Is this a good interview Answer?

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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?

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)
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I would second this. Your weakness should be something that you are actively trying to change or make better. If you are saying you work too hard or are too honest...then you should be trying to actively change that... which would mean starting to lie and be lazy. Obviously, not a good idea.

Everyone *surely* has a weakness..... GPA low (you techincally cant change that, but you can be working on study habits, have had an upwards trend of GPA, etc), have a hard time concentrating on reading material (i.e. youd rather do and learn than read and learn), are quiet or timid at times when you really wish you would jump forward and be the leader, etc etc... all these are character flaws that do not flaw your integrity and can all be at least somewhat polished to make you better at whatever you do. Other weaknesses that you may have such as... well I drink too much on the wkends, or I've slept with too many people, etc are best to just not be brought up!

I think the most important thing in an interview is to be able to list a weakness you have, how you have improved that weakness thus far, and how you will continue to work on it and get better as time goes on... and its an extra gold star if you can relate how the position you are applying for can help it.

Just an example: When asked this same question, I always said I am often on the quiet/shy side when I first meet someone, but after I get to know them, I am good. I took interviewing skills courses before applying to medical school, I took speech in college.. both worked on this flaw.... and as residency interviews came I was able to list the same flaw, but MUCH improved previously by providing patient care, acting as president of a large school group, etc... but is still something I hope to work on as I am a resident. Its a weakness, I recognize it, I have improved it, and am continuing to do so...

Good luck..
 
EM_Rebuilder said:
well I drink too much on the wkends, or I've slept with too many people, etc are best to just not be brought up!
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correct. you're not trying to make your interviewer jealous of your rock and roll lifestyle 😎
 
My reply when I asked about weaknesses always has something to do with the fact that I overestimate. I tend to always think I can take on far more than I can, whether it is in school or in a job. I then find out that I cannot perform up to my ability and get very frusted. Hence, why my grades were not so hot when I took 7 classes on semester or why I was not performing up to my ability at the start of my first job.

I've now learned to take on as much as I can handle while still being able to perform to the best of my ability. I like to be challenged and I work well under stress, but I have learned to balance that with taking on a reasonable amount of work so that I can perform to the best of my ability.

It has gotten me jobs - any thoughts on how that would go over in an interview?
 
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?
​
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nah... this is not a true weakness. My personal weakness is that I swear too much. I dunno if I can say it in an interview though...
 
Agreed, give a real weakness. All humans have weaknesses, and weaknesses are relative, so everything has a weakness.

Mine is that I always have to battle procrastination. I tend to procrastinate if I don't keep myself busy. I'm procrastinating on doing a lab write-up.

I'm going to go do it now, lol.
 
Dr. Josh said:
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.
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You could use "sometimes jokes go right over my head" as a weakness.
 
I can't buy a car for more than 500 dollars. I have the money too, and I know that in the end it would be more economical. But hot damn! That 89 taurus is only 450, and I am gonna go for it.
 
I have a fully muscularized immortal body and curly blond hair. My only weakness is...


brad-pitt-troy-workout.jpg


I'm too sexy.
 
lilnoelle said:
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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i'm not sure talking about a random weakness is the way to go. it rather shows an insensitivity to the social context that you are in, i.e. an interview for a medical school. creativity might be relevant, but if i were the interviewer and someone told me their weakness was shopping or sweets, i'd have second thoughts about whether the person really knew what was going on.
 
Say like:

My weakness is that I get impatient when I'm asked stupid-ass questions like that.
 
I think its fine to use "strength weaknesses" as long as 1)it's genuine, 2) it's somewhat original (perfectionist and sensitive are still out), 3) you give it the right spin.

For example, something I would seriously consider using is the fact that I stress out when things are unknown. On the surface, that sounds as arrogant and fake as the perfectionist. But spin it and it'll come out better: "I get stressed out and neurotic when life hands me surprises. It can be debilitating sometimes, causing indecisiveness and worry that cloud my judgement". Now that you've officially disqualified yourself from being a doctor, spin it right back into a strength: "This happens because I can't stand not knowing things. I have a constant urge to know everything about a situation before it happens, so I can deal with it in the best way possible." I worry about events that I don't know about, because I'm afraid I won't make the right judgment calls when I need to." Then you can say how you are working on yourself blablabla.

You see, you can use strengths as weaknesses as long they actually are real weaknesses that will mean something to the ADCOM.
 
Realize that the interviewer doesn't really want to ask this sort of question; he or she would much rather chat about last night's game, show you pictures of his kids, talk about cars, etc.

