The dreaded interview question...

Damn skippy. If im not given the benefit of the doubt that this is part of who I am, versus a line, then I don't need them to waste anymore of my time! So far with my explanation it hasn't kept me from getting a job, it is an actual problem for me, no matter who wants to believe it or who thinks it's bs! It's me opening up and being honest about my flaw! I don't see how being a perfectionist is considered kissing butt because it is time consuming and now days companies want things done in a snap! I had been talked to many times about how long my haircuts took (they wanted them done in 10 minutes or less and I always took 25 + minutes)! That was a major issue, so I don't see perfectionism as a necessary plus, considering former employers would get irritated with me for it! It's a sad thing that our world is more for quantity vs quality these days!

Not to get too far off topic, but I'm curious.

Why would you not list the perfectionist thing as a strength rather than a weakness? If you offered it as a strength, you are in turn still being honest while offering the potential employee that you exercise a due diligence. You take your time on projects because you like to be as thorough about it as possible. Then you could offer your weakness as being not able to to handle as much (or state a number of cases that you can handle at a time) because of your perfectionist ways?

Just a thought...

See for me in my line of work I've been really burned by employers because I did the "turn a negative to a positive" thing.

I.e. I told an employer once that I rarely call into work. I was hired and if I did call in sick (because I was legitimately sick) I somehow would still have to go in because other employees called in sick too.

Another place I worked at I told them that I tend to work too much. So I was handed a cell phone/pager and given access to the system while at home. I was told that as part of my job that I had to take those phone calls. If after a while I said I didn't want to be on call anymore, that line about working too much came back to bite me. The manager at the time repeated what I had said.

Just some advice...

Originally Posted by babyharley

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

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Awww Kenz, I didn't mean that it was a line for YOU I just meant for some people it probably is

Originally Posted by Trouts mom

Awww Kenz, I didn't mean that it was a line for YOU

I just meant for some people it probably is

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OMG! No, I didnt mean that towards you- or anyone!

I say it's a negative (the effects more or less) because in my former line of work (hairstylist) it is considered a negative to be too picky (not so much by clients they want the quality for what they are paying, it's more employers)... They want more money to meet quota! I say it's both a positive and a negative depending on how you look at it... As i said these days quantity is desired over quality! I explain that I am a perfectionist and because so it takes me longer to get things done vs those who aren't as meticulous... So i DO explain the negative effects of my perfectionism... Using my explanation as the negative part of the trait! I don't say it's negative as a whole I tell the employer that it has it's good and bad parts and then explain the bad part of it...

Originally Posted by babyharley

OMG! No, I didnt mean that towards you- or anyone!

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Kay good

Originally Posted by trixie23

I say it's a negative (the effects more or less) because in my former line of work (hairstylist) it is considered a negative to be too picky (not so much by clients they want the quality for what they are paying, it's more employers)... They want more money to meet quota! I say it's both a positive and a negative depending on how you look at it... As i said these days quantity is desired over quality! I explain that I am a perfectionist and because so it takes me longer to get things done vs those who aren't as meticulous... So i DO explain the negative effects of my perfectionism... Using my explanation as the negative part of the trait! I don't say it's negative as a whole I tell the employer that it has it's good and bad parts and then explain the bad part of it...

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That's true...I guess it does have a lot to do with the line of work. I often forget when coming on here that not everyone is sitting in front of a computer at a desk for 8 hours a day

Oh I sit at a computer every day now! When I was a hairstylist that line of work finds that to be good but bad at the same time! Here I fly through my work because it doesn't take any creativity or extra time! Very basic stuff! I guess it depends on the job... If I would have said that was part of my flaw here they would have looked at me funny (there is nothing to really perfect in my job except spreadsheets, being a csr, and receptionist), Im not sure what I told them my flaw was here... Obviously it got me the job!

I say I'm extremely detail oriented, which can sometimes be a negative for me, as I can occasionally get bogged down by the minutia. (It's really a positive!)

I think it's important to be truthful in saying an actual negative--but NOT something that will make or break your chances to get the job. For instance, if I'm being interviewed by a person who will be my direct boss, I would not say that I don't like to be "bossed" around, or I don't like to be told what to do, because chances are at some point that person will NEED to tell you what to do. This could be an instant no go because there would be that personality conflict.

Or if you were to say that you were shy but your job includes working in the spotlight or in some sort of role that you would need to be outgoing. That would be a dealbreaker.

I think that everyone, as a human, has so many flaws that you could easily pick one that wouldn't jeopardize your chances of getting a job.

At my work I am involved in the interview process and I personally think the whole positive into a negative spin is getting old.. (ie.. I'm SUCH a hardworker that I often neglect my personal life for my job).. We all know they are just saying that because their college counselor told them too. But, it's still recommended so it must work on some level. Not on me.

I don't know what I would use. I haven't had to think about it for a while, maybe I should..

Originally Posted by JellyBella

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.

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very well put!

When i was interviewing for the job i'm at now (at the animal shelter) and they asked me that question i said " i'll be honest, i'll probably want to take every single animal home with me" they got a kick out of that (both my bosses were my friends before i started working there) so yea long story short i got the job and i take my work home with me in the form of my foster animals

Originally Posted by trixie23

Oh I sit at a computer every day now!

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Open mouth...insert foot

LOL I should have mentioned that, as if you couldn't tell I had some sort of slacker job by how often I am on here! Im not sure they even asked me what my flaw was here...They saw my record and that was enough (ooopsies...was young and dumb) and I still got the job!

My answer usually starts with "I could tell you I have no faults, but that would be a lie since I'm human." Then I go on to talk about how I have a private problem with people who do not have a strong work ethic since mine was instilled in me as a child. These people will never know I have a problem with it, since good manners was also instilled in me as a child"