Jim Kata

What do you say when you are at a job interview and they ask, "What would you say your weaknesses are?"

Of course you don't want to tell them that you play on the internet all day in between talking to your friends on the phone or online.

Is it bad to say that you have a hard time saying no to more responsibility? Or that you can be a perfectionist?

Any suggestions? I have a semi casual interview today and am very nervous and don't know what to say if that question comes up.

Thanks in advance.

Dark Assailant

I'd say that my main weakness is getting frustrated when i haven't finished my work or projects.

Then the interviewer will hopefully take that in a positive way. So you actually really said something positive out of this question

good luck ! think positive !

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·´¯`·-> Ðark Åssailant<-·´¯`·

onetime2

I typically say that I can, at times, get frustrated by the time it takes for changes to be made based on the results of the analysis I perform. I then say that I understand that it takes time for people to understand, accept, and eventually change course and I try to put myself in their shoes and look at the many details that go into such changes.

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Strive to be more curious than ignorant.

SiN

My answer to this question is that I, when I see something that needs to be done, I oft want to do it, even when it's totally not my responsibility.

(positive - I work hard and am ambitious and self-driven. negative - prioritisation/focusing skills lacking at times).

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maleficent

What the others have said is correct, you don't want to go over the top with your answer, but you want your weakness to be perceived as a positive. Don't say that you come in late on Monday's after a hard partying weekend, instead mention work ethic, that your social life often suffers because you believe in staying at work until the job is done.

(Most employers know that this is kind of a BS question, and are expecting some sort of postive response, so just be honest with it... but don't say something that is just plain negative.)

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Jim Kata

Thanks everyone. Just came back from it, and did better than I thought. But probably didn't get the job...ya win some ya lose some.

2sheds

good responses i've heard:

sometimes a get too caught up with a big task and lose track of some of the smaller ones
i have a hard time letting go of a project i've worked on for a long time

lame responses i've heard:

i'm a perfectionist
sometimes i just work *too* hard

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Depression is just anger without enthusiasm. It’s having an empty beer bottle but no one to throw it at.

:::OshnSoul:::

My honest answer to this question which I have been asked is "not having enough to do. Although my workload can get overwhelming, I'd much prefer it over not having enough workload. I always make sure I find something to do that will benefit the company, such as lending a hand to other co-workers who may need help with their tasks, I love learning new things."
-Even though it doesn't sound like a weakness, it has worked as far as impressing the interviewer.

Jim Kata

Not that anyone cares but .... I think I was wrong.
I just got a call and was told that I would be excellent and #1 on the list for the position but they just want to talk to my manager (its a job within the same company) about how to handle the transition.

There isn't a smiling happy smilie big enough that can express how I feel.

FatherTed

Great result !
Well done, a great start to the weekwnd

denim

Oooo, a challenge! Howzzat?

Jim Kata

HAHAHA! That works for me!

anleja

To that question, how about answering "Weaknesses? No! Me strong!" And then pick up the table you are both seated at. You would not be soon forgotten.

Congratulations on the job, btw.

aliali

Well all of the women I know say my greatest weakness is my recurrent alcohol-induced rage, but I had a lot of time to think about it when I was in the hole for 9 weeks for breaking that guard's face and I think my greatest weakness is probably my candor.

Jim Kata

*BUMP*
I figured I would continue on this thread instead of starting a new one.

So they are about to send me an offer letter, but the pay is a lot less than what I was expecting.

My current boss told me to ask for a certain amount because he has access to see what the salary should be with the "Company Job Title" not the "Primary Global Role Title". But I am not supposed to let anyone know that he showed me that because he isn't supposed to show anyone that information. We are talking about a $6,000 or $7,000 difference here.

I did searches on the net but can't find a salary for the exact title but have found things that are similar and they all are a bit above what my current boss told me to ask for.

When talking to the hiring manager, he told me that they are offering to pay more than what they were going to pay anyone else because of my current salary being close to what they were offering (yeah sure you did).

I requested a meeting with the hiring manager to discuss the salary, cause I'm sure they can pay me more, only because of what my current boss showed me...any suggestions/advice?

Cynthetiq

since you are an internal candidate...

check to see what the grade level is... if the grade level is one grade below yours then the salary band will be pushed to the upper limits of what's allowable at that grade level and eventually you will hit a ceiling that cannot be rectified until you get a grade level change which requires a promotion.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

zen_tom

Just don't let them arse you about - remind them (quietly, gently and matter-of-factly) that you realise that they would have to pay a LOT more if they hired an external candidate, but that you are willing to accept something in the region of <insert preferred amount plus 10K here>. HR people will get away with anything they can, and if they think you are too enmeshed in the company to realise what's going on in the real world, they WILL take advantage.

Cynthetiq

that's correct.. there's value in already being indoctorinated with the company culture, relationships you have with other departments and knowing just how things work within the current company means you can hit the ground running.

that's why I got rehired back after 1 year of being laid off....

there's value there... show them and remind them that you have more value than some guy off the street...

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.

rab1234

Ability to leave my work at work and learn to enjoy time away from work. Usually this is true and we should do this but I would guess an employeer would like to hear that this is a weakness...