What do you say at a job interview when they ask...what would you say was your worst quality was?

Question

does everybody lie and say I work too hard

Answer 1

i'd say i get pissed and can't hide it when someone neglects a duty and it falls on me...

Answer 2

I think the best answer is to find something that you didn't do well in the past, explain how you came to realize it was an issue and then the steps you took in which to remedy the problem.

ie. I was criticized for micromanaging my department and realized it was because I had control issues and wanted to make sure that the work coming out of my group was perfect. As a solution I set up a weekly meeting where each person was responsible to give me a full status report on what they are doing and I would leave them alone for the rest of the week. In this way, I could still make sure the quality of our work was acceptable and my group didn't always feel like I was breathing down their neck. This is an issue with myself that I am aware of and know how to deal with in a positive manner.

Other comments like I work too hard or talk around the question by highlighting more good qualities are either going to come off as B.S. or being to swarmy. It actually helps if the example you come up with is real and you can talk to it.

Answer 3

what works for me is when i put my worst quality forth as 'something good'. for eg. i say that i can be inflexible about setting high standards...or rigid in the things i value, such as (here you procede to list some good things to value, such as a good education (i am a teacher by qualification)... so you start off with what sounds like self-criticism and you end your sentence by blinking when you are again onto another way of highlighting what's good about you, which is where you stop and you give the interviewer a meaningful look and say...some people see that as a potential flaw (falter a bit as they're busy writing their notes) and let your sentence trail...this pregnant pause highlights that which you will want them to focus on i.e yet another strength. *wink* oh, once, i got the job instantly when i stopped at that (stupid question, its so annoying really one'd imagine they'd revise it) anyway, i stopped, said "nothing that i can think of right now...thats a hard question because i really can't think of any weaknesses that would affect my ability to make a success of my job".
one last thing, i've told u the above because for me its the truth anyway, i set high standards, i am a bit inflexible with my values and because all this is the truth, i can tell it to anyone convincingly, sometimes, when the truth sounds too good to be true, some sceptics (whom you dont need to be working with anyway) might disbelieve u and u wont get the job! however, if u know in your heart u are telling the truth, it does tend to convince, otherwise, if you're trying to kid others, they usually pick up on it. (yes, stretching the truth does help in some cases, otherwise, some talentless people would never have made it to famedom to begin with...take Jordan...i'm sure she must have stretched *something* oh, just remembered, her bra size?) oh well, whatever u do, do it convincingly, be honest with yourself, if you're aiming too high, you're really just wasting time and energy going for the interview, if the job is not what u really want to do (but u're desperate for money) then u're setting yourself up for no job satisfaction...so, whatever u do, do it with sincerity, best wishes! whizzdom.

Answer 4

I have experience telling the employer exactly what they want to hear or what the web or most people would say and turn out to be unacceptable. Because some employers want to hear something different, could be your honest opinion.

It is hard to tell you the exact answers. It all depends on your interviewer. If they hear what they want to hear, they may hire you, if they just want some honest answer, they may hire you for that too.

If I were you, I would avoid saying about weakness. Just simply say, so far you are not told of any weakness or worst quality. Perhaps, working here will give me challenge to find out

Answer 5

I say "I suppose my best quality could also be my worst as i am extremely meticulous and when i want a job done i make sure it is done properly this can sometimes slow me down a bit, but i believe that quality is better than quantity"

Answer 6

Whatever you say, put a positive spin on it, and sell it as an asset. For example if you tend to miss the wee details, you can tell them you manage your time really well, but tend to make constant revisions to your work.

Answer 7

I said I was too helpful, which was true. (I didn't get the job, but I have changed jobs recently). I told them that because I was too helpful, other people in the department couldn't learn things, as I was always doing them.

Answer 8

I don't know, but i was always getting told off at my last job for flirting with the chefs too much- i could say that.

Answer 9

Stubborn & tight fisted. Sounds bad but they'll think of these as good qualities in an employee.

Answer 10

Modesty

Answer 11

I say that i tend to sleep with the boss and if he's a big old fatty the job's usually mine!