What is your biggest weakness? Times two.

[rocksforludo]

I'm prepping for a job interview which got me to thinking....

A)  What is your canned answer to the "What is your biggest weakness" question when asked in an interview setting?

B)   What's the actual answer?

[Renarene]

I hate that question.

Let me think about it.

I'm nervous sweating right now and I'm not even going on an interview.

[rocksforludo]

A) I usually say something about how I dislike having issues remain unresolved for long periods of time and sometimes that can manifest as impatience to others who have more comfort with things being up in the air. Then I talk about how I'm aware of different personalities and blah blah blah.

B) I'm really just impatient AF and have little tolerance for people who do not have their shit together on an ongoing basis. And I have a weakness for buttercream frosting. I will never say no to buttercream frosting.

[Ee]

A) I have a hard time sharing responsibilities because I always want the job to be done well, and I trust myself to do it.

B) I am a control freak and I think most people are freaking morons.

[smilesp]

Desserts.

That's probably not the type of answer you were looking for.

[rocksforludo]

Feb 9, 2016 14:33:17 GMT -5 smilesp said:

Desserts.

That's probably not the type of answer you were looking for.

Ha, it obviously was.

[rocksforludo]

Feb 9, 2016 14:34:00 GMT -5 thirdtimemomma said:

It's been a long time but I think I said I was too detail oriented - but you know that can be a plus in a lot of jobs. So whatever your weakness is - add how it's helpful for that job

So...email them this gif as a follow-up to the interview?

[Deleted]

1) I feel that my greatest weakness is that I am very critical of my own work. I have always prided myself on producing excellent and error-free work. While this is beneficial to my job performance, it is possible to get overwhelmed.

2) I lose interest really fast, I need a fast paced job that keeps me thinking. If it doesn't I end up on TCF.

[Renarene]

Ok in the past I think I've said things along the lines of being a perfectionist so I've learned to trust my skills and focus on what is really important so that I'm not wasting time.

My in real life biggest weakness is lack of self confidence.

I really do not understand why that question is asked. Is it to just have something to easily cross people off the list who don't know how to bullshit fast enough? I mean obviously you aren't going to say, "Oh I have no weaknesses." And you aren't going to say a weakness that would make you unfit for the job, even if you do in fact have that weakness. I just feel so phony when I'm answering it.

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2016 14:33:08 GMT -5 rocksforludo said:

A) I usually say something about how I dislike having issues remain unresolved for long periods of time and sometimes that can manifest as impatience to others who have more comfort with things being up in the air. Then I talk about how I'm aware of different personalities and blah blah blah.

B) I'm really just impatient AF and have little tolerance for people who do not have their shit together on an ongoing basis. And I have a weakness for buttercream frosting. I will never say no to buttercream frosting.

This is a great answer. 

Another thing to think about that we ask often instead of what is your weakness- which areas in your field would you like to grow in? 

[robotpcr]

I always say I tend to be extremely focused and sometimes people don't see me as approachable.

The truth is that I will side eye most of my coworkers eventually and good for them to not expect me to want to be BFFs from day 1.

[rocksforludo]

Feb 9, 2016 14:39:55 GMT -5 Renarene said:

Ok in the past I think I've said things along the lines of being a perfectionist so I've learned to trust my skills and focus on what is really important so that I'm not wasting time.

My in real life biggest weakness is lack of self confidence.

I really do not understand why that question is asked. Is it to just have something to easily cross people off the list who don't know how to bullshit fast enough? I mean obviously you aren't going to say, "Oh I have no weaknesses." And you aren't going to say a weakness that would make you unfit for the job, even if you do in fact have that weakness. I just feel so phony when I'm answering it.

I'm pretty confident in myself but I really hate bullshit and jumping through hoops just for the sake of jumping through hoops.  So I feel you on that.

[sarahchrismck]

I am very self-critical and tend to focus on things that go wrong during a lesson. That's the answer I give in an interview and it's actually true.

Weaknessthat I wouldn't say in an interview (but will admit here): My classroom gets disorganized

[rocksforludo]

Feb 9, 2016 14:38:06 GMT -5 @meggriffin said:

1) I feel that my greatest weakness is that I am very critical of my own work. I have always prided myself on producing excellent and error-free work. While this is beneficial to my job performance, it is possible to get overwhelmed.

2) I lose interest really fast, I need a fast paced job that keeps me thinking. If it doesn't I end up on TCF.

I also have motivation issues if I'm bored or if I feel like my work isn't being used. 

The latter is currently the case for me.  I can bust my ass with planning and then the higher-up's ignore the entire agenda and have the same circular conversation in almost every meeting for a year.  So why continue to herd cats if they don't want to be herded?

[rocksforludo]

Feb 9, 2016 14:50:47 GMT -5 sarahchrismck said:

I am very self-critical and tend to focus on things that go wrong during a lesson. That's the answer I give in an interview and it's actually true.

Weaknessthat I wouldn't say in an interview (but will admit here): My classroom gets disorganized

I can barely pick up after two kids.

[willadiesel814]

1. I am a perfectionist. So there are times that I don't feel 100% confident in other's abilities. I want to make sure that things are done to the best of my ability always.

