Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

I have an interview on Wednesday. What are the best answer to the question about weaknesses?

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

I say that I can be a perfectionist and can be over critical of my work.
(Which in turn is a positive for people I work for, because I continuously try to do better)

Maybe mention an area of your job that you are looking to get more experience/exposure in.

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

Do you know a foreign language? If not I always think that's a good one to say....that you wish you knew another language....

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

I say, my weakness are interviews. This way they know that they are seeing a "weak" worst side of you and your work could only be better. I also say this because it is true (for me at least).

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

I always heard you should take something that is a negative and turn it into a positive such as: If you are stuck on something, you got to stick with it until you get it-shows you are determined and like to face a challenge.

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

Posted by NewlyMrs

I say that I can be a perfectionist and can be over critical of my work.
(Which in turn is a positive for people I work for, because I continuously try to do better)

Maybe mention an area of your job that you are looking to get more experience/exposure in.

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

You need to take a negative and turn it postive. or.. Take a skill that you already have good and seek a way to improve, enhance it.

good luck with the interview

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

I always say spelling- then make a joke- thank g-d for spell check!

(it's true- but spelling doesn't matter for my line work)

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

You can talk about negatives but the way to answer that is to say I am working on my negatives by....and then so and so forth, or talk about improvements you have made to deal with the weaknesses

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

I use either the perfectionist one or the inability to say no when asked to do work, and then i put a spin on it on how i have appproved and been able to ask for help when neededso I don't become overloaded and behind in schedule. That one usually works realaly well. I had one interview when after I answered with that answer the interview went very cold and they explained that they always have alot of work and are usually swamped. So needless to say all the talk before that question to bring me in for a a tour never happened. I think the answer depends alot on the interviwer and the company.

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

Interviewers know about the turning a negative like 'perfectionism' into a positive answer.

You can use that, but another one you can use that may be better is give them a negative that doesn't impact your ability to get the position.

Ie. you can say public speaking if your job doesn't require that,

OR

Ie. you can name a technical skill if you know that's not what they are looking for.

But always back it up with saying you're getting training so hope to overcome this weakness.

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

sometimes take things too seriously.

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?

personally i dont like the perfectionist answer either..

i think it's abit lame so i've always used a real imperfection like fear of public speaking or impatience with people who are unmotivated... depending on what the job is.

then i back any answer up with learning to improve on those weaknesses.

Re: Interviewing questions - weaknesses?