Your weakness!

Spalk0

In an interview this is the worst question anyone can ask me!Allways catches me out with a lot of "oooh, errrr, hmmmm"
I suppose there is the obvious answer like "well i suppose im a workaholic" but thats too obvious for me and i sound weird saying it accompanied with my little nervous laugh! or the cocky answer "weaknesses, i dont have any, im the perfect employee, just ask the others who know me.....better yet, hire me and i'll show you!"
Anyone got any ideas on better answers?
what questions do you hate?

Dr. Loon

I'm too nice sometimes!

OR

I drink shítloads.

flygirl

Never EVER say 'well I work too hard' or 'I am too much of a perfectionist' or 'I make too many cups of tea for my co-workers' or any of that rubbish.
It's a killer of an interview question as it's hard to say anything that doesn't make you look like a spanner, but generally the 'experts' advise that you give something that could be viewed as a weakness, accompanied by an example of something you did to address it...

Like
'I sometimes find it difficult to prioritise tasks when I've a heavy workload but I recently went on a time management course which has really helped, and I also find that sharing the workload with other team members works well too.'

Blah blah....It's definitely one that always comes up no matter what the job interview is for...

Jim

"I'm **** at answering this question"

Spalk0

Thats a good answer flygirl....and i did recently go on a time management course!Id give ya a green yoke only im all out today!

Jimeatsmenu!----HAHA class answer, likewise!

ferdi

interviewer: so what would you say is your biggest weakness?

interviewee: i have an uncontrolable urge to beat off during interviews.

interviewer: we'll call you.

aidan_walsh

I'm just far too clever, my co-worker generally don't understand any of my project or implementation proposals, so I usually find myself talking to others in a condesending or narky tone.
I also cannot accept failure or defeat, and if forced to, will sulk for days on end and take it out on everyone around.

But I do enjoy socialising...

yossarin

red kryptonite, but please don't tell my arch nemisis.

monkeyfudge

I'm vulnerable to kryptonite and my x-ray vision doesn't work on lead...

[EDIT]Curse you, Yossarin!!![EDIT]

Kêrmêttê

I hate the question, "Why do you want this job?".
Ya can't very well say that you want rakes of money, shorter working hours, more holidays, better perks etc. or that you can't stand your current boss and you'd prefer to beat him/her to death with a phone book rather than spend a second longer in the office with him/her.
I suppose there are standard answers for this type of question but my brain always seizes up with terror anytime I'm asked it.

ps.
I've never been asked what my weaknesses are in an interview.
I guess I'm just the epitome of perfect.
/me grins smugly

ven0m

My sack - when I get kicked there I go down like a sack of spuds [pardon the pun!!!]


::: ven0mous :::

yossarin

hah - a full minute before you posted. that'll learn you.

as a coder, one i use is a variation of flygirls:
I have a tendancy to want to build everything from scratch, but I've learned to work with others in team development in X and Y postions.

also:
I spend about 3/4 hours every day on boards.ie. would this be a problem ?

"why do you want this job" is easy. just read up on the company and say how exciting what they do is, and how well it meshes with your career interests. Say synergy a few times if you're taking the piss.

sanncoo

Say something funny.........................

My weaknesses include chocolate, shoes and a good movie!

Then laugh........say seriously, many would consider it a weakness but I'm not afraid to ask for help!!!!!!

woosaysdan

when i went for work placement interview in the college (it was an tech support position and im doing a software development course) they asked me:
interviewer: why would someone from a software background want to go for an tech support job?
me: because ye didnt offer a software job within in the college!!!

needless to say i didnt get it!!! sigh

Spalk0

Interviewer : So what would you say is your weakness?

Interviewee : What would you say is YOUR weakness?

Interviewer : Im sorry, WHAT?

Interviewee : You heard

Interviewer : So you gonna answer the question?

Interviewee points to the floor and says : Japan 4!!!!!

Interviewer looks at the floor!

Interviewee : so your weakness is your gullible!

Interviewer : Ok, we'll give you a call

Interviewee : Sounds ominous, i'll get me coat!

unkel

flygirl wrote:

give something that could be viewed as a weakness, accompanied by an example of something you did to address it...

That's what I do!

