the "greatest weakness" question - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

FaderMonkey · 10-11-2004, 03:22 PM

I'm not sure where to put this question, so I'll put it here.

I have a job interview tomorrow. I like to think that I'm pretty good with interviews, but there's always that one question that I'm never sure how to respond to: "What's your greatest weakness?"

What is the best way to answer that? Should I be completely honest? Should I try to answer it in a way that actually sounds like a strength and how should I do that?

maleficent · 10-11-2004, 03:28 PM

CHeck here - there were some pretty good responses.

http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...light=weakness

Glory's Sun · 10-11-2004, 03:28 PM

honesty is the best policy. They ask it for a reason. Mainly so that they can help you work on that if you get hired.

oh and nice avatar.. fellow FSU fan here

maleficent · 10-11-2004, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guccilvr

honesty is the best policy. They ask it for a reason. Mainly so that they can help you work on that if you get hired.

Depends on what the weakness is -- if your weakness is that you've never been on time anywhere in your life, and you're unreliable... well I doubt you'd be given the job.

Glory's Sun · 10-11-2004, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maleficent

Depends on what the weakness is -- if your weakness is that you've never been on time anywhere in your life, and you're unreliable... well I doubt you'd be given the job.

well that's common sense..maybe honesty is the best policy as long as it's not something completely off the wall

Rodney · 10-11-2004, 04:27 PM

That's one of those questions that most people just try to get around as blandly as possible; because if you answer wrong, the consequences are grave, but a sterling answer doesn't benefit you all that much. I mean, you can say, "My great weakness is that I have no personal life and commit myself utterly to the job;" but if you spell a lot of words wrong on the app, you still won't get it.

FeltTip · 10-11-2004, 06:22 PM

Tell him, with an absolute straight face, that you are a chronic liar with a great sense of humor.

No one knows how to react to that.

FaderMonkey · 10-12-2004, 07:59 AM

Well, I just got back from the interview and got the job. Woohoo! The question never came up, but thanks for the help anyway.

bigoldalphamale · 10-12-2004, 08:01 AM

your greatest weakness is that you attended florida state university. or at the very least, attended another school, and are still a FSU fan. there is no way to explain that with a positive spin.

by the way...tell me how the hell FSU moves UP a spot in ESPN's rankings after nearly losing to syracuse. SYRACUSE???????????

GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Redjake · 10-12-2004, 09:25 AM

"my greatest weakness is my desire for perfection. Everything has to be perfect or I get irritated. I have to do my best all the time and it must be perfect. <b>I am a perfectionist.</b>"

water_boy1999 · 10-12-2004, 09:37 AM

noooo......

Anything you say can and will be used against you in a job interview. This is a trick question that not only tries to put you on the spot, but also to get you to say something you probably don't want to admit to.

Tell them, "My greatest weakness is chocolate." Or some food that you love, etc....

You have directly answered their question and effectively avoided embarassment by saying something you probably wouldn't have wanted to.

If you don't believe me, I have a B.S. in Business Management and have been working in the staffing industry for 8 years.

avsdude · 10-12-2004, 09:50 AM

I use that question in every interview. If someone answers some BS like 'I work too hard' I call them on it and wait for a real sounding answer.

To me, your better off being honest up front. It's a big minus if you try to BS me.

maleficent · 10-12-2004, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by water_boy1999

Tell them, "My greatest weakness is chocolate." Or some food that you love, etc.....

Depending on my mood du jour - my bs answer to that, cause I really think it's a bs question -- is Doritos..

Then again, when I've been asked the question, what's your greatest strenght, and I answer honestly (my sense of humor - and be able to keep that humor in acrisis) I've been told that that's a BS answer...

