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Hey guys, whenever you talk about your weakness in interview, what would be the best thing to say? Weak on multitasking, for example, would be a sample answer?

Comments
  • 14
    My biggest weakness is that I am poor and I need your support to overcome it.
  • 1
  • 2
    Say something that you can turn into your strength. For example I usually have strong opinions and I'm vocal about them, but at the same time I'm always open for discussion and if I'm wrong, I'd like to know that and change my mind. This basically leads to spontaneous brainstorming sessions and making good decisions that everyone is most satisfied with.
  • 7
    I usually use this format:

    “What I’ve been working on strengthening this year is my ability to _____” (multitask, accept criticism, accurately gauge my performance, etc)

    This shows
    1. Ongoing effort to better myself (“my focus for THIS YEAR is..”.)
    2. I don’t just accept I have weaknesses, I identify them and I work on strengthening them
    3. I’ve given genuine thought to the question, instead of just giving a pat answer
    4. A level of honesty that I always feel brings me closer to the interviewer. I do well in interviews because I create a genuine connection with the person/people at the other end of the desk, they generally like me because of that and remember me well, and often even if I don’t get the job I will be offered something else (rec for another job, etc)
  • 3
    Also after I say that, I will give an example of how this weakness affects me, and some things I do to change it/get better.

    “Often when I have to multitask, I get so frazzled I end up messing up all the tasks instead of just doing one thing well. I’ve been practicing at home in a safe environment to minimize my panic, and it’s been going well.”
  • 2
    I automatically start to question whether any company that asks me that question or any of the slew of corporatese BS questions if that company is a place I really want to be.
  • 6
    They don't care what your weaknesses are, and they're not going to be impressed if you can bullshit a weakness into a strength. They're asking the question to see if you'll tell the truth, even if it doesn't make you look good, because they value honesty and integrity more than probably any of the listed requirements for the position. The correct response in that case is to answer honestly, and let yourself be vulnerable.
  • 2
    Yes, what @filvia-sederici said is right, is not only to be honest and show you recognize your weaknesses, but to show that you actually work on them to improve yourself.
  • 0
    Knowing my human limits fairly enough, what's my weakness then?
  • 0
    If they ask you that say “really? you’re still asking that pointless fucking question?, only a complete twat would ask that, fuck off bitches, i’m outa here”.
  • 2
    What @bahua said is the one and only reason I ask this question in the interviews. This way I can assess how honest candidates are - not just to me, but to themselves. Most of the weaknesses, once recognized by the individual, can be resolved through guidance and proper leadership, which I consider as my role as their lead.

    For me it is also important to compare their strength with the weakness as it gives me a sense of self awareness.
  • 2
    I was asked this BS question once and I couldn't come up with anything at the time. I was a student and the position was about learning.

    The only correct answer to the question is to not answer it but rather explain why the question is wrong. And that can be done like @filvia-sederici already did.
  • 1
    I always say that mine is sometimes I can't see the forest because of all the trees.

    I tend to hyper-focus on a specific solution to a problem and have a hard time accepting or seeing that it's wrong.

    I never leave things unfixed, but sometimes I get real set in fixing it a certain way.
  • 0
    It's an awful question. The BS around "make it into a strength" is so cliche and the interviewer has heard your answer before. Tell them what you actually struggle with and how you compensate for it.
  • 1
    @filvia-sederici I can't agreed your comments more, cuz I believe this is what they value. Thank you for being genuine. It's always good to be genuinely connected to not only the interviewers but also the ppl I wanna talk with.
  • 0
    @bahua Cool, previously I don't even know what they want or what kinda candidates they are exactly they are looking for, what you comment helps me understand the nature of this question. And pretty much explain why some candidates only got behavioural questions without tech questions even if they applied for developer roles.
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