You actually turn a weakness into a strength by demonstrating that not only are you aware of your bad points but you are addressing them also

sprinkles

:rolleyes: kryptonite.

doh.ie

Kêrmêtt&#234 wrote:

I've never been asked what my weaknesses are in an interview. I guess I'm just the epitome of perfect.
/me grins smugly

I've never been asked this either. I wondered if it was just something career and interview books made up!

Plus, I was never asked, "Who is the person you most admire?" and I'd learned that one off!

embee

Kêrmêtt&#234 wrote:

I've never been asked what my weaknesses are in an interview.
I guess I'm just the epitome of perfect.
/me grins smugly

Thats because usually they have already decided "Meh, this one sucks. I won't even bother asking her the really hard questions."

BEAT

doughnuts..I can never walk by a box without taking atleast two of them.

impr0v

I have a list which I bring to interviews for when this question arises:

I have difficulty taking orders from people who are obviously less able than me.
I struggle to contain my sense of injustice when a superior or a colleague gets plaudits for work which is predominantly mine.
I get murderous thoughts when the canteen discussion turns to a 'my kid is so much more special than yours' discussion.
I have an inability to suffer fools.
I consider working in a cubicle an infringment of my human rights.
I have serious difficulty with my electronic habits being monitored and/or curtailed by the password monkeys in the IT department.
I refuse to pretend to like my co-workers outside of the work environment and will in fact feign deafness and blindness if I encounter them on the street.
I see absolutely no reason for an organisation preventing me from carrying over unused holidays from one year to the next and am prepared to go awol to avail of them.
I feel uncomfortable in shirts and ties and will refuse to wear them.
I treat superiors as inferiors at the office five-a-side and will tackle them as such.
I consider an employee social fund the responsibility of the employer, as camaraderie and staff bonding are being encouraged solely for reasons of efficency and increasing output, and will therefore not contribute to it from my own wages.
If forced to attend, I bring digital recording devices to staff parties for the puposes of blackmail and career advancement, and remain sober throughout.
I consider the use of office equipment and stationary a perk of my employment.

It goes on.

Spalk0

HAHA classic improv!
Deserves a green yoke when i can give them out again!

the_syco

impr0v wrote:

I have difficulty taking orders from people who are obviously less able than me.

BS them, and they walk away thinking the job doesn't need to be done.

Do the job a day later, and get praise for it.

Iago

My only real weakness as I see it is my limited knowledge of the internal processes and operational procedures in the company, although I'm fully confident that within a short period of time I should be up to speed on these.

Apart from that I find that sometimes I can be seen as being very forceful when making my point but that's mainly down to the passion I feel for my work, I ty to explain this clearly though and ensure that everyone understands where I'm coming from.

Gilgamesh

My most recent one, was 'the sun. that's why I want this calcentre job, so I odn't have to see it anymore'

Got some good laughs and also (somehow) managed to get the job

BaZmO*

The question I really hate is the "So where do you see yourself in 5 years?" question.

Eh, hang on and I'll take out my crystal ball and see what it says!!!

It says that in 5 years time I'll be sitting where you're sitting and you where I'm sitting and I'm telling you that the company is sorry but we're gonna have to ask you to leave for constantly asking ridiculous questions. Get your coat, you've been P45'd!!!!

B.

aidan_dunne

My weaknesses........

1: Pringles! Particularly the barbeque or sour cream & onion flavoured ones. The slogan is so true, once you pop you really can't stop.

2: Good looking women. Even though I'm an ugly bastard myself, they'll always bring me to my knees. Hell, they don't even have to be good looking, most of the time, just breathing! Always seem to find myself giving in to female charity collectors and the like and giving them some money.

3: Angelina Jolie.

4: Sandra Bullock.

Actually, those last two could be bunched in with no. 2, couldn't they?

5: Fast cars/sportscars/stylish-looking cars. Particularly Ferraris (the F40 is my all time favourite).

Sarky

Lie through your teeth. It really is the only way.

Aava

aidan_dunne wrote:

1: Pringles! Particularly the barbeque or sour cream & onion flavoured ones. The slogan is so true, once you pop you really can't stop.

MSG = monosodium glutamate.

Flavour enhancer. Pringles would probably taste rank without it. :rolleyes:

Pet

Aava wrote:

MSG = monosodium glutamate.

Flavour enhancer. Pringles would probably taste rank without it. :rolleyes:

Is it actually addictive? I can never get a conclusive answer. But yes or no, it's still bad for your health..