If I'm feeling lucky, I point out that my nick name in prep school was 'hubris' and that I earned it :)
How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
31–40 of 40 posts
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#32If I'm feeling lucky, I point out that my nick name in prep school was 'hubris' and that I earned it :)
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#33I see my greatest weakness as my temper. This isn't to say I allow my temper to interfere with my dealings at work, but I see it as a great personal weakness.
If I answer the question truthfully in an interview I can see the interviewers immediately lose all interest in me as a candidate. This means I can't answer the question-I have to lie and answer it with interview-speak which I hate.
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#34I 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…
Unfortunately, I can't detect sarcasm over the internet.
But, your answer (along the lines of "I'm a perfectionist and a workaholic") is the most cliche answer possible. As an interviewer, I never ask this question to begin with. But whenever someone claims they are a perfectionist, then my bullshit meter goes crazy.
Trust me, employers do NOT love this answer.
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#35People 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.
Yeah, but that line is used so often. Same with "I am a workaholic" which many people I know use.
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#36People 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.
It might smell like BS to you, but for the right person, both are absolutely not BS.
For example I have kids that I am the primary caregiver for. My wife is in a residency, so she can't be relied upon for child care. Therefore I cannot leave for work before the kids are in school, and I must return from work in time to relieve them from the childcare arrangements I have for them after school. No matter what is happening in my job, I have to do this. You cannot send me away on multi-day trips to a conference because I can't go. I can't stay for an emergency at work. My primary obligation is to my children.
Depending on the job this could be a minor detail, or an absolute deal breaker. Certainly it is something that I will need to have any potential employer be aware of and OK with. If that will be an issue, it is important that it be sorted out in the interview.
If you hear this in an interview and it still sounds like BS to you, I've done us both a favor. You won't hire me for a job I shouldn't be in. Because everything that I said is absolutely true.
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#37one time at an interview when asked about what my "typical day looks like", i couldn't help it and went with office space quote: "i get in 15 minutes late.. space out for an hour... i'd say in any given week i do about 15 min of actual work..."
it was a bit of rough landing, and he sort of, but not entirely, got it.. but this was while talking to the hiring manager after passing all technical rounds (2 days of interviewing) so i was pretty confident i'd be ok. it made for a good story around the office months after getting the job..
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#38I think the best approach is to answer the question honestly. No good manager is under the illusion that they are getting Superman when they are interviewing you. They know that everyone has strong and weak points, and being honest about what you are and are not good at helps ensure that the position will be a good match.
If you don't know what your weaknesses are, ask your current and past supervisors and coworkers. You should probably do this anyway from time to time.
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
It might smell like BS to you, but for the right person, both are absolutely not BS. For example I have kids that I am the primary caregiver for. My wife is in a residency, so she can't be relied upon for child care. Therefore I cannot leave for work before the kids are in school, and I must return from work in time to relieve them from the childcare arrangements I have for them after school. No matter what is happen…
On the off chance that you are reading this now that this is long off the front page: what I meant is that both having kids and having a social life is considered a strength, not a weakness, by most people.
I have kids too and I know what ordeal it can be, but "this is an ordeal" is not the same thing as "this is my biggest weakness".
You're right that it is something your potential employer would ideally be made aware of ahead of time, I'm just not so sure that doing so by way of calling it your greatest weakness is necessarily a good idea.
That said, good on you for taking good care of your kids, and I hope that things soon get a bit easier for you and your wife.
Re: How to answer "What is your greatest weakness?"
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
It might smell like BS to you, but for the right person, both are absolutely not BS. For example I have kids that I am the primary caregiver for. My wife is in a residency, so she can't be relied upon for child care. Therefore I cannot leave for work before the kids are in school, and I must return from work in time to relieve them from the childcare arrangements I have for them after school. No matter what is happen…
On the off chance that you are reading this now that this is long off the front page: what I meant is that both having kids and having a social life is considered a strength, not a weakness, by most people. I have kids too and I know what ordeal it can be, but "this is an ordeal" is not the same thing as "this is my biggest weakness". You're right that it is something your potential employer would ideally be made awa…
It may be a strength in your personal life. But as an employee, my commitments are a weakness. As much as employers may laud good parenting in the abstract, it is far from the top trait you want in an employee.