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Boondocksaint375
Guest
I just know that this question will come up as it always does, and I always just bullshit my way around it.
"What are your greatest weaknesses?"
"What are your greatest weaknesses?"
K
Kurt V
Guest
It's a bullshit question that they got from some interview manual. It is designed to weed out people. If you admit to a weakness you end up on the no recall list. Try to just work your way around it.
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Boondocksaint375
Guest
Good to know, that's what I've been doing all along lol I typically give bs answers like " I work too hard" or "I get too involved with my work." lol
LibraryLady
Verified Military
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2006
- Messages
- 5,072
That's easy. You can't NOT say you have any, that's arrogant, so you take something that's a negative and also show the positive, like "I'm so detailed oriented, I've had to learn to give myself time limits to finish projects."
My worstest question to hear is, and they always ask:
Can you recommend a good book to me? :doh:
LL
An HR Director/Mentor advised me to use exactly those answers. They ate it up.
I just try to turn it around on them and say "Why don't we talk about my strengths".
On balance, you should always have more questions for them than they do for you. Not too many more, but the fact is you go into the interview with them knowing more about you than you do about their workplace.
You hit the nail on the head. I have always advised candidates interviewing to turn your "weakness" into a strength.
I am a perfectionist :)
It is a stupid question. My wife is in HR and refuses to ask questions like that.
You can also use I am an Idealist and when someone says there going to do something they do it. I have been burnt once, now I just check up on people.
I like "turning the interview" around as it's beneficial to ask questions as well, - something as simple as How do you like working here/how long have you worked here? can be quite revealing....
BFS Cat
Member
Just got asked this this past week. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? It comes up alot. They want get an idea if you're going to stick around. The manual for dumb questions must have a civilian and military version about the same. Where do I see myself in 5 years, obviously not working at the same job. Come on, most people expect to be promoted and move on.
On a serious note we have enough educated professionals we should lobby for a series of threads on things like interviewing, resumes, finances, etc. Chop's computer thread is getting better by the post, certainly we have other skills that can be addressed.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
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Boondocksaint375
Guest
Here's another for you all "Where do you see yourself in two years."
Queen Beach
Member
Also...what not to say:
I recently interviewed someone for a job. It was a panel interview with my staff and this individual.
I asked this question:
"What do you feel was the most impressive thing you accomplished at your last company"...
The answer:
"I sat through a meeting on my first day there and attended the same meeting on day two" "Based on my observations from day one, I told them they didn't know their jobs and that what they were saying was BULLSHIT!!!"
In my mind I'm thinking:
YIKES!!! Nothing about process improvements, cost, analysis, scheduling" Just that he told the entire team off"
I did admire his get tough attitude ...but he could have used a little polish" :uhh:
He said so many curse words during the interview I was shocked! He did avoid saying F*@& but barely! :doh:
He didn't get the job! First impressions count!:cool:
I recently interviewed someone for a job. It was a panel interview with my staff and this individual.
I asked this question:
"What do you feel was the most impressive thing you accomplished at your last company"...
The answer:
"I sat through a meeting on my first day there and attended the same meeting on day two" "Based on my observations from day one, I told them they didn't know their jobs and that what they were saying was BULLSHIT!!!"
In my mind I'm thinking:
YIKES!!! Nothing about process improvements, cost, analysis, scheduling" Just that he told the entire team off"
I did admire his get tough attitude ...but he could have used a little polish" :uhh:
He said so many curse words during the interview I was shocked! He did avoid saying F*@& but barely! :doh:
He didn't get the job! First impressions count!:cool:
It comes up a lot in interviews. My father owns an IT recruiting firm and back in the mid '90's he needed a good bit of help as the IT boon was in full swing. Well, a guy I worked with at Harrah's Casino seemed like a good guy for the position so we suggested him to my dad and dad liked his resume enough to bring him out for an interview. Of course my father brought out that question at some point and my idiot "buddy" answered with perhaps the worst and most IDIOTIC answer someone could come up with in a job interview. He told me father that in 5 years he would like to own a satellite dish. Being the mid-'90's means that the current size dishes were out (we had one) and were not super expensive like those of the mid '80's. I have no idea what the hell that guy was thinking but when I heard the answer I spent a good 2 hours laughing and every time I saw him dealing black jack for the following 3 years I would chuckle as I walked by his table.
As for me, the question I always hated after I left the service was "What did you do/What were you trained to do in your last position?"
During one interview I tried very hard to avoid answering the question with the "truth" but the woman running the interview kept turning my answers around on me and pushing harder to get more. I finally stopped and looked at her right in the eyes and told her, "Kill people." Naturally I thought I was going to be shown the door and my picture given to security with a "remove from building" caption so I was surprised when the following afternoon I received a call offering me the position. I guess honesty is the best policy.
THAT is the funniest thing I have read in awhile. I can see you doing this too which makes it even better.
LibraryLady
Verified Military
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2006
- Messages
- 5,072
What's harder than prepping for an interview? Writing a thank you note/letter. :doh: Actually writing 3 for the same interview, and making them all different, even though with the lousy reception from the phone, I couldn't tell the three voices apart. :doh:
According to what I'm reading online, only about 5% of applicants do it, but this common courtesy/follow through can be the deal maker in a close decision.
LL
According to what I'm reading online, only about 5% of applicants do it, but this common courtesy/follow through can be the deal maker in a close decision.
LL
It's amazing how many don't follow up. Oh, handwritten notes...even better. ;)
LibraryLady
Verified Military
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2006
- Messages
- 5,072
LOL Call me old school, I guess. I was taught to ALWAYS follow up with a note, handwritten.
LL
