The dreaded interview question...

In a job interview, when they ask you what your worst quality is, what do you answer?

If I told them the truth, I'd say that I'm shy, my interpersonal skills need work, I have occasional anxiety / depression problems and I don't like to be bossed around.

Ok, I don't think I'll tell them I'm shy or that I have mental problems cause I don't think it really gets in the way of me doing my work, so they don't need to know.

So I'm thinking of telling them something about how I don't like to be bossed around, or bossing around others but prefer an atmosphere of collaboration between equals.
Is that a fair answer? Can you think of a better way to say that?

Or instead of telling them I'm shy, I could tell them that a lot of people think I'm too quiet, but I'm working on that.
That might actually be a better answer because if they call my former boss, that's exactly what she'd say. (or just about anyone who knows me )

So what do you usually say?

I usually say that I'm a HUGE perfectionist, and sometimes that can be seen as a negative, but I try to turn it into a positive!

I can't think of a good suggestion for that at the moment.. my brain went blank. But..

I heard once the best way to answer that question is to turn it into a positive thing. You can take that opportunity and twist it just like a car salesman

I think I once said something to the effect of "I never like to miss a single day of work, which sometimes makes me seem a little too hard working"..

I don't think that's word for word what I said, but you get the idea

Maybe say something to the effect that you are a 'thinker' and that sometimes others view you as shy, but really your mind is just working to solve a problem.

My answer for that question is that I have a difficult time when people don't take pride in their work. Now in plain talk that means I can't stand lazy people who expect you to do their work for them! But I think my other answer sounds much better than that!

I try to avoid the turning a negative to a positive only because if I tell them I'm a work-a-holic (for example) then that's what they'll expect out of me.

The trick with this question isn't necessarily saying that the negative qualities about you but your work skill.

I.e. I know that you recently graduated. You may want to respond that one of your weaknesses is that you do not have experience outside of the school. Please excuse if me that doesn't apply to you.

Basically it's admitting that your weak in one area of the job (i.e. demonstration of honesty) and its also something that you can develop.

Based on what you said above you could say that your interpersonal skills are not developed for the workplace, but it is something that you would like to develop. You might also refer to a particular function of the job, like software they might use (I always use this since I'm in computers and can't possibly know everything). One interview I went on after college I responded "My weakest area would be Access Databases. I am familiar with all the other Microsoft Office products, however I never had a chance to become familiar with that software." You know what happened? After they hired me, they sent me for training in Access. All levels of the classes offer.

Just pick apart the job description and apply one bullet point that you might be weaker at then the rest and use that. Here's a good article too:

What's a weakness?

The last time I was asked that, I told them that I don't stay at a job if my work is not appreciated or compensated. (I got the job.)

Originally Posted by babyharley

I try to turn it into a positive!

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Exactly! Never sabotage yourself. People tend to remember the negative aspects of things, so if you have a wonderful interview going in your favour and you suddenly burst out and say something negative about yourself, that will stand out in the forefront of anything else that you said.

Always turn things into a positive.

Turning it into a positive isn't a bad idea... but after a few books came out telling people to use the "I'm a perfectionist" line, interviewers can spot it a mile away. It doesn't look good. I know all of us interviewers at a previous job said we were going to rip our hair out if we had to hear that line one more time.

The fact is, you just want to be yourself and show that you believe in yourself, know your limits, and have a personality.

I've said things like... I don't work well with a manager over my shoulder every minute, and do much better when I am free to solve problems on my own. Or like SwampWitch said - that I don't work well at a job where my work isn't appreciated or compensated.

My personal favorite: When one interviewee was asked what her biggest weakness was... she replied "Chocolate". She got the job

Chocolate gets my vote! Or Reese cups...yeah, they get me every time.

At my last interview. I said one weakness is that I can get off focus if someone comes up and interupts my current focal point of work. which is very much true. I also said its something i am working on and learnin to grow with. And that sometimes due to this, others think i am not social, but its not that I just would like to get my tasks done before chatting.

I got the job

oh my goodness, what would happen if you said, "I get gas when I get nervous!"

The work force is new to me (working at finding my first paying job), but I wonder if it's bad to say two weaknesses? Because I'm both shy (but can turn that into the fact that I hover back and WATCH what happens around me, making me more aware of my surroundings and knowing what needs to be done), plus I don't have much work experience. I volunteered for 5+ years at a therapeutic riding stable, though.

Originally Posted by Aussie_Dog

...but I wonder if it's bad to say two weaknesses?...

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Yes, if they ask for one, just give them one. I'd use the latter about not much work experience, especially if you are excited about the job.

Being enthusiastic about learning how to do the work is a fine thing, and that person can get the job before someone who isn't that thrilled, but has experience.

As an interviewer, that "perfectionist" line kind of makes my eyes roll around in my head...I would much prefer to hear something like "I won't stay if my work isn't appreciated" or "I know I need to work on my communication skills, I can be shy"

What you're really trying to get at here is can they admit they have a fault/make mistakes. This is critical to the operation of a team. I once had a young man tell me he didn't know what he'd do if he made a mistake because he couldn't remember ever making one . Needless to say, he did not get the job, because I had nightmare visions of him either covering up his boo boos, or being one of those people who will never admit they've done anything wrong.

It is a good idea to make it into a positive. You should never give the "weakness" without addressing how you're trying to work on it. Much the same way I really appreciate someone who comes to me not only with a problem, but with a plan to fix it.

I would say the too quiet thing. Avoid the "being a perfectionist" because that IMO sounds like sucking up to get the job.

Originally Posted by babyharley

I usually say that I'm a HUGE perfectionist, and sometimes that can be seen as a negative, but I try to turn it into a positive!

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I say that too..or that I'm a workoholic and it gets in the way of my personal life

They must realize that people will lie when they ask that one Noone is going to say "I'm lazy and I hate having to work "

I tell them that I am a perfectionist and like to take my time to make sure the job is done to my liking! Some look at that as a good thing and some as a bad thing! I don't consider it sucking up to get the job because it is a true thing for me... When I was a hairstylist I was a perfectionist... Some clients loved me for that (most of my clientel came to me for that reason) and others where like get on with it already it's just hair! Being meticulous may not be what every employer is looking for because it takes more time to get things done! So I see it as a positive and a negative trait!

Originally Posted by trixie23

I tell them that I am a perfectionist and like to take my time to make sure the job is done to my liking! Some look at that as a good thing and some as a bad thing!

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Thats what I say too- and its not just a line- its the truth!

Originally Posted by babyharley

Thats what I say too- and its not just a line- its the truth!

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Yep it's like my own version of OCD! I explain that I am a perfectionist and some things take me longer to get done for that reason... I think that is a flaw... Nowdays people want quantity over quality (especially when I did hair for a corporate company) my own boss told me my perfectionism was my flaw, so to me it's not a line of BS, and if the prospective employer thinks it is, then I wouldn't want to work for them anyway!

Originally Posted by trixie23

Yep it's like my own version of OCD! I explain that I am a perfectionist and some things take me longer to get done for that reason... I think that is a flaw... Nowdays people want quantity over quality (especially when I did hair for a corporate company) my own boss told me my perfectionism was my flaw, so to me it's not a line of BS, and if the prospective employer thinks it is, then I wouldn't want to work for them anyway!

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Exactly! I only tell the truth, I'm not gonna pull some line of crap out thats not true, just because they've heard the 'perfectionist' line a million times. Sometimes people are telling the truth!