Is this a good interview Answer?

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medstuddude

medstuddude

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This was for a mock draft today.


Interviewer: So what is your weakness?

Me: I am too honest. For example, a PI that I've interviewed wanted a two-year lab commitment. I was honest and told him that I am applying to med school this year and that if I get in I have to quit at the end of the year. Of course, I didn't get the job. My friends on the other hand lied and got jobs.

Interviewer: Do you think it was right to "lie" about it at that time? How is this your weakness?

Me: I hardly lie. My friends and advisors said that sometimes you can't reveal everything. I am not like others. I am always honest.

Interviewer: Oh

What do you think?
​
 
medstuddude said:
This was for a mock draft today.


Interviewer: So what is your weakness?

Me: I am too honest. For example, a PI that I've interviewed wanted a two-year lab commitment. I was honest and told him that I am applying to med school this year and that if I get in I have to quit at the end of the year. Of course, I didn't get the job. My friends on the other hand lied and got jobs.

Interviewer: Do you think it was right to "lie" about it at that time? How is this your weakness?

Me: I hardly lie. My friends and advisors said that sometimes you can't reveal everything. I am not like others. I am always honest.

Interviewer: Oh

What do you think?
​
Click to expand...


Strengths disguised as weakness show dishonesty. Imagine how ironic your answer is!!
 
medstuddude said:
This was for a mock draft today.


Interviewer: So what is your weakness?

Me: I am too honest. For example, a PI that I've interviewed wanted a two-year lab commitment. I was honest and told him that I am applying to med school this year and that if I get in I have to quit at the end of the year. Of course, I didn't get the job. My friends on the other hand lied and got jobs.

Interviewer: Do you think it was right to "lie" about it at that time? How is this your weakness?

Me: I hardly lie. My friends and advisors said that sometimes you can't reveal everything. I am not like others. I am always honest.

Interviewer: Oh

What do you think?
​
Click to expand...



Nope. That is the second most cliche "weakness" answer, right after "I just work too hard!"

When you are describing a weakness, the implication is that it is something you would like to change. Would you like to be less honest? Sure, it is a good idea to explain a weakness that isn't too terrible ("Sometimes I kill people" would be bad). "Honesty" and "Working too hard" were used up long ago.
 
Tropicana100 said:
Strengths disguised as weakness show dishonesty. Imagine how ironic your answer is!!
Click to expand...

I said being too honest can also be considered one's weakness or hindrance to great professional success 😀
 
I get distracted when I see a hot blonde nurse with cleavage showing staring at me at hospital.

Is this a good answer 😛
 
medstuddude said:
This was for a mock draft today.


Interviewer: So what is your weakness?

Me: I am too honest. For example, a PI that I've interviewed wanted a two-year lab commitment. I was honest and told him that I am applying to med school this year and that if I get in I have to quit at the end of the year. Of course, I didn't get the job. My friends on the other hand lied and got jobs.

Interviewer: Do you think it was right to "lie" about it at that time? How is this your weakness?

Me: I hardly lie. My friends and advisors said that sometimes you can't reveal everything. I am not like others. I am always honest.

Interviewer: Oh

What do you think?
​
Click to expand...


It's hard to critique without hearing the delivery. You have to be careful when you spin negatives into positives so supeficially because it often comes across flat and contrived. It's better when your weakness is, at least on its surface a weakness. Being too honest, too caring, too hardworking are overused and harder to pull off effectively. Plus not being willing not to reveal everything is problematic in medicine, especially in areas such as patient privacy, where relatives, parents etc will often ask you info about your patient that you are duty bound not to disclose.
 
medstuddude said:
I said being too honest can also be considered one's weakness or hindrance to great professional success 😀
Click to expand...


I'm not sure that adcom interviewers are looking for you to eliminate all barriers to "great professional success" if it includes being dishonest. Ethics is a very serious topic in the health profession.

Just wondering what kind of "success" would necessitate dishonesty?
 
