How do you answer that dreaded interview question.....what is your worst quality?

Question

I never know what to say for this. I don't want to tell them that I am lazy and synical! Its tough finding an answer that still makes you look good!

Sorry guys, but I really feel that saying "I work too hard" or "I am too driven" is a blatent lie and wouldn't the prospective employer see me as a bull****er?

But then again, my biggest downfall is that I am yet to have mastered the art or bull**** so maybe this is my weakness?

Answer 1

First, be honest. If you're ACTUALLY lazy and cynical, you might say, "I tend to seek out the most efficient way to get something done, which has the personal benefit of reducing how much work I actually have to do We lazy people get things done with the least effort.. I also tend to suspend judgment when told something, preferring to see real evidence. Some people have called this cynical (check your spelling, by the way), other have called it cautious."

Other than "I am a homicidal maniac" most negative qualities have a positive side somewhere.

Answer 2

It depends on the person - the best answer is one that is reasonable and honest. I was a hiring manager for a software company for years and while I rarely use this exact question I know that many managers do.

That being said, my experience has shown that most people's best answer to this is the flip side of the coin from their best quality. For example, if your greatest strength is that you pay attention to detail, your fault will often be that you can get bogged down in the details or frustrated when you can't find the answer. Notice that this should be an expected cost of having the first quality (assuming you are talking to an intelligent manager).

This question shouldn't make or break you in the interview unless you confess to a real whopper (like lazy or "cynical"). Just don't be evasive.

Answer 3

Tell them that you have the habit of helping fellow workers too much, and you occasionally work through breaks in an effort to get more work completed than the employer needs.

Answer 4

They don't ask that too much anymore because people always answer the way that others have suggested. I work too hard. I get really upset with myself when something isn't perfect. Interviewers have caught on that people are turning it into self-flattery. New questions are more like "describe your perfect work environment" or "tell me about a time that you had to deal with something really difficult."

Answer 5

i use the not knowing to stop. just saying working too hard is too vague. give examples like it bothering you to leave a job unfinished and you have a hard time sleeping if it's not complete because your name is attached to said project and that quality is extremely important

Answer 6

Tell this that you can never say no...for insistance if your asked to stay over for and hour or so or to come in on your day off, of course your going to say no in your mind...but you should do it, because the boss will know that your dedicated and have potential and for the future what you did will help you out when future bosses call that boss..they will say good things about you. good references.

Answer 7

Well you certainly don't want to say you're lazy. But you could phase it something like "I have a hard time keeping motivated, when I'm not seeing results."

Answer 8

That a tough one. I would just think of a good quality.
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Answer 9

Well if you don't mind lying (unless this truly is a quality you possess) you could give them the ol' "my problem is I work too hard". It sounds cheezy but you could say that sometimes people feel you're TOO driven to succeed, or something like that.

Answer 10

Tell them that you have some bad qualities as we all do, but are professional enough not to let them show while at work