I honestly beleive those people who do get the jobs, are not necessarily the most qualified, they don't have the best answers to the questions, but that they just 'click' with the person they are interviewing with.

maleficent · 10-12-2004, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redjake

"my greatest weakness is my desire for perfection. Everything has to be perfect or I get irritated. I have to do my best all the time and it must be perfect. <b>I am a perfectionist.</b>"

Hmmmm - -sounds like an employee who will go postal on us pretty quickly

Grancey · 10-12-2004, 10:11 AM

In my last job interview I was asked about my weakness. I responded that I am a perfectionist, and that I consider it a weakness because I push myself so hard to be perfect. But I also told them that being a perfectionist would make me a good employee because I always perform my assigned tasks to the best of my ability, etc. You should answer questions honestly, but be able to make someone see the positive side of your answer. BTW, I got the job.

10-11-2004, 03:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
FaderMonkey Psycho Location: Orlando, FL	the "greatest weakness" question I'm not sure where to put this question, so I'll put it here. I have a job interview tomorrow. I like to think that I'm pretty good with interviews, but there's always that one question that I'm never sure how to respond to: "What's your greatest weakness?" What is the best way to answer that? Should I be completely honest? Should I try to answer it in a way that actually sounds like a strength and how should I do that?

10-11-2004, 03:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	CHeck here - there were some pretty good responses. http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthr...light=weakness __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

10-12-2004, 09:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
Redjake I'm a family man - I run a family business. Location: Wilson, NC	"my greatest weakness is my desire for perfection. Everything has to be perfect or I get irritated. I have to do my best all the time and it must be perfect. <b>I am a perfectionist.</b>" __________________ Off the record, on the q.t., and very hush-hush.

10-12-2004, 09:37 AM	#11 (permalink)
water_boy1999 Fly em straight! Location: Above and Beyond	noooo...... Anything you say can and will be used against you in a job interview. This is a trick question that not only tries to put you on the spot, but also to get you to say something you probably don't want to admit to. Tell them, "My greatest weakness is chocolate." Or some food that you love, etc.... You have directly answered their question and effectively avoided embarassment by saying something you probably wouldn't have wanted to. If you don't believe me, I have a B.S. in Business Management and have been working in the staffing industry for 8 years. __________________ Doh!!!! -Homer Simpson

10-12-2004, 10:11 AM	#15 (permalink)
Grancey Life's short, gotta hurry... Location: land of pit vipers	In my last job interview I was asked about my weakness. I responded that I am a perfectionist, and that I consider it a weakness because I push myself so hard to be perfect. But I also told them that being a perfectionist would make me a good employee because I always perform my assigned tasks to the best of my ability, etc. You should answer questions honestly, but be able to make someone see the positive side of your answer. BTW, I got the job. __________________ Quiet, mild-mannered souls might just turn out to be roaring lions of two-fisted cool.

10-11-2004, 03:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	honesty is the best policy. They ask it for a reason. Mainly so that they can help you work on that if you get hired. oh and nice avatar.. fellow FSU fan here

10-11-2004, 04:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	That's one of those questions that most people just try to get around as blandly as possible; because if you answer wrong, the consequences are grave, but a sterling answer doesn't benefit you all that much. I mean, you can say, "My great weakness is that I have no personal life and commit myself utterly to the job;" but if you spell a lot of words wrong on the app, you still won't get it.

10-11-2004, 06:22 PM	#7 (permalink)
FeltTip Upright	Tell him, with an absolute straight face, that you are a chronic liar with a great sense of humor. No one knows how to react to that.

10-12-2004, 07:59 AM	#8 (permalink)
FaderMonkey Psycho Location: Orlando, FL	Well, I just got back from the interview and got the job. Woohoo! The question never came up, but thanks for the help anyway.

10-12-2004, 08:01 AM	#9 (permalink)
bigoldalphamale Loser	your greatest weakness is that you attended florida state university. or at the very least, attended another school, and are still a FSU fan. there is no way to explain that with a positive spin. by the way...tell me how the hell FSU moves UP a spot in ESPN's rankings after nearly losing to syracuse. SYRACUSE??????????? GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

10-12-2004, 09:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
avsdude Whatever Location: Littleton, CO	I use that question in every interview. If someone answers some BS like 'I work too hard' I call them on it and wait for a real sounding answer. To me, your better off being honest up front. It's a big minus if you try to BS me.