what are some examples for the question "what is your greatest weakness" in a job interview?

Question

please i dont know how to answer this question

Answer 1

I just had an interview a few weeks ago. It was a phone interview, that lasted 90 minutes! My answer was that I sometimes act without thoroughly thinking things through. Some people are very conservative, others like me are aggressive. I am working on it though and getting much better. I got the job.

Answer 2

As a manager I ask this question to see what kind of BS answer I'm going to get I hate it myself because NO ONE is going to give you a straight answer. What I'm looking for is how you answer the question, not necessarily what you say. If your answer reeks of BS I don't really count it against you, but it certainly doesn't help either. So come up with some personal weakness and how you are working to resolve it. Recognizing that you're not perfect and working toward solution is a good answer. Try not to choose a weakness that would impact the position you are applying for. And try not to give me more detail about your weakness than is needed, keep you weakness and solution short and sweet so you can move one to more positive topics.

(I don't ask that question anymore because I got so many canned BS answers. My new question is "What have you done that is creative?" I just love the deer in the headlights look I get from some candidates. I can just hear them thinking, "NOOO you were supposed to ask what my weakness is." A good answer to this question shows me how quickly you think on your feet in the face of the unexpected. Plus it is much more positive than dwelling on weakness.)

Answer 3

As a manager, I'd steer you away from the popular "I'm too much of a perfectionist" answer. Not only is this normally not true anyway, but if it is, that will cause me problems at some point as well. Try to come up with something true. Something that you learned about yourself in your last job and have spent some good time and effort strengthening. That will show honesty and work ethic. At least to me, it would. That is, naturally, as long as it's not something like you've cut down drinking on the job or making lewd comments to your co-workers. ;-) Good Luck.

Answer 4

Amanda,
I am a manager and have used that question before. One good one I heard was, "I sometimes take my job too seriously, I really like to do my best and I hold myself to a high standard." So its a weakness, but it still sounds good. Whatever your "weakness" is, make it something that would not be counter productive at the particular job you are applying for (ie. don't say, I'm really not a team player, when the job involves working with a big group). Also, if you want to use a true weakness, let's say, procrastination, follow up with what you are doing to correct the behavior (we love that stuff)! Best of luck.

Answer 5

Basically the secret to this question is to answer with something that you want the employer to think of as a strength, not as a weakness. Several of the comments about being a perfectionist, not saying no to addt'l work, etc. are good ones.

I've heard "I get engrossed in my work and can be a workaholic, and sometimes need to remind myself to be a bit more balanced".

Another one is "I can be inpatient when things are slower than they should be" which shows you are someone who wants to work at a brisk speed, get things accomplished, etc.

Answer 6

Telling the reality is your maximum appropriate weak spot. while your destiny business company asks what you have performed in existence- they recommend your artwork existence - no longer own. be beneficial to start & end the interview with an corporation handshake. do no longer fuss with your hair-fidget & until now you purely bounce right into an answer- hesitate & answer the questions slowly yet meaningfully. additionally think of postive & you will ace the interview & be clocking in by using Wednesday. good good fortune.

Answer 7

Try variations of either:

"I hate to lose so I work very hard to assure success and sometimes don't know when to give up"

or

I'm committed to excellence so I have a difficult time "settling for" when something less is acceptable to others.

Be careful though to not suggest you can't work with others. Just couch it in terms of doing a great job.

Answer 8

Think about this...how are weaknesses great?

Answer this with pointing out your strengths and let them know you do not dwel on weakness.

There are some good articles about believing in yourself on this site. Check them out and maybe they will help.

Answer 9

say i tend to be a perfectionist . i tend to want all i do to be done perfectly.
i tend to involve myself too deeply in my work and have to be reminded that i should only work a resonable number of hours . then if asked what that means as for hours say 60 per week.
next say you often tend to be to polite and should stand up for yourself more but your just not like that you do what your told and never complain.

Answer 10

The classic answer is "I never say NO to more work" or "I spread myself too thin with multiple assignments." Another good answer is "I don't speak any foreign languages."