Interview Question

[Kerplunk]

When asked at an interview about your strengths and weaknesses what is a good reply?

Strengths I am more or less ok with, but what do they want to hear when they ask about my weaknesses?

Thanks for any advice.

[andy hughes]

You need to make a 'weakness' actually sound like a strength - something like -

"I tend to want to oversee everything myself, and I am learning how to sharre responsibilities with others in the team ...."

sounds like a negative, but actually, it infers that you work hard, and want everything to be right. Work on things from that angle - should do the trick.

[c00ky83]

I got am email about this the other day.  It said:

"What are your weaknesses? Many graduates are now well prepared for this one and tend to say something like "I'm a hopeless workaholic". The most honest answer might be "That's for me to know and you to find out." But that won't help your chances!

If you can't bear to repeat the "workaholic" line, I'd say something that is true of yourself but also terribly common -- like the fact that you get bored easily, or prefer numbers to people or vice versa. None of these is actually a weakness, but that's O.K."

[JamesEverton]

I used to ask this question when I was doing a lot of interviewing. I hated when people gave a stock answer like 'I work too hard'. It's a rubbish question really but it gave me the opportunity to see if the candidate was capable of being honest and also whether or not they were going to try and treat me like an idiot.

There's obviously no correct answer but if you admit to some minor foible and acknowledge that it's something that you are conscious of and work at then you're probably on the right lines. A bit of humour doesn't hurt either.

[Kerplunk]

Thanks for the tips, had the interview this afternoon.  Interview went really well but the job wasn't for me.  Too used to being out and about.  Not tied to a desk.

[Laurinha]

Did you tell them that was your weakness?

[butterfly76]

I always answer that one with, I can't say no, I don't no why but I have got every job that I have said this in!

[Leekwriter]

I tend to do OK at interviews and have myself interviewed many people. Stay away from (somewhat) trite answers such "I work too hard" and "I'm a perfectionist" and instead, tell them one of your weaknesses (radical I know!). The point is, it's OK to own up to them (infact its good to show you're self aware), so long as you can explain what you have done and are doing to minimise them.

[Kerplunk]

Thanks everyone for your answers. 

Laurinha, in my opinion not wanting to do a certain type of job is not a weakness just a preference.