The time of the job interview is always tense, but you can alleviate some of that feeling if you know what to encounter. There are questions that recruiters usually always do.
When the question is "What are your weaknesses?", what is your opinion about what they want to know and how best to structure your answer? Saving Changes...
Product Operations Program ManagerBarcelona, Cataluña, Spain
A lot of information can be found on the internet about this topic. What it has worked for me is to take into consideration:
1. Do not shoot yourself on the foot by providing a true answer. Provide weaknesses, yes, but not too weak. What it does not work is to say something like "I work too much", "I am too responsible" or stuff like that. Recruiters know this trick, so it is pointless to use it
2. Provide an example of how you turned the weakness into a strength. I.e. I was very shy, but after attending a certain course, now I even enjoy presenting events with +500 people
3. However you face the answer, always end it up with a positive note
Hope you find it helpful! Cheers Saving Changes...
Try to be objective about weaknesses - quantify - on a scale, how many occurence etc - explain why you think its a weakness - describe how you plan to overcome it. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
My weaknesses could be tried to answer questions with have no sense like this.If you need to understand why it has no sense I could talk about dialectics and logic if you have time which are critical knowledge to be successful in project management process like project stakeholder management. Saving Changes...
Julio MatanaProject Manager| Project ManagerRio De Janeiro, Brazil
Sergio, I understand your feeling. It turns out that this is one of 5 questions that I hear most from recruiters. I've put them in order:
1 - What are your strengths?
2 - What are your weaknesses?
3 - Why you want to work in this company?
4 - What are your salary requirements?
5 - How do you imagine yourself in 5 or 10 years? Saving Changes...
In this question the recruiter will check if you can do a self-assessment and also if your points to be developed are compatible with the opportunity in question.
Who wants to earn points at this time should avoid standard responses - "I am very anxious" or "I'm a perfectionist," for example - and point out real characteristics. Ideally the candidate cite a defect, for example, and show how has been working to improve it. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
What I stated above is the way I will ask the question. Is not my feeling, is what I did from years including when I was young. And is about what I´d like to hear from people I try to hire if I use this type of questions to see how they react. There is two ways to face with this type of things: proactive or reactive. Is not about your recruiters demands. Is about you demonstrate to your recruiters. But it is up to everyone. Thanks God I am working inside a company that do not evaluate people performing this type of methods or questions. At least as far I know. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
As Tansfeo stated above you can prepare the questions recruiters are searching for and you will pass the "exam". But then you have to ask yourself if this is the right place to work. It is a matter of strategy, no more than that. As any other things in your life you have to prepare the meeting planning your strategy and your tactics including the way you will be dressing this day, the body language you will use, the language you will use, knowing about the person and the company you are applying for, etc, etc. If that is you case then you will find a lot inside the internet including youtube. Saving Changes...
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
And sorry I am here again, but when in my previous statement I said that I can explain why the question has no sense from dialectics and logic I can do that. And understand this type of things is critical to perform project stakeholder management activities. Saving Changes...
Of all the questions I've encountered in job interviews, this is the one that I am always fumbling with. After reading the answers here, I have FINALLY figured out how to answer it. It all seems so obvious. I want to be honest but as some point out, not TOO honest. Ok, so I know my weakness, now I have to figure out a way to make it into a strength. Not so easy but I'm determined. Thanks for all the comments. Saving Changes...
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