Lol.. not a good answer. Say a weakness that you had before and then changed. E.g.: I used to lie, until my parents beat me to death and I learned my lesson.
 
medstuddude said:
I get distracted when I see a hot blonde nurse with cleavage showing staring at me at hospital.

Is this a good answer 😛
Click to expand...



"Sometimes I make inappropriate jokes. Also, some might consider me a bit of a sexist."

👍
 
when they ask for a weakness are they asking for a character flaw, a weakness in your application, or what could potentially make you a bad doctor?

for instance, I could say either that I'm timid when challenged by authority, or I could point out several of my application weaknesses (low GPA, etc)
 
Law2Doc said:
bluffing at poker, being an illusionist, being a politician...
Click to expand...

I think you know what I meant, and lawyer-client privilege is a good example. Bluffing is part of the game of poker, people expect to be lied to by illusionists so that they can be entertained, and I'm not convinced on the politician thing.

Not a lot of things require lying as a physician.
 
armybound said:
when they ask for a weakness are they asking for a character flaw, a weakness in your application, or what could potentially make you a bad doctor?
Click to expand...

that is why you shouldn't reveal it!

How about this answer: I care about other people's well-being too much. In fact, sometimes even more than my own:hardy:
 
medstuddude said:
that is why you shouldn't reveal it!

How about this answer: I care about other people's well-being too much. In fact, sometimes even more than my own:hardy:
Click to expand...


If you are being serious, you can put that right on your "contrived" list.
 
Law2Doc said:
It could be any of these if you can make it into a good answer.
Click to expand...
I don't try to give "good" answers, I just prefer being honest. I'd hate to try to spin a weakness into a positive.

The best I could do is give a real weakness and try to explain that I've been trying to improve on it.

I don't think they'd ask the question if they wanted you to BS them with some soft weakness.
 
My weakness I had was that I liked to pull pranks on old people. I hid behind corners and shadows and jumped out to scare them. I've worked on this weakness since I was 8 years old and finally overcame it at 14. (This is actually true.)
 
Say that your weakness is that you are a perfectionist. Applicants who say this in their interview get accepted 100% of the time (its a proven fact).
 
The best way to approach a "weakness" answer is to note something that you've also consciously worked on to improve, with evidence you can provide. Even if that may not be your truly "biggest" weakness, it provides the most meat and insight for an interview.

For me, i used my only-child-syndrome extreme shyness in my interview. I noted how I put myself out there and started putting myself in situations of leadership in clubs and student govt, as well as public speaking and organizing events. Every interviewer responded, almost verbatim, "well I'm impressed. it looks like you've made a lot of progress, and I definitely don't detect that shyness now." + points on the interview.

Shyness isn't my biggest weakness. However, it IS something which is a weakness to a future doctor and IS something I've consciously worked on. So make sure you aren't just giving them a flaw... use it as an opportunity to demonstrate you're committed to self-improvement (CRUCIAL as a prospective physician).
 
ryandote said:
"Sometimes I kill people" would be bad.
Click to expand...

you think?? :laugh::laugh:

maybe you could put a positive spin on it...like "I kill people in self-defense. There was this time when I witnessed a big mean guy raping and strangling a 6 year old child. I ran to her defense and he started fighting me. The only way I could get him off both of us was to give him a jab in the face. I underestimated my own strength and killed him instantly. opps"
 
Decicco said:
Say that your weakness is that you are a perfectionist. Applicants who say this in their interview get accepted 100% of the time (its a proven fact).
Click to expand...

I heard (on sdn, where else?) this was one of those cliched answers that are really strengths disguised as a weakness and that adcoms hate that.
 
Remember the Michael Scott falacy (from The Office): "My biggest weakness is my also my biggest strength. So let me tell you about my strengths."

Here's list of cliches to avoide (please add):

-I'm a workaholic
-I'm too honest
-I'm a perfectionist
-I'm too modest
-I lose patience when I don't have enough to do.
 
Whenever I am asked what's your weakness...I say women are my kryptonite. I
 
armybound said:
I don't try to give "good" answers, I just prefer being honest. I'd hate to try to spin a weakness into a positive.

