In a job interview, how do I answer the question "What's your greatest weakness?"?

Question

I have a job interview (for a receptionist-type position) and need some help thinking up an answer just in case the dreaded "greatest weakness" comes up. Thanks!

Answer 1

u pay too much attention to fine deatil, stopping you from looking at the big picture

Answer 2

The cliched answer is that you "never give up", I've seen that way too often. The secret to this question is that it's not looking for honesty, it's looking for your capacity to think on your feet and to be able to provide answers for difficult situations. Thereby whatever you put here should be something that you could talk about in the interview. So don't reply with something seriously dangerous like "weakness for the opposite sex", instead put in things like difficulty with a language that you wish you were better in, poor cooking ability, difficulty with slowing down - benign, mildly silly stuff that you can talk breezily about and helps the interview to go better.

Answer 3

I would like to do the best job possible, however in my previous job we were under tight constraints and frequently we had to do things the fast way, rather than the best way, and i did not always agree with that....i guess it says im a perfectionist in a different way.

Answer 4

You can try something like "I spend a lot of time at work, making sure everything is done and accomplished for the day, regardless of how long it may take."
Or simply, my greatest weakness is that I am so good, everyone envies me and backstabs me at every job I've ever had.
I wouldn't recommend the 2nd one.

Answer 5

Tell them that you tend to be a perfectionist. It's one so-called flaw that they might see as an asset.

Answer 6

I am a perfectionist and i expect perfection of my work at all times.