job interview: "what's your bad quality?" - Page 15
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RedTerror
New Zealand742 Posts
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AeroGear
Canada652 Posts
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Signet
United States1718 Posts
On April 04 2012 13:20 RedTerror wrote: You stay silent and just hand them a card saying "My biggest weakness is my preparedness borders on arrogance" That's funny Seriously though, go with the advice of the posters who have said that you need to identify a real weakness and not try to give a fake weakness that's actually a strength. They're looking for introspection not the ability to be a clever politician. If you're already planning on preparing for this question, it shouldn't take much more time to sit down and make a list of your bad qualities / areas for improvement and think about which of them you'd like to discuss with an interviewer than it would take to prepare some sort of canned response to the question. Only the former will not only help you with the interview, but it will be helpful to you in terms of your own personal and/or professional growth as well. In the interview for the first (non-temporary/part time) job I had, the boss asked me to just start naming my strengths and naming my weaknesses.... dozens of each. The interview, which lasted 8 hours and allowed me to talk with most of the people in the office, was actually a pretty cool experience -- by the end of the day, I already felt like I knew what working there would be like and I assume the group had a decent feel for my personal traits as a potential employee. Which is really the point of an interview. (as somebody else mentioned, they'll learn about your technical skills from your resume and talking to your references) | ||
screamingpalm
United States1527 Posts
"My biggest weakness" "PvT 1-1-1 expand", "mass mutas", or "multi-pronged marine medivac drops". If they don't hire you after that, it's not worth your time. They're looking for introspection not the ability to be a clever politician. Discrimination, depending on one's political beliefs. The intrusive garbage that is often put on those applications are extremely fascist. | ||
Signet
United States1718 Posts
On April 04 2012 00:15 urbanleg wrote: Hey guys, I just graduated in computer science, i started to look for a cool place to work at, been so far in 2 interviews, and i got the feeling i blew them at the HR part when i answered this question: 1) i prefer to study alone (failed - not a team player) 2) im stressed out easily (failed - that might be a problem) any ideas of good "bad" qualities for the next interview i got tomorrow? p.s - perfectionist won't do since its too obvious these days. thanks You'd obviously know the specifics of your situation better than I But how sure are you that the interview was the deciding factor? The job market is really rough -- something like 5 people are unemployed for every 1 job available, and that means you're competing against potentially hundreds or thousands of other applicants. It's a good sign that you're getting interviews, but even then you are likely just one of the people they selected to interview. Prior to the "great recession" I'd never had a single college or job application turned down. But when the recession hit and I got laid off, I applied for many listed positions and just never heard back, and had two interviews where I did not end up being hired. (although I do think I kinda blew one of them, but the other I felt confident at the end of it and still wasn't hired) The job market makes a big difference, especially if you're a recent graduate and may be competing against other applicants with more experience than you. Just something else to consider. Good luck! | ||
ETisME
12083 Posts
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. great post, this should be passed along. The main focus of the interview, in my opinion (but I don't have a lot of experience) is to merely testing your sincerity, if you are a real person, any notable drawbacks, how you present yourself and also how you do when you are under stress or in a new environment. The average interviewer would answer to the question pretty straight forward, but a more experienced one can elaborate upon the answers, making the whole interview feel a bit more relaxed (e.g. your smile would not look like an awkward polite smile), easier for the interviewee to ask questions, easier for you to deliver more information about yourself | ||
Kaitlin
United States2958 Posts
On April 04 2012 13:34 Signet wrote: That's funny Seriously though, go with the advice of the posters who have said that you need to identify a real weakness and not try to give a fake weakness that's actually a strength. They're looking for introspection not the ability to be a clever politician. If you're already planning on preparing for this question, it shouldn't take much more time to sit down and make a list of your bad qualities / areas for improvement and think about which of them you'd like to discuss with an interviewer than it would take to prepare some sort of canned response to the question. Only the former will not only help you with the interview, but it will be helpful to you in terms of your own personal and/or professional growth as well. In the interview for the first (non-temporary/part time) job I had, the boss asked me to just start naming my strengths and naming my weaknesses.... dozens of each. The interview, which lasted 8 hours and allowed me to talk with most of the people in the office, was actually a pretty cool experience -- by the end of the day, I already felt like I knew what working there would be like and I assume the group had a decent feel for my personal traits as a potential employee. Which is really the point of an interview. (as somebody else mentioned, they'll learn about your technical skills from your resume and talking to your references) An interview that lasts for 8 hours is not the initial screening interview, which is generally when such a question would be asked. Companies can't afford to spend an entire day with an applicant unless they are about to be hired. | ||
screamingpalm
United States1527 Posts
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. What is this "larger purpose"? Finding a Winston Smith? :D Or basically stating that "2+2=5" on these bullshit applications and interviews? "What's your bad quality?"... "I lie at interviews and sell out like a whore to capitalism like my sister that works at a collection agency". | ||
LeGendzErg
United States37 Posts
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MilesTeg
France1271 Posts