The best I could do is give a real weakness and try to explain that I've been trying to improve on it.

I don't think they'd ask the question if they wanted you to BS them with some soft weakness.
Click to expand...

You can be honest, but bear in mind that the interview is effectively a sales pitch and you are the product. Schools get as many as 10,000 applications and are actively looking for reasons to reject people. Thus you don't want to give them a real weakness without some "good" reason why they should really want you as an applicant despite that. All too often folks convince interviewers that they are not the right person for the job/school in their quest to not spin. You don't need to be dishonest, but nor do you have to concede that you have major flaws.
 
Basically, the point is that you need to make your weakness genuine. Doesn't matter if it's a cliche or not as long you give a sufficient explanation on what you've done to improve your weakness. Giving an example also helps to pull your answers out of the "cliche" zone. Let's pick one of the cliche's above: "I'm a workaholic" and turn it into a good answer.

"One weakness is that I sometimes value my work over my health. I had to tackle a job while studying for my bachelor's degree. This resulted in missed meals and an inconsistent sleep schedule. I discovered that this affects my performance in job, school, and personal relationships. I realized that I take my health for granted and it's actually more important than any accomplishments. As a doctor, I will try to strike a good balance."

Ding, ding, ding! I just pulled a genuine answer out of my @$$.
 
Law2Doc said:
I'm pretty sure the above posters were joking. This is truly the worst answer of the bunch.
Click to expand...

opps, I guess I'm not around enough to have realized this.😳

btw, why did i have to log in 3 times each time getting the message saying "thank you for logging in Dr. Josh", then immediately followed by "you are not logged in"? :meanie:
 
Tropicana100 said:
Ding, ding, ding! I just pulled a genuine answer out of my @$$.
Click to expand...

Well, it only comes across as genuine if it's not the same thing 5 other interviewees have already said that week. Which is why, if possible, I think you want to stay away from the work too hard, care too much, too honest, too much of a perfectionist lines. Or if you must, then have really unique, personal examples to tie them to.
 
i was asked this question at most interviews. my answer was always that i'm really bad at remembering names. And then I talked about how as a doctor I should probably get better at that. and finally the techniques i've been working on to remember names.

again, like a poster above said it wasn't my biggest weakness. but it was easy to describe and one that I could show improvement
 
I have a weakness that I plan to use, and really only applies to me. It's a rather sensitive one, involving confidence. I have a story to back it up and values that I have used to tackle it. Kinda like your PS. there will be cliches, but you gotta make them your own.
 
twick121 said:
i was asked this question at most interviews. my answer was always that i'm really bad at remembering names. And then I talked about how as a doctor I should probably get better at that. and finally the techniques i've been working on to remember names.

again, like a poster above said it wasn't my biggest weakness. but it was easy to describe and one that I could show improvement
Click to expand...
I have that problem too, but I usually don't catch names because I get nervous when meeting new people and just am not paying attention.

I've got confidence issues, though, where I'm afraid I'll look stupid in front of people, which makes me nervous to talk in front of people, sometimes meet new people, etc. I've worked a lot on it, though. I'll probably use that one.
 
Dr. Josh said:
opps, I guess I'm not around enough to have realized this.😳

btw, why did i have to log in 3 times each time getting the message saying "thank you for logging in Dr. Josh", then immediately followed by "you are not logged in"? :meanie:
Click to expand...


Maybe you've been spelling your username with the same accuracy that you spell "oops."

Just kidding, I couldn't resist. I had that problem on all the websites that I was recognized by a sessionid for awhile. I'm not sure how SDN holds your authentication, but re-installing IE worked for me. Then I switched to firefox and lived happily ever after.
 
Tropicana100 said:
My weakness I had was that I liked to pull pranks on old people. I hid behind corners and shadows and jumped out to scare them. I've worked on this weakness since I was 8 years old and finally overcame it at 14. (This is actually true.)
Click to expand...

