4 ms·

Here's the secret to answering "What is your biggest weakness?" I've used it several times with great success. Are you ready for it? . . . Tell the intervie

by cfinke 15y ago

Here's the secret to answering "What is your biggest weakness?" I've used it several times with great success. Are you ready for it? . . . Tell the interviewer what your biggest weakness is. Be honest with yourself, and then be honest with them. I don't mean that you should blurt out, "I stay up all night watching Gossip Girl reruns," (unless that affects your productivity at work in a non-trivial way), but do an honest assessment of yourself, decide what your biggest work-related weakness is, and tell them. If you end up working with them, they're going to find out what it is anyway, and if they're aware that you're aware of it, they can help you overcome it. If you just grin and say something like "I work too hard" or "I'm too much of a perfectionist," you've only succeeded in wasting yourthe interviewer's (and your) time.

simonbrown 15y ago
On the other hand, it's not exactly fair or useful for an employer to use such a question. As far as the candidate is concerned, the employer may actually be looking for a bullshit answer.
true_religion 15y ago
Working too hard is a big deal. It leads to burn out. Being too much of perfectionist means that you can't deal with it when others just want to slap a bandaid on issues to get the job done for now. Sure you might put a shysters grin on it, as if you're really revealing a positive trait but the reality is much different I think.
MattRogish 15y ago
+1 I think it's also important to follow up with how you've been improving it over the last few months. "I sometimes do #{bad_thing}" is a good start, but I want to know what you're doing to work on it. If it truly is your "biggest weakness" and you're doing nothing to overcome it, nohire.
ranit8 15y ago
What if he thinks honest people are dangerous? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3581662 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3581662

by cfinke 15y ago

simonbrown 15y ago

On the other hand, it's not exactly fair or useful for an employer to use such a question. As far as the candidate is concerned, the employer may actually be looking for a bullshit answer.

true_religion 15y ago

Working too hard is a big deal. It leads to burn out. Being too much of perfectionist means that you can't deal with it when others just want to slap a bandaid on issues to get the job done for now. Sure you might put a shysters grin on it, as if you're really revealing a positive trait but the reality is much different I think.

MattRogish 15y ago

+1 I think it's also important to follow up with how you've been improving it over the last few months. "I sometimes do #{bad_thing}" is a good start, but I want to know what you're doing to work on it. If it truly is your "biggest weakness" and you're doing nothing to overcome it, nohire.

ranit8 15y ago

What if he thinks honest people are dangerous? http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3581662 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3581662