Comments on: Interviewing: What’s Your Weakness? http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/ Encouraging, enlightening and empowering job seekers for success! Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:03:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: jasmine http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-8203 jasmine Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:58:39 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-8203 whats a good weakness for an administrative position? whats a good weakness for an administrative position?

]]> By: Miriam Salpeter http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-6384 Miriam Salpeter Thu, 09 Apr 2009 21:13:14 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-6384 Aman, Well, that all depends on the job! Fact is, many do have public speaking as a weakness. Did you mention that you are working to improve? I'm happy to offer a coaching session if you're interested. Just email me at miriam@keppiecareers.com for more info! Best, Miriam Aman,
Well, that all depends on the job! Fact is, many do have public speaking as a weakness. Did you mention that you are working to improve? I’m happy to offer a coaching session if you’re interested. Just email me at miriam@keppiecareers.com for more info!

Best,
Miriam

]]> By: Aman http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-6381 Aman Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:54:11 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-6381 Hello Miriam, I recently had an interview where I had told them my weakness was public speaking. And today looking at your website, I wonder how many people would be using this weakness. Do you have any other suggestions regarding potential weaknesses not related to the actual job? Thanks Hello Miriam,

I recently had an interview where I had told them my weakness was public speaking. And today looking at your website, I wonder how many people would be using this weakness. Do you have any other suggestions regarding potential weaknesses not related to the actual job?

Thanks

]]> By: Miriam Salpeter http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-5634 Miriam Salpeter Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:27:31 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-5634 J - If I were interviewing you, I would ask, "Why is wanting to contribute and be productive a weakness?" Your response does not really answer the question. Again, think of an actual weakness that is something you are working to improve but does not have anything to do with the job at hand. Good luck! J – If I were interviewing you, I would ask, “Why is wanting to contribute and be productive a weakness?” Your response does not really answer the question. Again, think of an actual weakness that is something you are working to improve but does not have anything to do with the job at hand. Good luck!

]]> By: J http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-5632 J Fri, 03 Apr 2009 04:09:20 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-5632 I gave this response to an interviewer recently: I like to keep busy at work. I feel bad during down times. Because I feel like I am not contributing or being productive. So I have made this a habit of mine to ask my manager and colleagues if they need help with anything. Would you please be kind enough to comment/critique on the above answer. Thanks. I gave this response to an interviewer recently:
I like to keep busy at work. I feel bad during down times. Because I feel like I am not contributing or being productive. So I have made this a habit of mine to ask my manager and colleagues if they need help with anything.

Would you please be kind enough to comment/critique on the above answer.
Thanks.

]]> By: Miriam Salpeter http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-1642 Miriam Salpeter Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:03:41 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-1642 Bryan - If you are asked about a weakness, answering with a strength is not actually answering the question. When you don't answer the question, you irritate your interviewer. I would NOT suggest the example you indicate above. The question doesn't ask you to suggest weaknesses from other people - it asks you to name YOUR weakness! In general, making sure to answer the actual question is key for interviewing success. As I mention in this post, do not make an effort to suggest a strength as a weakness, because you may be asked to explain why that "strength" is a weakness. The "chocolate" answer is really more for a tongue-in-cheek reply. Forgetting to eat lunch really isn't "cute" or funny at all. "Nice shoes' doesn't really hit a good chord with me...Your best bet, in my opinion, is to reply as the post suggests. Good luck! Bryan – If you are asked about a weakness, answering with a strength is not actually answering the question. When you don’t answer the question, you irritate your interviewer. I would NOT suggest the example you indicate above. The question doesn’t ask you to suggest weaknesses from other people – it asks you to name YOUR weakness!

In general, making sure to answer the actual question is key for interviewing success.

As I mention in this post, do not make an effort to suggest a strength as a weakness, because you may be asked to explain why that “strength” is a weakness.

