What is your greatest weakness? How would you
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Joined: Mar 2001
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From: Richmond
pick something honest and make it clear on how you overcome it. Be careful about the "false negative" stuff (e.g. I work too hard). It's trite and unless you are really smooth -- most people think they are but really aren't -- it'll sound lame.
Also make sure you don't pick a character flaw. By that, I mean something related to values, morals, etc. It should be a pretty common "benign" weakness followed with your action plan for how you work around it.
Also make sure you don't pick a character flaw. By that, I mean something related to values, morals, etc. It should be a pretty common "benign" weakness followed with your action plan for how you work around it.
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From: limerick
I agree this was my technique. I'm more organized because I forget. I work so late to get the job done no normal person would be upset for coming in late. It's a false negative but it is a honest answer.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Concord. NC
While all the above contributors gave good advice, I'd go a different route. The employer is looking for brutal honesty here. A canned answer like "My weakness is working too hard.", or "My weakness is punctuality." will just not suffice. As I said before brutal honesty is the only correct answer.
So, tell them your greatest weakness is really gross pornography. Tell them you mean really, really gross mature granny plumper pornography. You'll both have a good laugh and I'm sure you'll land that job!
So, tell them your greatest weakness is really gross pornography. Tell them you mean really, really gross mature granny plumper pornography. You'll both have a good laugh and I'm sure you'll land that job!
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From: City
just tell them your greatest weakness is identifying your weak points
That question is a boilerplate example, and there isn't an interviewer who really knows how to interpret the answer if it isn't a dealbreaker. Just don't say company theft or sexual harrassment, and keep it short, and all will be good. Most questions asked by interviewers that deviate from job-related skills and experiences are merely ego boosters for the interviewer. They read or were told to ask them, but weren't given any direction as to how to decifer the answer. As an ex-military type, a good answer might be, "restraining the desire to neutralize the target on contact, sir!"
Seriously, no-one bright enough to get a job would mention anything that would jeopardize the interview, so drug habits and hookers never get mentioned. Don't over-think it, just say you have a hard time with a Windsor knot, and all will be fine.
That question is a boilerplate example, and there isn't an interviewer who really knows how to interpret the answer if it isn't a dealbreaker. Just don't say company theft or sexual harrassment, and keep it short, and all will be good. Most questions asked by interviewers that deviate from job-related skills and experiences are merely ego boosters for the interviewer. They read or were told to ask them, but weren't given any direction as to how to decifer the answer. As an ex-military type, a good answer might be, "restraining the desire to neutralize the target on contact, sir!"
Seriously, no-one bright enough to get a job would mention anything that would jeopardize the interview, so drug habits and hookers never get mentioned. Don't over-think it, just say you have a hard time with a Windsor knot, and all will be fine.
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Nashville
I said that my greatest weakness was my hair..... they laughed... i didn't want the job anyway.....
I hate those stupid questions.
"where do you see yourself in 10 years?"... "Banging your daughter from behind???"
I had another place that I told them " i am a rounded thousands kind of accountant".... that was pretty much the end of the interview.
I hate those stupid questions.
"where do you see yourself in 10 years?"... "Banging your daughter from behind???"
I had another place that I told them " i am a rounded thousands kind of accountant".... that was pretty much the end of the interview.
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From: 3rd bedroom on the right
I've been watching this thread and every time that I read it I thought of spud's answer to that very question and it cracked me up. For those that haven't seen trainspotting...Two men and a woman sit behind a table. Spud is in a chair across from them.
SPUD: No, Craignewton. I went to Craignewton. But I was worried that you wouldn't have heard of it so I put the Royal Edinburgh College instead, because they're both schools, right, and we're all in this together, and I wanted to put across the general idea rather than the details, yeah? People get all hung up on details, but what's the point? Like which school? Does it matter? Why? When? Where? Or how many 0 grades did I get? Could be six, could be one, but that's not important. What's important is that I am, right? That I am.
MAN #1: Mr. Murphy, do you mean that you lied on your application?
SPUD: Only to get my foot in the door. Showing initiative, right?
MAN #1: You were referred here by the Department of Employment. There's no need for you to get your "foot in the door," as you put it.
SPUD: Hey, right, no problem. Whatever you say, man. You're the man, the governor, the dude in the chair, like. I'm merely here. But obviously I am. Here, that is. I hope I'm not talking too much. I don't usually. I think it's all important, though, isn't it?
MAN #2: Mr. Murphy, what attracts you to the leisure industry?
SPUD: In a word, pleasure. My pleasure in other people's leisure.
WOMAN: Mr. Murphy, do you see yourself as having any weaknesses?
SPUD: Well, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. For me it's the best or nothing at all. If things get dodgy, I can't be bothered, but I have a good feeling about this interview. Seems to me we've touched on a lot of subjects, a lot of things to think about, for all of us.
MAN #1: Thank you, Mr. Murphy, we'll let you know.
SPUD: The pleasure was all mine.
Spud crosses the room to shake everyone by the hand and kiss them.
RENTON (voice-over): Spud had done well. I was proud of him. He
ed up good and proper.
MAN #1: Mr. Murphy, do you mean that you lied on your application?
SPUD: Only to get my foot in the door. Showing initiative, right?
MAN #1: You were referred here by the Department of Employment. There's no need for you to get your "foot in the door," as you put it.
SPUD: Hey, right, no problem. Whatever you say, man. You're the man, the governor, the dude in the chair, like. I'm merely here. But obviously I am. Here, that is. I hope I'm not talking too much. I don't usually. I think it's all important, though, isn't it?
MAN #2: Mr. Murphy, what attracts you to the leisure industry?
SPUD: In a word, pleasure. My pleasure in other people's leisure.
WOMAN: Mr. Murphy, do you see yourself as having any weaknesses?
SPUD: Well, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. For me it's the best or nothing at all. If things get dodgy, I can't be bothered, but I have a good feeling about this interview. Seems to me we've touched on a lot of subjects, a lot of things to think about, for all of us.
MAN #1: Thank you, Mr. Murphy, we'll let you know.
SPUD: The pleasure was all mine.
Spud crosses the room to shake everyone by the hand and kiss them.
RENTON (voice-over): Spud had done well. I was proud of him. He
ed up good and proper.
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