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On April 04 2012 03:42 ondik wrote: I said the complaint I hear the most about myself is my overconfidence. What do you think about that?
A couple things. You can't just say 'overconfidence' and leave it at that. You have to make an effort to turn it into a positive. Perhaps highlight some positives that lead to your 'overconfidence'.
Two things I think are very important here:
1. If your 'overconfidence' results in being difficult for co-workers to work with you, that's very bad. It's possible to be considered overconfident, but yet people like being around you because you're charming, and they find your overconfidence endearing. If people still like to be around you, and work with you, despite that overconfidence, make that clear.
2. Your statement wasn't one of introspection, it was relaying that others think that of you. That tells the interviewer that you have actually been told (frequently, since you said 'hear the most') that you are overconfident. Lots can be extracted from that. It might be taken that these people said you were 'over' confident because your skills don't match your confidence, which could even be a statement of your competence (or lack thereof) as seen by your coworkers, which is entirely separate than being difficult to work with.
It's probably better to find another weakness, lol.
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On April 04 2012 02:47 Kaitlin wrote:Show nested quote +On April 04 2012 02:39 FallDownMarigold wrote:On April 04 2012 02:24 Kaitlin wrote:On April 04 2012 02:11 Cuh wrote: I always planned on saying something to this extent: "My worst quality is probably, I'm a product of my enviroment, when im surrounded by good workers, I excel, but when around bad ones, im dragged down." probably can be worded better but you get the idea
You should plan on saying something else, as this is actually quite a bad answer. You could make a little more effort in helping him, lol. There's actually a great quality in there -- the quality of being drawn to other productive people and feeding off of it, thereby improving one's own productivity. He just needs to make that the focal point, rather than this "I'm a product of the environment" thing which I agree, is awk. Here: "One of my qualities is that while working in settings with others, I'm able to communicate clearly and assimilate the insightful ideas of those around me, thereby improving my own perspective, output, and quality of work. I thrive when placed in settings with other driven people." I had started writing more detail but erased it before posting. I had difficulty putting into words why it was bad. Basically, it's saying I am a spineless jellyfish with no moral compass, no sense of who I am, and can be manipulated easily. Also, it's not merely a bad 'quality', but more a complete lack of identity of yourself, whatsoever. Your tip is good as far as putting a positive like on the thought, but you've completely taken out the tie to 'bad quality' which results in basically ignoring the question. Basically, I would suggest coming up with something that can be considered a weakness in general, but actually is a good thing, when considered from the potential employer's perspective. Perhaps something like a difficulty in maintaining balance in your life during periods where you're focused on something important to you. Such examples might be some projects you were involved in during college that you were extremely focused on, to the detriment of social relationships. This is a true 'bad' quality, but yet, appealing to an employer since they can expect you to really get into your work, care deeply about it, and do a good job.
I agree with your second paragraph. This is exactly what I meant when I said "I have a hard time leaving something unfinished. This leads into my working late into the night more often than I would like." I'll admit you've communicated it more clearly. Also, examples are essential.
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Whenever I get asked this question I just say that, "I am a person who tends to overwork."
Basically it just says that I'm a guy who works a lot and every boss likes to hear that you'll be able to work.
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On April 04 2012 04:01 Mechwarrior wrote: Whenever I get asked this question I just say that, "I am a person who tends to overwork."
Basically it just says that I'm a guy who works a lot and every boss likes to hear that you'll be able to work.
Yes, every boss likes to hear that you'll be able to work. Bosses also tend to like hearing compliments about their tie. However, how your boss might feel about being told you like his tie, when he asked you where is the report that is supposed to be on his desk, is up for debate. In other words, don't ignore the question asked.
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My biggest weakness is probably something i don't know about, because any weakness in me i find i squash like a bug!
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"I'm voting for Mitt Romney in the upcoming election."
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I always use "I tend to spend to much time on one project. I tend to be a perfectionist and that sometimes hurts me."
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On April 04 2012 02:27 Kaitlin wrote:Show nested quote +On April 04 2012 02:21 AllHailTheDead wrote: when im asked for a bad quality I usually say I work too hard or Im always early
you know turn it around so its not really a bad quality
hasnt failed me yet Your potential employer will not consider working too hard as a negative, and the only negative that can come out of you always being early is if he is having an affair with his secretary and you showing up early would get in his way.
Touché. Haha laughed a good while at this one. I tend to be a fan of "I'm intolerant of inefficient working enviroments." because, well, i am. Is that bad?
Edit:
On April 04 2012 02:14 paralleluniverse wrote:Show nested quote +On April 04 2012 02:11 Cuh wrote: I always planned on saying something to this extent: "My worst quality is probably, I'm a product of my enviroment, when im surrounded by good workers, I excel, but when around bad ones, im dragged down." probably can be worded better but you get the idea
I smell bullshit. Of course I smell bullshit for all the other answers. But I single out this one because it is particularly unique, whereas the others are common enough to not get a raised eyebrow, i.e. they are quite plausible. But this -- what a strange and random thing to say about yourself. It's not even a weakness.