So the best strategy is a delaying tactic, e.g.:

Interviewer (wishing it was lunchtime already): What is your greatest weakness?

You: My greatest weakness?

Interviewer (glancing at clock): mm-hmm.

You (appearing to think): Hmm....

some time goes by

You: uh...

interviewer clears his throat

You (scratching nose): 's a tough one. Huh....

clock ticks audibly. Interviewer shifts uncomfortably

You (puzzled expression): Well....

Interviewer (sighing): How about strengths? Do you have a greatest strength?

You (relieved): Ah, that's an easier one....
 
boulux said:
nah... this is not a true weakness. My personal weakness is that I swear too much. I dunno if I can say it in an interview though...
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Throwing something comical (but true) like that in AFTER you talked about a more substanial weakness like we talked about might gain you extra points. You just need a feel for the person interviewing you first and hopefully you can gain some opinon of how they may respond to that.


Personally, if you told me that after saying your weakness is <something serious>, you'd be a shoe in!
 
Tropicana100 said:
I have a fully muscularized immortal body and curly blond hair. My only weakness is...


brad-pitt-troy-workout.jpg


I'm too sexy.
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**CUE Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy**

On a side note, Brad Pitt is not that muscular...
 
I was pretty proud of mine. I don't like confrontation. I said it was part of upbringing where I was always paying the peacemaker between my two sisters, or between them and my parents. I said I was proud of my ability to be an ambassador, but it means that sometimes I'm bad at being decisive. And that I need to get over it to be a better advocate for my patient.
 
I think that I'd rather show the adcom that I am a real human with real weaknesses and not just a robot whose weaknesses are, "I am too perfect/ I try too hard etc" because I'd rather not risk sounding fake. I think I am going to say that I have no verbal censor, and this makes me seem insensitive to the feelings of others. At least its honest haha.
 
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?
​
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odd answer....and it discredits you too. i wouldn't have chosen that answer.
 
Q: What is your greatest weakness?
A: Uh...um, interviewing skills?
 
Everyone,

Would this be a good response to the question?

"I am horrible at "comebacks." For example, if I were hanging out with a group of friends, and they started to throw jokes at each other while one of those insulting jokes came at me, I wouldn't know what to say back at them. I would get stuck! I would probably think of something to say atleast a day later! I dont' know if it's because I usually compliment people to engage in polite conversation or if it's because I can't find the words in English! Even though English is my first language, I have other languages and cultures that get entangled in my thoughts!"


This is the truth, but I was wondering if it would be appropriate to use in an interview!
 
ralegen said:
Everyone,

Would this be a good response to the question?

"I am horrible at "comebacks." For example, if I were hanging out with a group of friends, and they started to throw jokes at each other while one of those insulting jokes came at me, I wouldn't know what to say back at them. I would get stuck! I would probably think of something to say atleast a day later! I dont' know if it's because I usually compliment people to engage in polite conversation or if it's because I can't find the words in English! Even though English is my first language, I have other languages and cultures that get entangled in my thoughts!"


This is the truth, but I was wondering if it would be appropriate to use in an interview!
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Personally, and this is just my opinion, definitely not. The "weaknesses" they are looking for run a bit deeper then that, and are things you can demonstrate you have grown towards overcoming.
 
Yeah if you can remove the "too" from your weakness answer and suddenly its a strength then its a bad answer. (too honest, too hardworking, too much of a perfectionist).

I used my stubborness, my extremist all or nothing personality, and my reserve in social situations that I am unfamiliar with.
 
schooltill30 said:
I think its fine to use "strength weaknesses" as long as 1)it's genuine, 2) it's somewhat original (perfectionist and sensitive are still out), 3) you give it the right spin.

For example, something I would seriously consider using is the fact that I stress out when things are unknown. On the surface, that sounds as arrogant and fake as the perfectionist. But spin it and it'll come out better: "I get stressed out and neurotic when life hands me surprises. It can be debilitating sometimes, causing indecisiveness and worry that cloud my judgement". Now that you've officially disqualified yourself from being a doctor, spin it right back into a strength: "This happens because I can't stand not knowing things. I have a constant urge to know everything about a situation before it happens, so I can deal with it in the best way possible." I worry about events that I don't know about, because I'm afraid I won't make the right judgment calls when I need to." Then you can say how you are working on yourself blablabla.

You see, you can use strengths as weaknesses as long they actually are real weaknesses that will mean something to the ADCOM.
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Yeah I don't think that one is such a good idea. With the tail end part it comes off as typical premed bull****. I can't imagine it would go over well with an adcomm.

