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On April 04 2012 19:16 screamingpalm wrote:Show nested quote +On April 04 2012 19:03 Ashakyre wrote:On April 04 2012 18:45 screamingpalm wrote:On April 04 2012 18:27 Ashakyre wrote:On April 04 2012 13:57 screamingpalm wrote: 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". 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. 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.
+100 mutual respect!
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Whatever you do, dont say your fault is that your a perfectionist. That answer is so unoriginal and sounds like BS.
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Don't answer this question with a humblebrag, that's just going to annoy your interviewer. A good interviewer who asks this question is interested in how aware you are of your own weaknesses, and what your approach is to dealing with them. I usually answer with some variation of "I can be very forgetful, which I deal with by keeping a todo list."
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I think I'd be one of those chums who answered like you did previously: I tend to go on tangents where I'm unproductive.
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for questions like this, you should be tying it to your strength, eg: i'm really good at producing slides (strength) however sometimes that can be time consuming especially for just a weekly meeting (weakness). i'm really good at excel spreadsheets and producing models, however sometimes i work too quick and dive into it too much, making rework or adjustments painful
i've interviewed about 50 people and when i ask that question i want to see how they can correlate it back to their strengths
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No such thing as being too obvious or cheesy in a job interview. Unless you're applying to google or something all a business (especially big business) wants to know is that you will work with others and have as few problems and professional disruptions as possible. I've got many jobs where I've literally vomited bullshit onto the desk and they've seemed pleased that I'm willing presenting myself in such a clearly fake way.
If it's a smaller business (usually with non-HR people conducting the interview) then just be honest and confident. I've known people who've answered questions like "how do you deal with stress?" by saying "I don't have time for it. I have a wife and 3 kids and a mortgage. I work too hard etc" which could sound like they're already stressed, but ultimately if its delivered with some degree of percieved confdence and honesty they were succeessful in their interviews.
Don't stress too much, just admit yeah this is a weakness, but I deal with it etc. etc.
Gl finding work man!
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You could try to be honest and give him a legit bad quality in you. It could be more or less a trust type of thing where your employer wants to see if you'll go out of your way to make your self sound better than you are. Because you have to remember none of us are perfect, so if your "bad quality" isn't that your hobby is killing people, then you'll be fine.
hope I was any help
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On April 04 2012 19:38 AmericanUmlaut wrote: Don't answer this question with a humblebrag, that's just going to annoy your interviewer. A good interviewer who asks this question is interested in how aware you are of your own weaknesses, and what your approach is to dealing with them. I usually answer with some variation of "I can be very forgetful, which I deal with by keeping a todo list."
I totally agree.
Cliché responses (e.g. I work too hard) don’t really work for ‘real jobs’. Interviewers have heard those type of responses a million times, and they’re looking for unique and thought out responses. For the OP’s question, you need to pick a development area that won’t put you in the hole for the position, and you need to mention how you’ve or are addressing it.
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I always say that literally my only weakness is my ridiculous arrogance. Or that some people have said that I am better and smarter than all my previous employers, or indeed my interviewer. Or that my only crime is loving too much.
Or, if I actually want the job, I pick a weakness that I've made some improvement on and explain how, but it depends what the position is I guess. For example if it's a job that specifies someone who works well in a fast paced environment, I won't say that I've had problems keeping my temper in a previous job but I've been improving it by blah blah blah.
EDIT: The first ones are serious, I have had job interviews for jobs I didn't actually want (already got a job but got talked into going to interviews for 'practice') so I mucked around with them a bit. For one I showed up wearing 11 ties. The guy just told me to please leave
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I really detest this type of question. That said, I don't remember it being asked when I interviewed (software developer) and I was interviewed by 3 different people.
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On April 04 2012 23:38 Craton wrote: I really detest this type of question. That said, I don't remember it being asked when I interviewed (software developer) and I was interviewed by 3 different people. Just say I am bad at talking about myself.
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As someone who used to suck at job interviews, my perspective changed when I had to hire someone for the first time. Job interview questions are simply designed to show that you have put some effort into preparation. That is why the same questions come up every time--if you are committed to finding a job, you will be ready with an answer to the "basic" questions ("What's your biggest weakness?" "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?" "Describe a time when you solved a problem in a work environment?"). All you need is to do is be prepared--the biggest mistake people make is thinking too much about them DURING the interview.
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I do this a lot but make the weakness the exact same as your strength.
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Answer the question by turning it around into something that is actually good about yourself.
For instance, my answer to the question is that I sometimes get so involved solving a problem that I lose track of the bigger picture (which is just a different way of saying that I am hardworking).
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I lived alone for awhile and built up a stupid case of social anxiety lol
so I get SUPER fidgety in interviews but I always ace them otherwise
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Not sure if what I'm suggesting has been said before:
You can answer in a way which identifies a possible weakness, but come up with a reply on how you're aware of it and the steps you are taking to overcome it.
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On April 04 2012 19:03 Fraud wrote: Speaking as a business professional who has interviewed in the past:
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.... Nicely explained.
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I find this whole thing hilarious though. You can't be honest if you actually have some real weaknesses but have to come up with some vague artificial bullshit that'll impress the interviewer and pretty much everyone is doing the same thing.
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I've already given my answer to this conundrum, and stated whose advice I think is better.
But I just want to draw anyone reading's attention to Paralleluniverse's posts in this thread. He makes about 8-9 all in the space of an hour, all on pages 1-5. And nowhere does he actually give advice. Every post is contrary in nature and a dig at someone else. Once, near the middle, he gives his own idea, which is a covert form of disapproval on the question itself. But everwhere else he attacks other people's comments in this thread.
I just want to highlight that this is the antithesis of good posting.
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This whole thread was one of the most interesting reads on TL not concerning Starcraft so far. Sadly there are some who have obviously not finished school yet, but try to act cool here. Telling someone that he is stupid for asking such a question does not lead anywhere. However, some answers are pretty cool and I am happy I do not live in the corporate US world.
"I'm a bad singer" is probably one of the most awesome answers posted in this thread yet :-)
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