measuring his ability to rehearse a speech on his three-year life plan in the hope that this might give you some clue as to whether this person can actually show up on time and perform regular work on a regular basis, then chances are you can’t judge a crack addict from a college student, and why the fuck are you presenting yourself as a manager of human resources then. That’s what I would say at an interview.<\/p>\n

Unemployment.My greatest weakness is having to buy things in order to survive. Because of it, I have to kiss the asses of total losers like you.That’ll charm ’em. Do it.<\/p>\n

I’ve said this before but one more time:Print a business card that says "Sometimes my overpreparedness comes across as arrogance." Hand it to the interviewer when asked.Yes, but set it on the table face down and sliiiiiiiiiiiiide it over to the interviewer slower than necessary.Or you can throw it right at his face.Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark!"it’s bone."<\/em>Patrick?… are you alright?The lettering is something called silian rail<\/em>.Excuse me… I have to go return some video tapes.<\/p>\n

First, charge it up with your mutant powers like gambit, then throw it in his face and blow it up.Firs’ you charge da card then you trow it mon ami. Choot ’em.Do this at the beginning of the interview and tell them not to turn the card until you say so.I’ve had a lot of job interviews (~40 or so) and only been asked this question in a few of them (maybe ~3). Would look awfully stupid in the majority of them.I think it’s a more common in basic, entry level jobs, in which case you’re going to get hired anyway if you showed up in a collared shirt.So you’re saying I didn’t get the job because I wore my Tapout t-shirt?You probably wouldn’t get the job if they found out you even owned a TapOut t-shirt<\/p>\n

I’m tempted to do that, but if I was the interviewer I’d slide that card straight back at the first "I don’t know".To which you slide your second card which reads "Thanks for giving me my card back."You have to make sure it even has a watermark.Of the interviewing company’s logo.with your name, title, and salary under it.NICE.Eggshell with Ramalian type? Or bone with Cillian Braille?<\/p>\n

I lie at interviews.But… is that a lie itself?A paradox appears.a wild paradox appears.<\/em>Paradox uses confusion.<\/em>It’s super effective.<\/p>\n

"Public speaking" is a pretty decent answer, since the interviewer will probably be able to relate.As a linguist, I’d rather not go with that.<\/p>\n

"Erectile dysfunction, that or giving inappropriate answers to serious questions"<\/p>\n

I refuse to get involved in office politics, which tends to get misconstrued as aloofness"Whereas I<\/em> eagerly jump into office politics, which tends to get misconstrued as Machiavellian.This guy is ready for upper level management.Keep fighting the good fight Mr. Stickers. We’ll prove your innocence someday.<\/p>\n

The point of the question isn’t to see if you can say a trick answer, the point is to see whether you can identify your own weakness (which everyone has) and then identify ways to remedy it. The point isn’t the weakness, it’s the remedy.<\/p>\n

One problem with questions about job interviews is that it assumes a bunch of people on Reddit are going to tell you what your next boss wants to hear. A lot of people in this thread are saying things like "I work in HR, and I can tell you that…" but that’s bullshit…because they don’t work in the HR department of the next place you interview.<\/p>\n

Every boss, every HR employee, every fuckhead who asks this stupid question is looking for a different answer. Some of them want you to be honest and talk about how you’re going to overcome this weakness. Some of them expect you to say you have no weaknesses. Some of them are looking for cheesy dipshit answers like "I’m too dedicated to work".<\/p>\n

There is no single manual for being an interviewer, and if there were, they wouldn’t all read it. It’s kind of like being on a first date – some girls expect you to try to kiss them, and some expect you not to, and there’s no way to know until it’s too late. Your choices are either to become psychic or to resign yourself to missing 50% of the opportunities in the world due to morons who think everyone else is playing by the same ruleset that exists in their head.<\/p>\n

I’m just gonna repost my answer from the last time this was asked.Me: I’d say my biggest weakness is distinguishing between fact and fiction, reality and fantasy.Interviewer: And your biggest strength?Me: I’m Batman.<\/p>\n

We once asked an interview candidate to "describe your biggest strength and biggest weakness with one word each."He thought for a second and casually replied, "smart. ass."Needless to say, we hired him.<\/p>\n

I stare off in the distance and whisper "Kryptonite" while squinting my eyes.Relevant<\/a>."My biggest weakness is probably answering this question."<\/p>\n

Bullets<\/p>\n

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If I had to name my greatest strength, I guess it would be my humility. Greatest weakness, it’s possible that I’m a little too awesome.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n