People - find a REAL weakness that you are REALLY working on to change. Doctors are humans - and if you can't come up with a single weakness that you wish you didn't have then adcomms will think you are either a) Lying or b) not self-reflective enough to actually know where you are weak.
 
SpeakLittleB said:
i'm not sure talking about a random weakness is the way to go. it rather shows an insensitivity to the social context that you are in, i.e. an interview for a medical school. creativity might be relevant, but if i were the interviewer and someone told me their weakness was shopping or sweets, i'd have second thoughts about whether the person really knew what was going on.
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Well, I'm not saying that I'd use my addiction to Mountain Dew as my weakness, but I think the lack of creativity weakness is a plausible one. It WILL affect me as a doctor, and affects me in many aspects of my life.
I think that if one thought about it enough and was honest to themselves for a few minutes, they could find a true weakness that doesn't seem cliche, doesn't seem like a serious problem in their application, and isn't a strength dressed up as a weakness.
I can come up with quite a few for myself.

Another weakness I have, although its close to the last category so I didn't use it, is that I tend to take my work home with me. At one point I would have nightmares about my jobs as a waitress and as a manager.... this is a bad thing for me, especially when I will be dealing with much more important things as a doctor than I ever did as a waitress and manager.
If I were to use this, I'd probably say that I haven't had this problem since I've had children. My children demand my attention as soon as I get home and don't give me a chance to dwell on the days problems. In addition, their unconditional love and general excitement to see me also help me forget my own insecurities as to my performance that day.
 
I am curious what you guys would think about ADHD as a weakness topic in an interview or even on a PS? In my case, it's unquestionably my biggest weakness at times, but also can be a strength. It's really situational - while sometimes I tend to procrastinate or take on more projects than I should at once, I have also found the wandering mind and creativity to be immensely beneficial often. It's been most problematic in "butt-in-seat" academic settings and is something I continue to learn compensation methods for (first years in college reflect my attention span in the breadth of classes selected, withdrawls, and even a couple C's). As a non-trad, re-entering school later in life with better coping skills gained from a lot of work (and less denial that adhd was a real disorder) has allowed me to sustain 4.0's (still undergrad), but I fear the possibility of being stigmatized- consciously or otherwise.

It's honest and truly my biggest "struggle", but being that it's also hugely beneficial at times and largely seen as a 'mental disorder', should I try to minimize any stress of its impact on my life?

Thoughts?

Don't mean to hijack - I guess a better question would be - how honest is TOO honest when it comes to real (and non-criminal:laugh:) shortfalls?

-FC
 
lilnoelle said:
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).
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Yeah, actually reading this thread I vetoed my formerly planned answer of the perfectionist cliche for the lack of imagination/creativity one. My boyfriend makes fun of me because I don't understand the attraction of his role-playing games, but I make fun of him for playing them so I think it evens out. Anyway, I agree with you that creativity as a doctor isn't a real necessity. maybe for thinking of rare disease origins? I dunno.
 
Anyway, I agree with you that creativity as a doctor isn't a real necessity.

???

That's a new one. Docs need to be creative - diseases aren't always cut and dried, and frequently common conditions can present in goofy ways; docs need to be creative when approaching conditions that are refractory to usual interventions; docs need to be creative in handling powderkeg patients and families, etc., etc. Perhaps you mean a different kind of creativity?
 
Haha, reminds me of Micheal on the office during his interview.
 
Quix said:
Anyway, I agree with you that creativity as a doctor isn't a real necessity.

???

That's a new one. Docs need to be creative - diseases aren't always cut and dried, and frequently common conditions can present in goofy ways; docs need to be creative when approaching conditions that are refractory to usual interventions; docs need to be creative in handling powderkeg patients and families, etc., etc. Perhaps you mean a different kind of creativity?
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Creativity is definitely something that is needed in medicine. I wouldn't say that lack of creativity isn't going to be a problem once one is a physician. However we all have our weaknesses. No one is perfect.
Its not a weakness that is going to keep someone out of med school in my opinion. There are certain things that might.
 
Quix said:
Perhaps you mean a different kind of creativity?
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Should have made myself clearer and specified "imagination." I lack no creativity when it comes to dealing with people/solving problems or answering tough questions. I just can't make up whole imaginary worlds and the like, as kids do on a regular basis and adults do sometimes.

If I specify this type of creativity instead of creativity in general, would *that* be a good answer?
 