2. I am a huge procrastinator and have a hard time keeping myself on task. Until the last minute.

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2016 14:51:52 GMT -5 rocksforludo said:

Feb 9, 2016 14:38:06 GMT -5 @meggriffin said:

1) I feel that my greatest weakness is that I am very critical of my own work. I have always prided myself on producing excellent and error-free work. While this is beneficial to my job performance, it is possible to get overwhelmed.

2) I lose interest really fast, I need a fast paced job that keeps me thinking. If it doesn't I end up on TCF.

I also have motivation issues if I'm bored or if I feel like my work isn't being used. 

The latter is currently the case for me.  I can bust my ass with planning and then the higher-up's ignore the entire agenda and have the same circular conversation in almost every meeting for a year.  So why continue to herd cats if they don't want to be herded?

Lately my work has become very repetitive. I get assigned "special" projects for my boss and this last one has lasted about 3 months (so far) of doing the same bullshit over and over. 

[Renarene]

Feb 9, 2016 14:51:52 GMT -5 rocksforludo said:

Feb 9, 2016 14:38:06 GMT -5 @meggriffin said:

1) I feel that my greatest weakness is that I am very critical of my own work. I have always prided myself on producing excellent and error-free work. While this is beneficial to my job performance, it is possible to get overwhelmed.

2) I lose interest really fast, I need a fast paced job that keeps me thinking. If it doesn't I end up on TCF.

I also have motivation issues if I'm bored or if I feel like my work isn't being used. 

The latter is currently the case for me.  I can bust my ass with planning and then the higher-up's ignore the entire agenda and have the same circular conversation in almost every meeting for a year.  So why continue to herd cats if they don't want to be herded?

I'm sorry, I had to.

[Deleted]

Along the lines of Ee, I always said that I prefer to work alone but strived to work as a team. Probably not what they want to hear.

While that's true, in my boring job I had right out of college I often worked too quickly and made errors that way. When I freelance (which I actually enjoy) that doesn't happen!

[sarahchrismck]

Feb 9, 2016 14:52:44 GMT -5 rocksforludo said:

Feb 9, 2016 14:50:47 GMT -5 sarahchrismck said:

I am very self-critical and tend to focus on things that go wrong during a lesson. That's the answer I give in an interview and it's actually true.

Weaknessthat I wouldn't say in an interview (but will admit here): My classroom gets disorganized

I can barely pick up after two kids.

Gets hard with 25+ adolescents in the same room. And kids like to throw stuff behind my back. Little shits.

[bethypoo83]

A) I have difficulty saying no to people when they request my help on a project. I like to be a team player and enjoy working on varied tasks but this can detract from the time I have to complete my own responsibilities. However, I also ensure my duties are prioritized and completed on time. (This answer is sort of true - people ask me for help A LOT because I am really efficient and decisive).

B) Very low bullshit tolerance as well as general disdain for people who like to play office politics.

[elephantastic]

My biggest weakness is trying to do too much myself. I have a very hard time delegating work. I mean- I'm a nurse practitioner but I was a bartender, then a CNA, then an RN. So I have trouble having my nurse do the things she should be doing which saves me time. I do not have time to do all of my own referrals, call people back with lab results but I do it anyway.

[mlbrooks]

A) I usually say that because I'm a petite person and soft spoken that I'm often over looked or not taken as seriously as I would if I would speak up and out more.

B) my real weakness is: I sometimes get ahead of myself by thinking too fast / too much multi tasking

[mlbrooks]

Oh also I don't chit chat. Like if you are talking to me about work stuff just get to the point. I don't want the elaborate version. I'm a very matter of fact type person.

Another weakness: I may tell people that Google is your friend more often than I should. I am not Google.

[corrys12]

A) I find it difficult to deligate sometimes because I like to push myself. However this can tend to make me feel stretched too thin.

B) Truth is some people are idiots and I can usually do things more efficiently and with little to no errors.

[Deleted]

Feb 9, 2016 16:12:34 GMT -5 mlbrooks said:

Oh also I don't chit chat. Like if you are talking to me about work stuff just get to the point. I don't want the elaborate version. I'm a very matter of fact type person.

Another weakness: I may tell people that Google is your friend more often than I should. I am not Google.

I tell everyone to GTS- Google that shit

[cosmicav]

To that question, I usually say that I am a little bit disorganized... but that I can always find everything I need and it's "organized chaos" and usually they think that is moderately funny and we have a bonding laugh moment :B

+1 to also being perfectionist. Maybe you can say that your biggest weakness is that you are too perfect, then do a hair flip.

[Cornflakegirl]

I haven't been in an interview in a real long time but I do a lot of interviewing myself. I think there are so many ways to answer this question, and I like to look at it as "opportunities" instead of "weaknesses", but if I were to ask this question I'm more interested in the how you're working towards improving that versus on the actual opportunity itself. For example, my opportunity is communication, as in dialogue that involves a difficult conversation. So I would mention how confrontation is an opportunity for me, but here's what I have been doing in order to work on that, and how it has helped me.

[cosmicav]

My biggest work-related weakness (that I would not mention in interviews) is that I am just socially awkward. SIGH. I laugh when I'm nervous and I make stupid jokes and I can't help it, I am just awkward AF sometimes. Alas.

[cbrandt1]

A) My sense of humor. I'm not easily offended, but not everyone gets my humor.

B) I'm lazy