a job interview. I'm about to end my 8.5 year enlistment with the Navy and star anew in the civilian world. I'm looking for a career with a city, county or state law enforcement agency and know during the interview process, this question will likely come up. I don't want to give the standard answer like "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work too hard" because I'm sure hiring managers and HR people have heard that answer a million times. At the same time, I don't want to give an answer that will potentially bury me. So how would you answer this question?

 

Tell them that you're indecisive.

Or not.

Whatever.

No, definitely indecisive.

 

I like it...

 

Do you have any? If you do here's a great time to be honest. Obviously you don't want to harp on it. My favorite is that I tend to always get to work late. So I lay the foundation right there. I say When there isn't a deadline at stake I'm often not punctual. In the past my previous employers didn't care about this flaw because I would do whatever it took to deliver the project on time everytime. When you work to 5am they tend to be forgiving if you come in at 11 the next day if it's not going to interfere with the next project......

Another on I use is forgetfulness. I site that I have to write everything down and put it on my outlook calender. I get too focused on what I'm doing and won't rember the mundane day in day out stuff unless I write it down. Seems like I'm always taking notes. The good part of it is that it keeps me organized.

 

I think most interviewers aren't so concerned with what your weakness is, but how you are looking to correct or improve it.

 

The best way to do this is skillful avoidance: "i believe that my professional strengths fulfills all the requirements of this position, and i don't see any particular weakness that would reduce my effectiveness in this position." this way you're telling them that you do have weaknesses, but not for this particular position.

 

Just make sure you replace "fulfills" with "fulfil" (or "fulfill").

 

my greatest weakness is looking at hot girls that walk by my cube/desk/window.

 

from my experience, i find that humor works well as a lead in to your answer:

What's your biggest weakness - My wife says I am a lousy dancer; Chocolate; Cars etc. ha ha ha but seriously...

Then follow up by saying that you can't think of a weakness rather an area that is not your greatest strength, and then go into what you are doing to bring it up to par. For example my canned answer is that I constantly working on my time management skills because sometimes I get so caught up in what I am doing i forget to eat lunch/go home blah blah blah and I use my PDA/organiser/planner to keep track etc.

 

I always say my experience (graduated college 1.5 yrs ago) That usually works. But some say they want more, so I go into a song and dance routine, or I just say what grimm01 said.