Bluesmurf314 said:
Should have made myself clearer and specified "imagination." I lack no creativity when it comes to dealing with people/solving problems or answering tough questions. I just can't make up whole imaginary worlds and the like, as kids do on a regular basis and adults do sometimes.

If I specify this type of creativity instead of creativity in general, would *that* be a good answer?
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And most likely in an interview, an interviewer would ask you to explain what you meant.
Even imagination is important in medicine, fir instance, thinking outside of the box is necessary to be successful in research or in making medical equipment.
However, I don't think that its necessary for every doctor to be imaginative in this way.
 
But even that has a clinical role - again, lateral thinking is helpful. You frequently have to approach problems from multiple angles, which requires an ability to imagine a number of possible pathophysiological mechanisms. There is a lot of uncertainty in clinical practice - there are a number of different factors that can produce very similar pathologies. Imagination is also key for research - knowledge advances inductively, and it is also dependent upon the ability to think in an unorthodox manner.

I'm just not sold on "creativity" or "imagination" as being unimportant or less emphasized clinically; my experience dictates otherwise.
 
FullCircle said:
I am curious what you guys would think about ADHD as a weakness topic in an interview or even on a PS?
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I know what you are talking about... the rest of my family is ADHD and they hate going on their meds because they feel like their minds "slow down," but going untreated makes school pretty difficult. If I personally heard this, I thought it would be great, but who knows how much awareness adcoms will have of ADHD? Maybe you will have some that still don't really believe in it/aren't aware of how difficult it can be or are skeptical of the overdiagnosing that's been going on. I think the fact that you are making good grades after some time to figure it out lends you a lot of credibility, but it could still be risky. Good luck!
 
"my greatest weakness is being completely oblivious to the fact that I may, in fact, have a weakness"
 
Quix said:
I'm just not sold on "creativity" or "imagination" as being unimportant or less emphasized clinically; my experience dictates otherwise.
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OK, so is it a bad answer to the weakness question then? Because I can come up with something else...

And yes, yes, you are all right that creativity is important in medicine 😛
 
Quix said:
But even that has a clinical role - again, lateral thinking is helpful. You frequently have to approach problems from multiple angles, which requires an ability to imagine a number of possible pathophysiological mechanisms. There is a lot of uncertainty in clinical practice - there are a number of different factors that can produce very similar pathologies. Imagination is also key for research - knowledge advances inductively, and it is also dependent upon the ability to think in an unorthodox manner.

I'm just not sold on "creativity" or "imagination" as being unimportant or less emphasized clinically; my experience dictates otherwise.
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I won't disagree with you, however, lack of creativity actually is one of my largest weaknesses. Since it is true, for me it is a good answer. I run into problems due to my lack of creativity all of the time. Its seriously something that I wish could be different. However, no one can be perfect.
 
I think we are all generally bad assessors of our own character - I'd suggest asking friends about the things we do that they find irritating, annoying, or questionable. I think that's more honest than trying to manufacture or spin an artificial "weakness".
 
Quix said:
I think we are all generally bad assessors of our own character - I'd suggest asking friends about the things we do that they find irritating, annoying, or questionable. I think that's more honest than trying to manufacture or spin an artificial "weakness".
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In that case, I'm not sure that I have any strengths.
I could make a whole list of weaknesses according to my husband.
 
If in future interviews, you are asked the question again, the correct thing to do is to quickly spin around them and then pin their arms behind their back, all while menacingly whispering into their ear, "What weakness?"
 
OK new plan:
How about being independent and not willing to let other people share the workload? That can def. be a problem but I'm working on it while directing a musical this coming year which I clearly can't do on my own...
 
Bluesmurf314 said:
OK new plan:
How about being independent and not willing to let other people share the workload? That can def. be a problem but I'm working on it while directing a musical this coming year which I clearly can't do on my own...
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"does not work well with others"

Actually I have this problem too.... its not that I'm not willing to work in a team, but I usually take the brunt of the workload in order to make sure it gets done right. This changed for me in medical school. Most of my classmates are just as hard working if not harder working than I am and I am more than willing to share the responsibilities with my team members.
 
lilnoelle said:
"does not work well with others"

Actually I have this problem too.... its not that I'm not willing to work in a team, but I usually take the brunt of the workload in order to make sure it gets done right. This changed for me in medical school. Most of my classmates are just as hard working if not harder working than I am and I am more than willing to share the responsibilities with my team members.
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I still have theis problem - I'm not terribly willing to delegate. This has changed a bit as I've taken on some pre-meds into my studies; I'm happy to let them run the statistical analyses. 😉
 
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