What Are Your Weaknesses? How Not To Answer This Interview Question
Posted: Tuesday, June 30, 2009
by Asher Ricard
You spend hours prepping for an interview going over questions that might be asked. Then it happens. The interviewer asks you to talk about the bad parts of your self.
You have just spent hours thinking about your good qualities and now you have to switch gears and tell something bad about yourself.
I was recently reading an article about the questions prospective employees hate to hear most during an interview. The ‘What are your weaknesses" question was high on the list.
It got my husband and I thinking. What are some other answers job seekers should stay away from during an interview. Here is what we came up with.
Interviewing for customer service/help desk
I would say my weakness is dealing with stupid people. I just can't stand it!
I sometimes can't hear people when talking on the phone and I have to have them repeat questions.
I sometimes lose my temper and yell at people who can't understand me.
I have a weakness for calling friends in other states on company time.
Teacher
I sometimes feel uncomfortable around parents/kids.
My weakness is classroom management. I tend to let the kids be free spirits and learn as they go. (the last thing a principal wants to hear)
Professional
I forget to close the door when I go to the bathroom.
My weakness is Blue Bell ice cream. (probably true, but not what they are looking for in the answer)
I tend to fall asleep after lunch for a short nap.
And the number one answer that you should never, ever use is: I don't have any weaknesses, I am perfect.
I am sure you have heard answers just as damageable. Feel free to share them in the comments. Looking for a job is stressful enough. We could all use a good laugh.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Ahser,Know this one well. I've often put my weaknesses in the positive. "I have a tendency to worry too much about getting the job done right." "I'm often looking to help the other guy and my work occassionlly suffers." "I see injustice and try to help others when I should mind my own p's and q's." "In trying to get too much in to my day--work, exercise, tending to my family--I occassionally over do it." Of course these are not "all" positive, but even the negative aspects of these comments are generally more positive than negative, so it works out. Generally when I've interviewed (being an entreprenuer for over 15 years, it's been a while), I've gone in with an attitude of "Worse case scenario? I'll have to interview at another company," kept my comments short and to the point, and generally check myself for any "creepy feelings." Meaning, if I start to feel awkward, it usually means don't say what I was going to say and rethink. Using these techniques I never didn't get the job I wanted. Sometimes I didn't get a job I "felt" I wanted, but then realized I didn't want it after all. Interesting how that works.
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