Interview questions help

[karter]

Good one from Queen of Dulwich.

Strawbs, just don't be telling them that your biggest weakness is posting daytime on the edf, you know what will happen.

[Mick Mac]

When interviewing at a higher level that you have worked at previously, and once you have successfully negotiated the technical questions relevent to the role, I have realised recently that questions of this nature are about you demonstrating your communication skills rather than there being a right or wrong answer to these type of questions.

Obviously the question is designed to put you under some pressure - the immediate weakness that comes to mind might be one that you don't want to mention so perhaps think of a weakness not directly connected to the role and describe it in an interesting way, perhaps by reference to a work environment, referring to something in the past that had only very minor repercussions, hence making it more plausible.

[Cassius]

I always thought I'd love to say that my weakness was the fact that I married for love not for money otherwise I wouldn't need to be at this interview.

[Jeremy]

It's a ridiculous question, because with 9 our of 10 candidates, you will just get a stock answer ("I concentrate too much on the details", "I agree to take on too much work") etc, etc, which they've just read on some website. It tells you absolutely nothing about the person at all.

[will dex]

Strawbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> ha ha TM no its for an Executive Assistant role..

>

> the below would best describe me in a tactful

> way.. Especially the 2nd one.. I also dont want

> to really draw on a weakness as then that just

> highlights why they shouldnt employ you!

>

> Passionate about what you do (can make you

> impatient)

> Impatient (with others if they don't work to the

> same level/speed/quality as you)

> Involved - sometimes take work home and need to

> give it a rest as you know that work life balance

> is important for your sanity!

- Do NOT say impatient. - the last winner of the apprentice said this in their final interview and everyone in HR remembers it. i tried it last year and got a very funny look...

try weakness is being disappointment/frustration when other people dont display the same enthusiasm for the job you do. But only say something you actually mean or u will be transparent, in my opinion. innit.

[woofmarkthedog]

I always say "birds & booze"....can't keep off 'em.....fancy a pint.....'an your missus...cor... she's a bit of alwright.........

( even if you don't use this line though....keep it in your head at the interview)

funny... never been asked back though......but honesty counts above all else, unless you are applying to be a banker, antique dealer or a traffic warden, estate agents......you know "Liars" jobs

Good luck

W**F

[Moos]

Or think about it and tell them something that you really do think is a weakness - but follow it up with how you deal with it, and turn it around. If you're talking to someone intelligent, that is. No-one's perfect but a bit of honesty with some thought behind will make you stand out. If you're talking to a muppet, however, go with the perfectionist line...

[Sue]

Strawbs Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I need to think of an answer to 'what is your

> biggest weakness'? It was brought up at an

> interview yesterday and I didn?t have an answer

> and she said if I get an interview for the role

> she is putting me forward for then I MUST have an

> answer if they ask me,

xxxxx

You have to say something which you put forward to them as a weakness, and which could be described as a weakness maybe, but which could also be interpreted as a strength.

So for example "Well, I tend to have high expectations of myself and other people, so I can get a bit annoyed with someone who doesn't meet deadlines even when they've been reminded."

That's not a very good example, and you'd have to tailor it to yourself, but you see the principle. I've used it in the past and got the job :))

[Carrie]

As someone who has interviewed a lot of people I would say at least half will list about 3 or 4 strengths and only 1 weakness - try to come up with at least 2 - (and we get heartily bored of the I'm too much of a perfectionist" line - it is the one everyone uses!)

[????]

Don't you ever get bored of asking such a predictable, standard useless question?

[????]

I'm not being that snotty Carrie but I do quite a lot of interviewing and I'd never ask such a crap question..it's not n indication of anything....I throw in something like "If you had to pick one Newspaper to sum up england to someone from another planet which would it be and why?"

[????]

...still most jobs require process monkeys so they're not really looking for any intellectual or analytical ability just that someones *puts on robot voice* Has gone through process of working out what questions they might get and created stock answer...

*Removes HAL's plug*

[SteveT]

My greatest weakness is to use my initiative to solve unexpected problems, thus preventing them from growing and getting out of hand, which tends to look as if I have unnecessarily rushed things.

For example in my last job they ran out of computer paper, so in my lunch hour I purchased a box from the local store to tide us over although it was 20 percent dearer than the usual supplier. I should have waited, and asked my boss when he came back from his meeting, the following day.

You might point out the store was three miles away there was two feet of snow and you were bare foot at the time.

[Major Algy Wymondham]

WTF?

Now, where's Miss Blooming Marple when you need her him, eh?

Tks & bst rgds.

Algy

(Oh ys, kp pstg.)

[hamburg113]

Hi,

Good ideal, pls try to keep posting. I like this topic very much and I will digged this one. Tks again.

[mrcee]

Just answer "gang activity"