ComputerHunter.org

 

Job Interviews: Answering Whats Your Greatest Weakness?


Many interview guides advise candidates to answer the common "What's your greatest weakness?" question with a positive trait disguised as a weakness. For example, "I tend to expect others to work as hard as I do," or "I'm a perfectionist."

That would be a mistake.

Why? Because interviewers have heard these canned answers over and over again.

If you use one of them, it will likely backfire on you. Because the hiring manager will think:

  • You're not being honest about your true weaknesses and are just regurgitating someone's advice;

  • You feel that expecting others to work hard and striving for perfection (or whatever other disguised positive traits you use) are "weaknesses," which makes you look ignorant, naďve and/or lazy;

  • You don't know how to do an honest self-assessment;

  • Or you're delusional and think you don't have any real weaknesses!

    So state a true weakness! No one is perfect, so don't try to convince anyone (especially yourself) that you don't have any weaknesses.

    However, I cannot overemphasize the importance of not listing a key element of the position as a weakness! If you do that, you might as well send yourself the rejection letter.

    Pick a neutral weakness about something that's not critical to the job. Mention that. Then emphasize what you've done to overcome the weakness.

    This shows that you are honest, that you recognize areas in which you need to grow, and that you are actively seeking ways to improve yourself.

    Sample Answers:

    "I honestly can't think of any weakness that would prevent me from doing an outstanding job for you in THIS position. But in the past, I've had some trouble delegating duties to others. I felt I could do things better and faster myself. This sometimes backfired because I'd end up with more than I could handle and the quality of my work would suffer. But I've taken courses in time management and effective delegation, and I've managed to overcome this weakness." [NOTE: You would not want to use this example for a supervisory position]

    "I honestly can't think of any weakness that would prevent me from doing an outstanding job for you in THIS position. But I'm very weak in math and have to rely on a calculator even for basic computations. I always have one with me just in case a calculation is needed." [NOTE: You would not want to use this example for an accounting position or one that requires math skills!]

    This question really isn't so tricky, once you know what to expect and how to respond.

    Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, "Career-Life Times." Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.Best-Interview-Strategies.com







    Google News - Top Stories

    guardian.co.uk

    Poll: Americans feel good about Obama, Cabinet choices
    USA Today - 1 hour ago
    By Susan Page, USA TODAY WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama is riding a wave of good feeling toward him and his key Cabinet appointments, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds - positive attitudes that may give him some breathing room for tough ...
    Video: Obama Picks Gates, Clinton for Foreign Policy AssociatedPress
    Obama Dazzles Dems and GOP with Cabinet Picks FOXNews
    Washington Post - Financial Times - AFP - Orato
    all 3,240 news articles


    New York Daily News

    UPDATE: Ford Asks For $9 Billion Backstop Loan; Aims For '11 Profit
    CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago
    (Updates throughout with details on Ford's letter to Congress, comments from CEO, auto sales information, context and latest share price.
    Ford Makes Concessions in Effort to Get Government Help Washington Post
    Ford Says It Can Get By if Rivals Survive New York Times
    Reuters - Bizjournals.com - guardian.co.uk - Detroit Free Press
    all 1,164 news articles


    Martinez will not seek re-election
    Bizjournals.com - 57 minutes ago
    Sen. Mel Martinez will not run for re-election in 2010. Florida’s junior senator, a Republican from Orlando who was born in Cuba, was elected to the US Senate in 2004.
    Mel Martinez won't seek Senate reelection The Miami Herald
    Mel Martinez To Retire Washington Post
    Reuters - Bloomberg - MyFoxOrlando.com - Sarasota Herald-Tribune
    all 387 news articles


    Washington Post

    Report: World at Risk of Bio, Nuke Attack
    ABC News - 1 hour ago
    By JASON RYAN A biological or nuclear attack is likely to occur somewhere around the globe during the Obama administration or shortly thereafter, a new congressionally mandated report has warned.
    Report warns Barack Obama to brace himself for a terrorist attack Times Online
    US Congressional Panel to Present Report on WMD Threat Voice of America
    CNN International - Natural News.com - College News
    all 568 news articles


    ABC News

    Attackers came out of Pakistan
    International Herald Tribune - 35 minutes ago
    By Robert F. Worth and Graham Bowley MUMBAI: The Mumbai attackers came by ship from the Pakistani port of Karachi, the Indian police said Tuesday, the most direct link made to Pakistan so far.
    India Rules Out War, Asks Pakistan to Deport 20 Terror Suspects Bloomberg
    US says Pakistani-based group likely hit Mumbai Reuters
    Wall Street Journal - AFP - Reuters India - Christian Science Monitor
    all 3,043 news articles

  • Google
     

    Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base