Lol, when I was little....I used to do really mean things to my grandparents, one time I dumped a jug of water on them while they were taking a nap... yep it's a weakness all right!
 
{QUOTE=Tropicana100;5296995]My weakness I had was that I liked to pull pranks on old people. I hid behind corners and shadows and jumped out to scare them. I've worked on this weakness since I was 8 years old and finally overcame it at 14. (This is actually true.)[/QUOTE]

Lol, when I was little....I used to do really mean things to my grandparents, one time I dumped a jug of water on them while they were taking a nap... 😛



umm Sorry about the double post, I thought it didn't go through the first time...
 
ryandote said:
Maybe you've been spelling your username with the same accuracy that you spell "oops."

Just kidding, I couldn't resist. I had that problem on all the websites that I was recognized by a sessionid for awhile. I'm not sure how SDN holds your authentication, but re-installing IE worked for me. Then I switched to firefox and lived happily ever after.
Click to expand...

i never can remember if opps is oops or opps...maybe i should use that as my greatest weakness.😀

and I can't reinstall my IE; it happened on my company's networked computer. opps
 
After painstaking deliberation, I finally, albeit hesitantly, concluded to mention "indecisiveness" as my weakness when/if the question arises.
 
My weakness is fashion. I'm sure no one will find fault with the bling on my customized stethoscope and for hemming my white coat a few inches and having shoulder pads sewn in. :meanie:
 
For all interview questions, it's better to sound honest than make stuff up that's good to hear.
 
SIREN said:
My weakness is fashion. I'm sure no one will find fault with the bling on my customized stethoscope and for hemming my white coat a few inches and having shoulder pads sewn in. :meanie:
Click to expand...

Image-37653-612978-ama.jpg

Bling Bling
 
Tropicana100 said:
My weakness I had was that I liked to pull pranks on old people. I hid behind corners and shadows and jumped out to scare them. I've worked on this weakness since I was 8 years old and finally overcame it at 14. (This is actually true.)
Click to expand...

Well, aren't interviewers interested in one of your present weaknesses? It's certain we all have them. Mentioning something from a distant past just doesn't seem to answer the question about what your weakness is now. Don't you think?
 
FurmanJon said:
After painstaking deliberation, I finally, albeit hesitantly, concluded to mention "indecisiveness" as my weakness when/if the question arises.
Click to expand...

I think it's one of the better weaknesses to mention. That's my first reaction to it..... unless of course the adcoms will worry that you will have hard time choosing them over someone else.
 
does 'spreading myself out too much/taking on too many commitments' sound too cliche? I was hoping to slightly spin it to a strength about being able to organize but i suppose i shouldn't be disguising a strength as a weakness ...
 
what about not being able to say no as a weakness? i always manage to bite of more than i can chew- i guess that sounds like im not up for a challenge. hm this one is tough.
 
The task is to come up with a real but mild flaw and spin it in a positive light, not a flaw that is really a compliment to yourself, such as "I'm too hardworking, honest, caring, etc." It's important to make sure you sound pro-active about your flaw, having an anecdote to show improvement. Avoid negativity like "I'm a depressing person, nobody likes me.". Finally be prepared to answer any follow-up questions. For example, if you say "I'm shy", they might ask if you'll be able to take the initiative and show the leadership skills required of a physician, etc.
 
I don't see that this question is that big of a deal. Pick a real weakness/thing you wish wasn't a problem for you. It doesn't have to be a character flaw, it doesn't have to deal with the field of medicine. Mine for instance is I lack creativity. If I were more creative, I probably would've gone to art school and been a painter. I'd love to be more creative, and in fact have become less creative since I started taking lots of science courses in undergrad. I could talk about why lack of creativity is a problem and why I wish I was more creative for quite a while if I needed to - and yet it doesn't really seem to be a problem as far as medicine is concerned (I know there are aspects of medicine that require creativity, but I don't think it'll be a problem).
Another weakness that I have is shopping (I'm serious).
Another weakness is sweets.
 
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