Comments on: What should I say when a job interviewer asks me to name my weaknesses? http://www.asktheharvardmba.com/2008/04/07/why-do-job-interviewers-ask-me-about-my-weaknesses/ My name is Chris Yeh. I'm a Harvard MBA, and you can ask me anything! Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:02:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Hillary http://www.asktheharvardmba.com/2008/04/07/why-do-job-interviewers-ask-me-about-my-weaknesses/#comment-3 Hillary Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:42:52 +0000 http://www.asktheharvardmba.com/2008/04/07/why-do-job-interviewers-ask-me-about-my-weaknesses/#comment-3 I am heading out the door in an hour to a job interview, and fretting over what happens to be my greatest weakness: I don't interview well. Unfortunately, I do write a great cover letter, so I often find myself interviewing...badly. Maybe I'll go for the honest answer today, and when asked what my weakness is, just say, "Interviewing." I am heading out the door in an hour to a job interview, and fretting over what happens to be my greatest weakness: I don’t interview well. Unfortunately, I do write a great cover letter, so I often find myself interviewing…badly.

Maybe I’ll go for the honest answer today, and when asked what my weakness is, just say, “Interviewing.”

]]> By: misanthropy today http://www.asktheharvardmba.com/2008/04/07/why-do-job-interviewers-ask-me-about-my-weaknesses/#comment-2 misanthropy today Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:26:21 +0000 http://www.asktheharvardmba.com/2008/04/07/why-do-job-interviewers-ask-me-about-my-weaknesses/#comment-2 Honest to goodness, I was once asked "if you were an animal, which animal would it be?" I answered "I'm not going to answer this, i've given it no thought in my entire life" I said. "But just try and answer it" she said. "A human I suppose". I said "No, but an animal" the HR person said. "Humans are animals, no?" I didn't score well, but was offered the job anyhow. But those questions were a sign to me that the job was not for me. If a company asks your weaknesses say something that you've already said you'd like to improve upon. It will create one of those phony "aha!" moments. Or just be honest and say that you dislike ineffective and overpaid management like everyone else. Enjoy your walk to the parking lot. Honest to goodness, I was once asked “if you were an animal, which animal would it be?”

I answered “I’m not going to answer this, i’ve given it no thought in my entire life” I said.

“But just try and answer it” she said.

“A human I suppose”. I said

“No, but an animal” the HR person said.

“Humans are animals, no?”

I didn’t score well, but was offered the job anyhow. But those questions were a sign to me that the job was not for me.

If a company asks your weaknesses say something that you’ve already said you’d like to improve upon. It will create one of those phony “aha!” moments.

Or just be honest and say that you dislike ineffective and overpaid management like everyone else.

Enjoy your walk to the parking lot.

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