you’re hired… maybe
16 08 2006I’ve decided that I’ve had just about enough of working at my current job, so I’ll be entering the job market for the first time in ages in the very near future. My plan is to start spreading my resumé around like Shawn Kemp does with his DNA and try to get some interviews lined up for positions I don’t necessarily want so I can get the experience. I’m a little rusty, as I haven’t had a job interview since the summer of 2001 or 2002, when I was offered a contract position working for Eli Lilly in a fantastic foor-in-the-door situation, but Lilly implemented a hiring freeze less than 24 hrs after I had been offered the job. I’m still a little bitter about it.
Anywho, now that I’m facing the prospect of going on job interviews, I find myself dreading the worst interview question you can be asked: “What would you say is your greatest weakness?” I really want to look someone in the eye with a straight face and say “Kryptonite” when they ask me, but I’d have to be ridiculously confident with how things had gone up until that point to consider actually doing it.
Also off-limits are canned, sycophantic responses like, “I guess I’m kind of a perfectionist,” or, “Is it possible to care too much? I’m not sure!” I would like to give an honest response, but one that won’t make me seem like an unattractive candidate. This is where you guys come in. Let’s hear your good responses to this question. The person with the best response will get “hired” for a day and I’ll let you write a piece of content to get posted on here. If you don’t want to do that, that’s fine, too, but still send a submission.
As far as the kitten situation goes, her official name is now Kallie, although I’ve mostly been calling her Tiny.
Your greatest assest has to be your good natured sense of humor. Not that they pay for that stuff but I am sure that you are fun to be around and work with. Work sucks hard enough not to have someone like you around to just make the going a little more tolerable.
Anyway, just be honest about this. What is your weakness? Write em down and try to put a positive spin on things. I tend to put off things I don’t like to do. My reaction after a few years in the workplace is to: 1. Make lists 2. Refer to the lists. 3. Work on those things I don’t like a little at a time so that they ultimately get done anyway…usually on time. Unless you weakness is just getting up each morning to GO to Work, I wouldn’t worry. That is a question I feel stupid asking as an interviewer anyway and so, I ususally don’t. Instead, I try to ask enough job “task” type questions to find out if they are BSing or really know what they are talking about. Also, along the way, the more they talk, the more I am likely to hear them blurt out something stupid that takes them off the “hire” list. Don’t EVER hire a mistake or otherwise stated, Hire slow….Fire fast. The best you can hope for is good chemistry with the prospective employer. If you have that, you can be a goof and last forever. If you don’t, work will suck for you AND them anyway.
Best wishes….you are the greatest anyway!
Dad
I vote “Kryptonite” or “Sleeping with the boss’s wife”
I told my boss my greatest weakness was my inability to deal well with nasty people.
Considering my position, I still don’t know why he hired me.
Say something really smooth, like “Well what other’s view as a weakness I view as a challenge to overcome.” And then lie and make up a great example of something your really good at, but didn’t always used to be (like maybe something computer related that you have always been good at) and use it. That way you are at no obligation to state anything that’s wrong with you, all the while looking super cool.
Like this “For example, when I was first learning to write my website and the language/encryption for my programming, I couldn’t get anything working right. But of course, perseverance paid off, and now I have started 2 websites, both that run like a singed koala looking for an all night burn unit” BA DUM CHA
Notice something about the interviewer, their office, their pictures, their school diplomas…
The solution to your “weakness” should connect with the boss.
I need to re-energize… so I started playing golf. Then talk golf…
I needed to workout… so I bought a bike. Then talk bikes…
I need to relax… so I get a spa / manicure… (if female interviewer)?
I like to do a lot of things at one time… so I bought a Franklin Planner to keep track of everything. Then talk about the task that was “almost” forgotten…
I used to be disorganized… but I found this item at Office Depot that really helps…
Even if you don’t get the job… they’ll like you because [fill in the blank with whatever connection you made]