Question about job interviews?

Question

Whenever an interviewer asks your weaknesses, doesn't that seem like a trap or catch 22. Your suppose to answer the question yet if you say something like i lack time management or I have poor people skills then the interviewer could take that into consideration when hiring you. Whats a good way to get around this question, or answer it vaguely?

Answer 1

Hi

I can help!

This question takes many guises. It may be phased like this for example: “What qualities do you see in others which you would like to develop in yourself?”

Strengths should be easy enough to think about (keep the position in mind).

Weaknesses can be more difficult but you should try to think of something that perhaps you have recognized as being a weakness but have worked to overcome.

For example: “I’d like to be naturally organized, like my manager. She doesn’t have to try. But to help me, I use to-do lists and a diary so I can keep a track of where I am”.

Don't be too negative about your weaknesses.

And by the way, it's always safer to identify a lack of experience or skill than a shortcoming in your personality, because an interviewer can always train you on a skill or give you experience. Changing your personality is not so easy, nor is it fun! So, don’t tell the interviewer you “get bored” or “stressed” or “de-motivated”!

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Answer 2

They are using a really old list of questions since most are using a behavioral interview team approach, especially on second interviews. Turn what they hope will be a negative into a positive reflection of your ability.

For example, you have no or little experience as a new graduate or career changer: Give your college classes or transferable skills as qualifications. They want you to think on your feet and create a great impression. Then follow up with questions (you have memorized them in advance)

Good books you need to have:

The 250 Job Interview Questions, Peter Veruki
201 Best Questions to Ask on Your Interview, John Kador

Answer 3

Be direct and honest.

Remember that you are also interviewing the company to ensure the right fit for you, too! So be honest about your weaknesses...within reason.

Provide your weakness up front, time management for example. Then, and this is the absolutely critical part, explain how you have successfully addressed and minimized this weakness; classes or professional development on time management, tools you use to ensure that project deadlines are properly prioritized and not missed, or other techniques you have developed to IMPROVE your effectiveness.

Everyone has weaknesses. This question is designed to truly uncover them to 1) ensure a good fit between you, the company and the position your soliciting and 2) determine what development steps you have taken to minimize or address your weaknesses.

To conclude, do not be excessively honest, this is not a confessional. Stick to the example you can best explain and highlights your pursuit of continuous personal excellence!

Answer 4

make it seem like your weeknesses are plus not a negative... for example:

I tend to socialize during work hours, but that's given me the up hand on being able to be more people oriented.

or, in your case you have poor people skills say:

My weekness would have to be in the area of people skills. I focus more on my work than I do on socializing.

Answer 5

Yahoo Answers, in its wisdom, prevents me from posting the link to my blog post that answers this very question but here's the gist:

Express your weaknesses in sentences that express them as strengths taken to the extreme, preferably qualifying them with adverbs, such as "sometimes", "often", "occasionally", etc.

For example, "I am often impatient" sounds better than "I am impatient". This is because "I am impatient" has the hidden adverb "always" in it. Such is language.

Now look for ways to say just why you have that weakness and whom it impacts, such that the weakness is a strength taken to extreme.

Sticking with our "impatient" example, you may say:
"I am often impatient with those who do not live up to their potential."

There you go, you're already speaking like a manager and not a mere employee.

Some more examples of weaknesses that may be expressed differently are given below:

Weakness: Procrastination
Better expressed as: delay / hesitation
Impact: "My bias for action sometimes leads to unproductive activity, thus delaying the start of new projects."

Weakness: Lack of confidence
Better expressed as: hesitation
Impact: "My desire to know everything about a subject before I act sometimes causes me to hesitate before taking on a new project."

In both the above examples, note the use of the passive voice to deflect attention from you to the weakness itself. Thus, our "impatient" example may be refined even further to:
"My desire to mentor subordinates to reach their full potential sometimes leads to impatience"

If you feel "mentor" is too pompous a word, you may replace it with "motivate".

Once you have your weaknesses expressed as strengths taken to the extreme, give an action plan for reducing or eliminating the weakness.

Thus, your application may read:

Weakness 1:
"My desire to motivate subordinates to reach their full potential sometimes leads to impatience"

Action Plan:
Whenever I feel impatient, I try to take time out to better express to the subordinate my conviction that he / she has the capability to do what is required.

Weakness 2:
"My bias for action sometimes leads to unproductive activity, thus delaying the start of new projects."

Action Plan:
I document my daily activities to check if I am engaged in unproductive activity rather than action.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

I think you need to be honest but also explain how you are working to improve in those areas. If you say something like, "I work too hard", that just sounds really lame.