It entirely depends on the job I guess. If you're applying for a small firm, consider saying something like "I am not comfortable in a big company, where communication isn't efficient and politics are more important than your real skills". Try to think of something specific. In any case in most situations it doesn't matter what you say, it's all about how you say it. And don't believe anyone who tells you to avoid bullshit, especially if you're talking to an HR person. HR managers feed on cattle excrement. | ||
Kich
United States339 Posts
"My biggest weakness would be that I dwell on failures too much; and while that can be and often times is a motivator, I try to tell myself that making a mistake isn't the end of the world, it's how I fix it and how I use that knowledge going forward that is important." How's that sound, no bueno or? | ||
Aterons_toss
Romania1275 Posts
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Ashakyre
United States99 Posts
On April 04 2012 13:57 screamingpalm wrote: What is this "larger purpose"? Finding a Winston Smith? :D Or basically stating that "2+2=5" on these bullshit applications and interviews? "What's your bad quality?"... "I lie at interviews and sell out like a whore to capitalism like my sister that works at a collection agency". I knew I'd have to revisit this. The larger purpose is to see how you communicate and get along along with others in weird situations. Can you communicate without cynicism, immaturity, and defensiveness? | ||
screamingpalm
United States1527 Posts
On April 04 2012 18:27 Ashakyre wrote: I knew I'd have to revisit this. The larger purpose is to see how you communicate and get along along with others in weird situations. Can you communicate without cynicism, immaturity, and defensiveness? Yes, I should put in a disclaimer not to listen to my calls for integrity and idealism... it won't land you a job. | ||
Kreb
4834 Posts
If you have no work experience from the field you're applying to, your biggest weakness is: "since I've just recently graduated from school, my biggest weakness is not having had a real job in this field ever before, thus not having much experience". If you worked with it during a summer job, your biggest weakness is "only" having worked with it during a summer job and not "for real". If you've only have a short term job in the field before, your weakness is exactly that. Etc. They already know about it, they wouldnt have brought you to the interview if they didnt want you anyway. Wont make you look bad, and actually has some solid truth in it. | ||
Nyarly
France1030 Posts
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Ashakyre
United States99 Posts
On April 04 2012 18:45 screamingpalm wrote: Yes, I should put in a disclaimer not to listen to my calls for integrity and idealism... it won't land you a job. I want to help this kid get a job. No one's going to value his political opinions if he's unemployed. Can we go back to helping him, please? We all get frustrated by the interview process. I just think the best way to deal with the unfairness is to be sympathetic to the interviewer's point of view. Once this kid has money, he can contribute to the political party of his choice. I hope, myself, that it isn't the 1984 party, but it's his choice, not mine. Anyway, he's going to have to answer the same questions even if he interviews at an environmental non-profit. My ideals say: help this kid get a job and shut up about politics. I see this as a real opportunity to make a positive change in the world, one person at a time. This earnest young person can go anywhere on the internet for political indoctrination (which I'm sure he got plenty of in college anyway) but he came here for advice on interviewing successfully. Oh, and ZvP mutas way OP. | ||
Fraud
Canada108 Posts
The question is designed for two purposes: 1) see if you can admit a fatal flaw which takes you out immediately, and; 2) assess your ability to self-assess and improve. Your biggest weakness typically should be something that you don't need at your current level, but would need for advancement. You respond by saying what the weakness is, why it is your weakness, and how you are working on managing it. (Logic is that if you had the skill set and experience for a higher level job, why are you applying for this one?). Example: My biggest weakness is that while I have adequate sales skills and am known well at a regional level, I don't have a lot of contacts outside of the state, which limits my ability to grow beyond where I am currently. I have begun attending out-of-town trade shows in attempt to expand my network and have begun making progress.... | ||
screamingpalm
United States1527 Posts
On April 04 2012 19:03 Ashakyre wrote: I want to help this kid get a job. No one's going to value his political opinions if he's unemployed. Can we go back to helping him, please? We all get frustrated by the interview process. I just think the best way to deal with the unfairness is to be sympathetic to the interviewer's point of view. Once this kid has money, he can contribute to the political party of his choice. I hope, myself, that it isn't the 1984 party, but it's his choice, not mine. Anyway, he's going to have to answer the same questions even if he interviews at an environmental non-profit. My ideals say: help this kid get a job and shut up about politics. I see this as a real opportunity to make a positive change in the world, one person at a time. This earnest young person can go anywhere on the internet for political indoctrination (which I'm sure he got plenty of in college anyway) but he came here for advice on interviewing successfully. Oh, and ZvP mutas way OP. No you're right, I was trying to point out some of the political bullshit to look out for in the hiring process that I always ran into, but perhaps that doesn't really help him. Probably better discussed elsewhere. | ||
Meatloaf
Spain664 Posts
"I sometimes get absent-minded when thinking in specific cases (for instance a new GP Lens adaptation i havent done before) , i try to overcome it by being organized in my workplace as it helps me to set priorities on things. dont know if absent-minded is actually the exact translation i was looking for... Its more that i get distracted easily when thoughts about some particular case "assault me" while checking other more mechanical stuff... but i think its clear that if you show yourself as you are , are willing to work in the company and improve into it , not acting as a maniac is usually enough if you have the required set of skills for the job. It helped me a lot being enthusiastic of joining the company because I knew their work ethics went along mine. | ||
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