He always planned on saying something to this extent. Never does it say he did this. Actually, is it even ok to call out someone because they think they're lying in a thread about how to answer a question? Crap, i just fell for trollbait.
I feel like his answer is something accurate about me though, so i this seems like an honest answer i could use.
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I would answer with persistence. I tend to be unable to let a task go. I will follow through and find a solution for a problem.
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I have done some interviews, and have also performed 2 job interviews myself, and the most important thing is to be honest and sincere. The question about naming your biggest weakness and your biggest asset is a valid one, since it tells you a lot about the person. Not only what the person says, but also how sincere it is.
Being witty and answering: "I'm a terrible singer" can be good, but you should follow it up by the real answer then. Last time I anwered truthfully:
"One of my weaknesses is that I tend to get lost in the details when solving a problem, which often turn out to be less relevant than initially anticipated. Identifying and focusing on the important issues is very important and I try to remind myself of that every time I am faced with a new problem."
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Haven't read any of the responses, usually for this question I like to say when there isn't enough work, I am easily distracted, and need a lot of work to stay motivated. (Usually they don't plan on you not having work so I think this works out okay).
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"Im bad at answering this question" If you want something more serious you take something like "I dont know everything about blabla" but then you also add "but Im a fast learner and Im eager to learn blabla" Take something negative but try to turn it into a positive
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On April 04 2012 04:38 Bippzy wrote: I tend to be a fan of "I'm intolerant of inefficient working enviroments." because, well, i am. Is that bad?
As long as you don't give the impression that you tend to complain a lot, but that's the first thing that pops in to my head when I hear 'intolerant of inefficient working environments'. I picture someone complaining because their 'better ideas' aren't being implemented and that those in charge are stupid for not acting on that brilliance.
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It's easy: My biggest weakness? Finding pants that aren't tight in the crotch.
If they don't hire you after that, you don't want to work for them.
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On April 04 2012 04:48 Flumens wrote: It's easy: My biggest weakness? Finding pants that aren't tight in the crotch.
If they don't hire you after that, you don't want to work for them.
I guess you're lucky not to have sexual harassment laws in Canada, because no employer in the U.S. would (let alone, could) hire you after making that statement.
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As a workers representative I used to be part of a three man interview team casting commercial clerk apprentices. I always hated when one of my partners asked that question and i hate it when i'm being asked. Nearly all people prepare some stupid reply like "i work too hard" and all that stuff which is usually a lie. People with real creative and/or honest answers used to impress me more. I prefer to admit a minor real weakness and point out that i'm not the guy to lie about it in an interview because the purpose of the interview is them getting to know me as good as possible and i'm an honest guy. Then i point towards my strenghts which counter that weakness. I failed just one of the 10 interviews i had in my "career". (which was a Skype interview and my webcam failed me before the start.)
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"my bad quality is that i hate stupid questions like this , everyone knows you are going to ask them and prepare some bullshit like saying they are perfectionist or sth like that.. i dont find the ability ti answer the question in what the interviewer thinks is rigth interesting, im interested much more by the fact that im able to predict you´r gonna make this stupid question that can only have stupid answers.."
i swear im gonna say sth along those lines when i get a job interview
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On April 04 2012 04:57 Carras wrote: "my bad quality is that i hate stupid questions like this , everyone knows you are going to ask them and prepare some bullshit like saying they are perfectionist or sth like that.. i dont find the ability ti answer the question in what the interviewer thinks is rigth interesting, im interested much more by the fact that im able to predict you´r gonna make this stupid question that can only have stupid answers.."
i swear im gonna say sth along those lines when i get a job interview
GL getting a job.
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On April 04 2012 04:53 Kaitlin wrote:Show nested quote +On April 04 2012 04:48 Flumens wrote: It's easy: My biggest weakness? Finding pants that aren't tight in the crotch.
If they don't hire you after that, you don't want to work for them. I guess you're lucky not to have sexual harassment laws in Canada, because no employer in the U.S. would (let alone, could) hire you after making that statement. There's no harassment laws in Canada? Surely their society must have crumbled upon itself with the misogynists running wild and raping women silly in the workplace!
"I am so good and dedicated to my job that I make others around me jealous".
But no seriously, from what I've been told the best answer is to be honest and reveal some type of flaw but one that's relatively trivial. I'm about the last person to get advice from wrt to a job interview, but the one I finally settled on was that I have a very fast speaking voice and tend to be better at written communication. This would of course be for something that doesn't involve me talking a lot, if it was I would find something else.
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On April 04 2012 04:53 Kaitlin wrote:Show nested quote +On April 04 2012 04:48 Flumens wrote: It's easy: My biggest weakness? Finding pants that aren't tight in the crotch.
If they don't hire you after that, you don't want to work for them. I guess you're lucky not to have sexual harassment laws in Canada, because no employer in the U.S. would (let alone, could) hire you after making that statement.
seriously? This is stupid
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