What is a good interview answer for weaknesses?

[NewJeffCT]

I'm asking on behalf of my wife, actually. As a follow-up to a phone interview she had at a good company in the Hartford area, the VP she spoke with asked her for 1) a 3-5 page PowerPoint presentation showing a major issue facing this company in the future (it's a huge global manufacturing company...)

But, they also wanted a 1 page summary of her strengths & weaknesses. I know what I normally say in this situation, but my wife is a different worker than me.

What are some things she should avoid listing in her weaknesses?

I know one thing she is not confident on is her written English, as English is not her native language. But, I'm pretty sure she should not say that, even though this company seems very diverse (before speaking with the VP, she spoke with his assistant - born in Japan - and his secretary - born in Italy)

[_TJ_]

1. Anytime I am asked that..

I say I have no weaknesses. What're they gonna do - not hire ya for
being too confident? Last person who said that to me I hired so I
say fuck 'em if they don't like it.

[sportndandy]

2. Reframe the debate!

Don't admit to weaknesses. Describe yourself as a person who identifies areas in which you desire improvement, and then who takes steps to do so. Then list some examples of a weakness you used to have, but you identified it and improved on it.

[NewJeffCT]

3. that might work in a live interview

But, if it has to be written down... it's another story.

[flvegan]

4. Kryptonite.

Sorry, I know, not very helpful.

I've never used the word "weakness" on an interview response. I suggest my strongest points and then suggest that I don't have any weaknesses, per se, but that I think there's always room for improvement in every aspect of my professional functions.

[intheflow]

5. I'd admit her weakness(es).

If they hire her, they'll find out anyway, sooner or later. I think the point of this question is not so much to discover her actual weaknesses, but to discover her character. People with good self-esteem and firm character can admit to their weaknesses but not be paralyzed by them.

Think about during the debates, when Bush couldn't admit he had ever made any mistakes. Everyone I know thought that was a great weakness, not being able to admit he had any weakness. Of course, this company might want perfect people, might have thought Bush was a pillar of strength by not admitting any flaws. If that's what this company (and thus this question) is about, your wife probably doesn't want to work there anyway.

[NewJeffCT]

6. I don't think it's that type of place

I do not think it is that type of company. When asking for the PowerPoint presentation, he said they wanted to get an idea of my wife¡¯s analytical abilities and it did not matter if she was right or wrong in her answer.

[jswordy]

17. But it does matter...it has to matter.

I would try a couple nonoffensive and disarming ones as intros, like a weakness for chocolates. Then I would maybe work in one with a minor theme, like a weakness for working too hard on being sure a job is done correctly and that all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed. That is kind of a backhanded compliment to herself, but she can say something like, "I have had bosses tell me, 'That's is good enough, it exceeds my standards,' even though I knew it may have been even better with more work. It pleases me when I exceed the standards of management."

It does matter what she lists for weaknesses. BELIEVE ME it does!

[skygazer]

7. Whenever I'm asked this question

I say that I sometimes have difficulty delegating because I want to ensure the job is done correctly. Or I say that I am sometimes too focused. Or that I sometimes bring my work home with me. That sort of thing.

Personally, I always try to frame the 'weakness' question in such a way that it actually seems like a strength. In this way, I am admitting to a weakness but it's still something that can prove positive in the job.

[RagingInMiami]

8. I would say

"that's easy. My weaknesses are job interviews. I perform much better once I get hired."

[intheflow]

9. This is the best answer I have ever heard to this question!

Right on, RIM! :thumbsup:

[Ron Green]

11. That's a good answer, but in general you want to state something that

you're pretty good at, but need some improvement, and then talk mostly about what you're doing to improve it and how that will help the organization.

Don't ever say you have no weaknesses, 'cause that shows you're not self-aware.

Don't give a flippant answer (which "That's easy. Job interviews." comes close to being, if the tone of voice is wrong.)

The main thing is to smoothly turn the question into a statement of what you can do for the company.

[RagingInMiami]

14. Yes, but I would say it in a funny tone, to ease the tension in the room

And then I would get serious and say, "you know, I really can't think of any weaknesses that stand out."

EDIT: I would want to show that I have a sense of humor, which is important because I'm going to be spending 40 hours a week there.

[Redstone]

10. She should day her only weaknesses are

that she works too hard and cares too much about the company she works for.

Redstone

[Worst Username Ever]

12. The answer lies HERE.

http://www.fortune.com/fortune/annie/0,15704,645064,00.html?cnn=yes


but you'll have to sign in. Very good article.

[NewJeffCT]

16. any quickies that you can post?

I would have to subscribe, it looks like. But, Fortune is an interesting magazine.

[Heidi]

13. "I sometimes tend to work too much and too long . . .

at the expense of my family simply because I so love my work."

[Magrittes Pipe]

15. I always tell the interviewer "I'm too sexy for my pants."

And then I remove my pants.

It's tough finding work in today's job market.

[jswordy]

18. Uh...try the porn industry! LOL

[Magrittes Pipe]

19. Nah. They're all about profit, profit, profit.

It used to be about the PORNOGRAPHY, dammit.

You don't know what you've got till it's gone.... :(