Advice from anyone who regularly interviews people

[CAG12]

I have a job interview soon. I know im likely to be asked what my biggest weakness is. I feel like its such a terrible question as surely they never get an honest answer. My honest answer would be 'im always looking for a shortcut for things because im lazy' but clearly that doesnt come across well in an interview.

So whats a good answer to this question?

Please don’t say that! Google is your friend :) www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/list-of-example-weaknesses-for-interviewing
Good luck!

You can use a version of that and turn it into a positive. "I get easily frustrated by inefficient or bureaucratic processes that seem to be red tape for the sake of it. I'm trying to deal with this by, firstly, looking for ways to suggest improvements to streamline the process and secondly, by gaining more of an understanding as to why certain procedures are the way they are - for example is there some kind of compliance or governance involved that is beyond my or my team's control to change. An example of when I came up with a process improvement that made things more efficient was...etc"

Well the positive spin on that is that you're very keen to always look for efficiencies to improve service times and reduce resources but in the past this led to you not focusing enough on the finer details. Then give an example and explain how you fixed it and learnt from it.

Ooh Iceberg's is better, use that!

I tend to say that I'm a perfectionist and often quite hard on myself however I use it to my advantage because I'm always open to feedback and looking for ways to improve my practice

The old adage rings true.

‘They best candidate doesn’t necessarily get the job, the best interviewee does’.

Revise and trot out standard answers OP.

I had this in an interview a few years back, said I had a tendency to speak to quickly and it was something I was working on, made a joke out it as I had spoke really quickly through my interview. They all laughed and I got the job.

I interview a lot in my current role. Basically they are looking for someone likeable, keep it light and be yourself.

You can't put all interviewers in the same bag, but I think that usually it's more HOW you come across than what you actually reply. Depends on the role, but someone friendly and confident making fluent conversation usually comes across quite well. Interviewers do know you are talking crap to get the job, just don't make it too obvious.
They are talking crap too, they won't tell you the negative about the company either!

If it's technical, we need the correct answer.
If it's personality, it helps if you can bring it back to the actual role. The obvious one is "my written (insert foreign language) is not that great, working on it."

im always looking for a shortcut for things because im lazy you can't say that, but that's more a positive to me

Always adapt to the role you are going for, and refer to your experience. They want to know if you get on with the team, are reliable and can do the job, that's pretty much it!

It is a dreadful question that I avoid like the plague. Try and avoid saying you can't say no/take on too much as that is the most used answer. At one interview the candidate was miffed that I hadn't asked this question - they said they had planned to answer 'chocolate'

Weakness turned into strength. Avoid saying perfectionist - few people truly are.

It's never about what the weakness is, it's about how you can identify any self-awareness and an ability to overcome these.

Pick one, anyone, explain how it used to impact you and friends/family/colleague, what you've learned and what changes you've implemented using an example.

i don't think this question is currently in vogue so much?

but i'd basically use it as an opportunity to demonstrate your track record of self-improvement, i.e. something you were bad at, now much less so.

I have told potential employers that I'm lazy before (obviously only when I already think the interview is going well). I tell them that I'm lazy but also super competitive so I want to find the easiest, most efficient way to work that will also bring the best rewards and that it also drives me to develop those below me so that they have the skills to share some of the load. I think if it's a fairly relaxed interview it also give you something to make a joke about and show a bit of personality and helps you stand out from the crowd.

I tend to say that I'm a perfectionist and often quite hard on myself

Along with about 90% of other people. It’s a dreadful answer.

It’s not a question I use. I do ask what frustrates people though.

Look for a "desirable but not essential" part of the job description and answer around that. For example the JD may say it is desirable to have knowledge of a certain software programme or piece of legislation and you could say "I've never worked with that, but I've begun investigating it/reading about it and am confident I could quickly put it into practice".

It's a terrible question but I think Iceberg has it about right -- I think what they're looking for with these things is to test your wits and ability to spin yourself out of a difficult situation.

They don't actually want you to state your biggest weakness, they want you to turn it into a positive.

It's bullshit, but its part of the dance. Worth preparing that one a couple of times before you go in.

As someone else pointed out, 90% of it is about testing your confidence and ability to think on the fly. Unless you say something really daft, they won't actually pay much attention to the content of what you say, its more your confidence and clarity.

Not sure what your job is, so hope this isn’t totally irrelevant, but as a a teacher I would answer this question by mentioning something that had been picked up in a lesson observation (e.g. I need to work on my questioning skills, or something) then explain what I’d done to address it. Thus not being self deprecating (because acknowledging another’s view) and turning it into a positive by suggesting it’s been tackled. Also makes you sound reflective and able to take criticism on board. Is there maybe an equivalent of that in your job?

I am sure some people will get this....

" Tell them you're good enough at your job, adequate to the task. But you don’t do it easily. It’s not second nature to you. On a scale of one to ten, if one is the bare minimum of competence, you're about a four. But you used to be a one. But you're getting better. And you're not finished yet. And that’s why they should employ you. That’s why you’d be lucky to employ you because if you’re not naturally good – if you can’t rely on just knowing how to do like some people can, then you have to... well, you have to be a perfectionist, actually – and I am one. And that’s why even when you’ve turned me down, I’m gonna keep on applying – because this is the perfect job, and you won’t settle for a life where you don’t get to do it.

Don’t make it a fake weakness that is basically a positive, this is really annoying. When I ask this I’m looking for some self awareness and what you are doing about it. Such as I can be impatient when people don’t deliver work to the standard I expect: I have worked hard at putting more effort in to explaining exactly what I require upfront so that everyone is on the same page and this doesn’t happen. Because it doesn’t happen as often I am able to come across as more patient and understanding on the occasions it does.

I've been interviewing in the NHS for the past 13 years and I've never asked anyone that question! I'd say the most common question is about working in teams and working alone (advantages/disadvantages of each), and what you prefer.

My biggest weakness is that I want to do well and be well thought of as a team player I always say yes to things even when I'm really busy, but I'm working on saying no and being more realistic about what I can do to the best of my abilities.

As someone who does recruitment a lot: be honest, spin it to be positive. Keep it short and sweet. No perfectionist/take on too much/can’t say no/overthink/ people pleaser as we hear them a lot and they are all fake.
My favourite ones are genuine flaws but not huge ones; tell them how you’ve worked on it. I’ve had people say they struggle to get up early for a night job, talk too much for a customer service job...
be yourself.
Although I’d spin yours into a pro: “I like to work efficiently so i try to find short cuts where possible”

Such a stupid question and stupid answers expected which obviously the interviewer knows are bullshit.

I interview people and we never ask that. Most of the questions are asking for examples (from work/ home/uni) of when they've done X, y, z . Eg how they react when plans go wrong, how they learnt a new skill, etc. The best answers are the ones that give examples rather than just general answers. And we always ask one that requires them to have researched our company. That's one you can prepare for.