The “chocolate” answer is really more for a tongue-in-cheek reply. Forgetting to eat lunch really isn’t “cute” or funny at all. “Nice shoes’ doesn’t really hit a good chord with me…Your best bet, in my opinion, is to reply as the post suggests.

Good luck!

]]> By: Bryan http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-1641 Bryan Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:54:04 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-1641 Thank you for your response. Actually, I am suggesting that my strength is knowing how much technical information to share with non-technical people. Alt. Ex. "A common weakness in others is being too technical with non-technical people. My strength is knowing how to clearing and effectively communicate with non-technical people. (Is this example more clear?) I am attempting to transition the question of "What is your weakness?" into a "What is your strength?" As an alternative to the "chocolate" example, would the following be acceptable/suggestable? Ex. "My weakness is forgetting to eat lunch?" Ex. "My weakness is nice shoes." Regards. Thank you for your response.

Actually, I am suggesting that my strength is knowing how much technical information to share with non-technical people.

Alt. Ex. “A common weakness in others is being too technical with non-technical people. My strength is knowing how to clearing and effectively communicate with non-technical people.
(Is this example more clear?)

I am attempting to transition the question of “What is your weakness?” into a “What is your strength?”

As an alternative to the “chocolate” example, would the following be acceptable/suggestable?

Ex. “My weakness is forgetting to eat lunch?”
Ex. “My weakness is nice shoes.”

Regards.

]]> By: Miriam Salpeter http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-1640 Miriam Salpeter Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:11:12 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-1640 Bryan, So what exactly is the weakness you are sharing here? If you are suggesting that your weakness is not knowing how much technical information to share (which is probably an important aspect of the job), I would be concerned about hiring you. I'd suggest focusing on something unrelated to the job as the safest bet! Thanks for commenting. I'm happy to help with a mock interview if you are interested! Good luck! Bryan,
So what exactly is the weakness you are sharing here? If you are suggesting that your weakness is not knowing how much technical information to share (which is probably an important aspect of the job), I would be concerned about hiring you.

I’d suggest focusing on something unrelated to the job as the safest bet!
Thanks for commenting. I’m happy to help with a mock interview if you are interested!

Good luck!

]]> By: Bryan http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-1639 Bryan Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:38:41 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-1639 Miriam, your ideas are very insightful. I believe that being direct and honest with this questions speaks to my integrity when being interviewed. An unrelated weakness to the job function would be a red flag to me as an interviewer. May I suggest that recognizing that a person's weakness can be segwayed into the person's strength? Ex. "My weakness is related to my strength. My strength is that I am very technical. When helping others with technical issues, knowing how much information to share is an important skill and strength that I have." I will appreciate your feedback on my response strategy by helping me better understand how your process works when answering these kinds of questions. Miriam, your ideas are very insightful.

I believe that being direct and honest with this questions speaks to my integrity when being interviewed. An unrelated weakness to the job function would be a red flag to me as an interviewer. May I suggest that recognizing that a person’s weakness can be segwayed into the person’s strength?

Ex. “My weakness is related to my strength. My strength is that I am very technical. When helping others with technical issues, knowing how much information to share is an important skill and strength that I have.”

I will appreciate your feedback on my response strategy by helping me better understand how your process works when answering these kinds of questions.

]]> By: Miriam Salpeter http://www.keppiecareers.com/2008/05/12/interviewing-whats-your-weakness/comment-page-1/#comment-660 Miriam Salpeter Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:51:26 +0000 http://keppiecareers.wordpress.com/?p=219#comment-660 Candice - I think you can turn that weakness into a strength in the interview...Talk about how you have high standards and are trying to be patient with yourself. But, be aware that you may get the dreaded, "Why is that a weakness?" response, and you don't want to give too many details! Samaira - Thanks for your kind comment! Candice – I think you can turn that weakness into a strength in the interview…Talk about how you have high standards and are trying to be patient with yourself. But, be aware that you may get the dreaded, “Why is that a weakness?” response, and you don’t want to give too many details!

Samaira – Thanks for your kind comment!

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