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How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"

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Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"

#21

Post by joering2 »

I agree its a stupid question. Someone that has 30 years experience as CTO being asked that question I think it would be an insult. But it happens.

If I really like the job and this may be a problematic question, I usually say this (which in most part is true): "I think my weakness is my personal attention to all possible details at work. Yes, I have to admit I am a workaholic. I don't look at clock when working even if its very late evening I need to make sure my projects are top notch buttoned up!"

I know employers love that answers. They dont really care how screwed up your personal life or family relations are, whether you see your kids or not. They care if you are willing to let them squeeze last inch out of you for a paycheck or not. And my answer always work.

Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"

#22

Post by btilly »

People hate this question, and they should love it. This question is your opportunity to bring out whatever you most want to be accommodated on. That way if you get the job, you are in a good position to negotiate what you need for your life.

Here are some examples that apply to various people I know (I actually have used one of these in interviews, but I won't say which one):

- I have considerable child-rearing duties, and my schedule has to revolve around that. I have little scheduling flexibility if you need me at odd hours.

- I am a very social person, I need to spend a certain amount of time every day actually talking with people or I'll go crazy.

- I am an orthodox Jew, so I have to leave early on Friday night.

etc

Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"

#26

Post by wisty »

The whole point of this question is to see if you are looking to improve things. It's not (or shouldn't be) a trap. It's to see if the candidate says "I'm not happy with my X skills, and I'm trying to get better".

It's also a good honesty test.

The thing is, it only works when the interviewer knows it, and candidate doesn't.

Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"

#27

Post by julian37 »

btilly wrote: post #22

People hate this question, and they should love it. This question is your opportunity to bring out whatever you most want to be accommodated on. That way if you get the job, you are in a good position to negotiate what you need for your life. Here are some examples that apply to various people I know (I actually have used one of these in interviews, but I won't say which one): - I have considerable child-rearing duti…

That's an interesting approach, but how many potential employers would raise an eyebrow if you mentioned having kids or being a social person as your greatest weakness? I know it would smell like BS to me.

Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"

#28

Post by polshaw »

>I haven’t actually described how you should answer the question What is your greatest weakness?

I can know yours; misleading blog post titles, and not answering the question.

If you wish to talk about 'what i think about stupid interview question X' then call it that.

But you don't get to choose your interview questions, and others here have actually given some insight into answering this question (use it to bring up your needs, to ask them tough questions, etc).

Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"

#30

Post by olalonde »

btilly wrote: post #22

People hate this question, and they should love it. This question is your opportunity to bring out whatever you most want to be accommodated on. That way if you get the job, you are in a good position to negotiate what you need for your life. Here are some examples that apply to various people I know (I actually have used one of these in interviews, but I won't say which one): - I have considerable child-rearing duti…

My line would be (and I suspect many HNers):

- I need to be intellectually challenged or else I get bored.

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