job interview: "what's your bad quality?" - Page 14
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Weebem-Na
United States221 Posts
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lichter
1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22271 Posts
I never practice for interviews, and never practice answering questions. Why? Because I know who I am, what I want, why I am doing what I do. They ask a question, I tell them the truth. And it works, every time. However I do not work in corporate because I own my own business, and I would never hire any of you giving these answers. I would rather a person with a real weakness (even if he does not identify how he is working on it) than someone who thinks they can give me some bullshit answer and get away with it. Edit: When asked my weakness, I always tell the truth, "I have difficulty following orders from someone I do not respect or admire." That's why I'm the boss. | ||
Ashakyre
United States99 Posts
"I don't think of myself in terms of strengths or weaknesses, just qualities and capabilities. When there's a problem I use the tools at hand to resolve it." Depending on how I read the interviewer, I might also say "Are there any particular weaknesses required for this position?" | ||
Bucher
Australia12 Posts
"I often take on more work than I can handle" or something along those lines. | ||
red_b
United States1267 Posts
see lichter's post. I will admit "weakness" in conversation because I discovered long ago that self-effacing behavior disarms people. It will convince almost anyone that they've connected with you and that what you say next will be true. It's especially effective in joke form, and doubly so when you can draw out a similar admission from your interviewer. Funny interview story, I applied for a job I was moderately overqualified for and the dude kept harping on some project I did 3 years previous in my undergrad. Like, he wanted specifics. He asked me for like a list of all the variables I had in my regression and what my specific results were. Alas, I answered one important question wrong. He asked me if I was considering a PhD program. I told him the truth. Oh well, you can't please everyone. | ||
Fuchsteufelswild
Australia2028 Posts
On April 04 2012 00:21 msl wrote: My biggest weakness is my inability to answer questions like this with a straight face. (I actually said something like this once and got the job) This is great to know. I've considered giving a pretty similar answer many times and never ended up doing it, but seeing as how stupid the question is and how little it will surely benefit the employer to ask it, it seems like the only good answer to me. Could you tell me what the job position and field was? I wonder whether it would depend on the exact type of person the employer was as to how they would respond to this answer or if all employers using this question are actually testing to see if you have the guts to point it out to them. | ||
micronesia
United States24339 Posts
1) I don't see my qualities as 'good' or 'bad' but rather 'strong' and 'weak' 2) "Bad" qualities as an employee? Just in general? Clarification is needed if they expect a factual answer. If they ask such a vague question then they really shouldn't be upset with a somewhat bullshitty or dishonest response. | ||
Chef
10810 Posts
Interviews are a really superficial awful experience. More than anything what matters is past experience, references, and your presence (attitude etc... if you are likable and confidence basically). It probably wasn't really that you answered that question a certain way (unless you sounded nervous or hesitant), but more than someone else just had nicer hair than you. | ||
teknotrance
61 Posts
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ZeromuS
Canada13372 Posts
So if your bad quality is nerves you can say that you tend to get nervous but that you look forward to continuing to work on keeping calm and that you are excited to work with experienced computer programmers for example to help you learn to control your nerves. Let me know if this helps ^^ | ||
wiscrat
United States4 Posts
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screamingpalm
United States1527 Posts
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Playguuu
United States926 Posts
It's best to be ready for these softball questions though, because they are fairly common interview questions. Have a good answer for stuff like best quality, worst quality, how well do you work in a team, describe a time when you exhibited leadership or a particularly hard challenge you overcame. The answers usually aren't that important, more often it's how well you communicate them, and poise. Oh, and when they ask you if you have any questions try not to ask them "What do you do?" It's boring and most interviewers hate it. Ask them something relevant. This was well said on the last page, I'd like to reiterate the answers usually aren't important + Show Spoiler + On April 04 2012 11:09 Ashakyre wrote: Urbanleg, This is not a test at school. A correct answer to this question is not a matter of providing factual information. Do not attempt to handle this type of question head on. It's a game. The question-answer format is a pretense for the interviewer to learn about you the human being. The interviewer wants to see how you handle pressure and stress. If this question doesn't stump you, a good interviewer will find one that will. While you can rehearse answers to potential interview questions, and it helps, but you should also be prepared to answer questions that catch you off guard. In the meantime, in your mind you need to be aware of what the real game is. You need remember that a question like this is supposed to simulate a difficult situation so the interviewer can see if you stay calm. You can stall for time by repeating the question back to the interviewer. "What is my biggest weakness..." Ultimately you need to be able to answer the question without long silent pauses, keeping your voice steady, looking the interviewer straight in the eye, and giving a sold, succinct answer. If you're spouting off total bullshit, so be it. You know it's bullshit. The interviewer knows it's bullshit. But the point is that neither of you let on that you know it's bullshit. And then, guess what? It's not really bullshit anymore, because a larger purpose has been served. So, when you're in an interview and suddenly it feels like the interviewer has caught you in some sort of trap, just remember that this was intentional, and now the real interview has begun. Everything was just set-up. Be objective. Don't identify with the fear. Answer the difficult question from the place where you understand that's it's supposed to be a difficult question, and it's not supposed to have an easy answer. I hope this helps. I bet a lot of people will suggest good answers to this question, but I wanted to get you thinking about the interview game itself. Any good book on interviewing will get you thinking about things from the interviewer's point of view and you'll start to see how each question has a purpose behind it, and they are sequenced in a strategic way (if the interviewer know's what s/he's doing, which isn't always a guarantee.) I'm sorry I couldn't write a better response but I have to go to bed. | ||
Kaitlin
United States2958 Posts
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fSgChoseN
United States23 Posts
1) make constant eye contact when you talk, it shows confidence and that you aren't having to think about your answers aka they are honest / coming from the heart 2) don't fiddle with things, keep your hands and everything still. 3) to answer question about what to say when they ask something bad about you, say something that can be interpreted as positive. Like "I trust people too easily because I believe in the inherent good of people". | ||
helvete
Sweden276 Posts
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crumunch
United States54 Posts
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red_b
United States1267 Posts
On April 04 2012 12:50 Kaitlin wrote: My greatest weakness is that I don't have a fucking job. I'm working very hard to remedy that situation as we speak ... haha. yeah, well there's that too. I think the important thing is to project that you're there to get paid for your skills, not dick around in an interview. You're available because of circumstance, not because you've shopped around and no one wants you. If your company doesn't get you your competitor will and you'll crush the company you're interviewing for just like everyone else in my way. just remember. Im not here to ask you for a job. I dont NEED your job. I dont need you to throw me a bone. Im here because I can do your job and you pay well enough for me to consider doing work for you. Really, honestly and truly I treat a 10 man analysis firm the same as Goldman Saachs. I don't buy into showing desperation for a job. That you would do anything for THAT chance. Would I do anything for A chance? Yeah. But that's different. I also don't agree with saying you're willing to do anything at a company. Sorry, I paid my dues when I went to grad school and I'm not going to bring you coffee or be your personal bitch. I'll play the game and start where everyone else in my position does, but I won't let you have me for less than market value. Attitude is 9/10ths of the battle. | ||
fSgChoseN
United States23 Posts
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Keone
United States812 Posts
A stupid one: "I always have a problem with following orders" A cliche one: "My weakness that I care too much, work too hard, pay too much attention to detail, etc." A too-real one: "I sometimes break under pressure and need counselling" And you should be fine. Be honest and back it up with a story; the story is what matters, not the weakness. | ||
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