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What is a good answer to......

11 replies

chapsmum · 22/04/2006 14:39

What are your weaknesses?
In an interview?

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edam · 22/04/2006 14:43

Depends on the job. Traditional clever-dick answer is to say you are a perfectionist but that doesn't impress anyone it's such a cliche. I'd give a real weakness (but not one that would be a disaster) and talk about how you overcome it. Eg I'm better at working towards a goal rather than finishing things off - so I set myself artificial deadlines to make sure I get things completed on time. Just as an idea.

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chapsmum · 22/04/2006 16:07

thanks edam. its a promoted nursing post, am really nervous!!!!

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Miaou · 22/04/2006 16:27

ooooh good luck chapsmum!

You could say something like, I sometimes find it difficult to switch off after a shift (shows you care), I talk too fast when I am nervous (if you do, lol).

Obviously not "I have a problem with timekeeping" or "if things get too stressful I tend to call in sick" - real answers I assure you!

Hope the bucket and you are not so well acquainted today

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chapsmum · 22/04/2006 16:33

Hi ya! I have fallen out with the bucket in favour of the toilet!

I type to fast and cant spell when excited or drunk does that count!!!lol

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kleggie · 22/04/2006 18:58

It's always good if you can put a positive spin on your weakness, something like:

"My main weakness is my attention to detail. I can get very caught up with ensuring that everything is just so and can sometimes end up taking work home with me etc etc, but otoh, I think this is also one of my greatest strengths. I always ensure that I have done my very best."

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chapsmum · 22/04/2006 20:15

faboulous kleggie, am writting that one down!

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ShowOfHands · 23/04/2006 14:41

Chapsmum, how are you feeling today?

It's Kleggie with a name change btw! I used that line just recently in a job interview and they phoned up a couple of hours later and offered it to me. They said it was the best interview they had seen in ages. Weird, because it was the first non-competency based one I had ever had. The questions were quite open-ended, things like 'if your friends described you, what would they say?'. Odd!

DH has an interview for a job in Scotland next week, bad timing as I've just got a new job in England!!

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chapsmum · 23/04/2006 16:53

Well done on the new job kleggie, poor you about dp, I stay north of the border, so if yu move give us a shout...
Am really nervous, should be swatting up now, thanks for asking!

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ShowOfHands · 23/04/2006 17:35

Best of luck with it! A bit nervous is a good thing I believe, shows you care and keeps the adrenalin going.

I will most definitely give you a shout if DH gets the job. It's our dream to move to Scotland, seems a bit too good to be true iykwim?

Anyway, keep swotting...

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FairyMum · 23/04/2006 17:48

I don't think there are any good answers. I think it's a stupid question and a lazy question. I interview people all the time, and would never ask the question this way. A good interviewer get these things out of people by indirect questioning IMO.
Anyway, if asked you need to a find a weakness which would not be a weakness in the job you are going for.