"Some weaknesses" interview question advice

[malikhind]

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Hi, I hate this question so much but I want to answer truthfully rather than give generic answers. I was wondering if any of these answers look really bad.

1. I procrastinate, but I work better under pressure and I work on this by giving myself a daily schedule with a goal in mind.

2. I am overly competitive, which helps me excel in school but causes me to over-stress/think about many situations.

3. I like to focus on one thing at a time, but it allows me to perfect that one thing before moving on to something else.

 

[dent_wannabe]

Hi, I hate this question so much but I want to answer truthfully rather than give generic answers. I was wondering if any of these answers look really bad.

1. I procrastinate, but I work better under pressure and I work on this by giving myself a daily schedule with a goal in mind.

2. I am overly competitive, which helps me excel in school but causes me to over-stress/think about many situations.

3. I like to focus on one thing at a time, but it allows me to perfect that one thing before moving on to something else.

I heard the first one is not a good one, because while that habit may have worked for you up until now, it is very unlikely going to work in dental school.

 

[setdoc7]

Focusing on one thing at a time is actually a positive, as the concept of multitasking is not real, it just means you are not giving your full attention to any one thing. Use that.

 

[ab117]

I talked about procrastinating in response to this question, but I talked about how as my classes have gotten more difficult I’ve had to be much more aware of my tendency to procrastinate to be able to continue to do well. I felt like that was a good angle since I straight-up acknowledged the weakness but told them I was actively trying to do something about it, rather than doing the cheesy but-here’s-how-it’s-not-a-weakness thing. Interviewers responded well when I talked about it like that.

 

[dent_wannabe]

Here are my 3, any feedback?

1. I may require too much affirmation about whether I did my task correctly (i.e., asking "is this right?" too often). However, being employed full time as an engineer required me to work on convincing myself whether or not I am doing my task correctly. I had to realize that in an employment setting, I cannot expect my supervisors and colleagues to hold my hand, thus I had to take greater responsibility for knowing what I am doing.
2. I may become overly concerned about what other people think of me. However, having been a TA for a very large class, I had to realize that I cannot always please everybody, and it is not always something that I need to take personally. For example, a student expressing preference to be helped by another TA instead does not necessarily mean I am bad at my job, because every student learns differently.
3. I may compare myself to other classmates too much, and feel discouraged if I am not satisfied with where I ranked. However, working full time as an engineer showed that eventually it will not matter so much. Grades are important, but at the end of the day, it is the ability to produce results that matters most, and not how many classmates I scored better than on a given exam.

 

[2jz]

I prefer taking the approach of talking about something that was a weakness. Present whatever problem you may have had, then explain how you worked to turn that deficit into a strength. My answer is always public speaking since I was truly afraid of it (and a lot of people can relate to that), but I became quite good at it through acting in school plays and then having to work in a position that had me speaking to rooms of 40-150 people.

Avoid saying something as a negative hoping it'll look like a positive. It may reveal more about you than you intended or it may say simply the wrong thing about you. I took a class on laboratory management that included key things to avoid when hiring people, and their example was to not hire anyone who said "I'm a perfectionist". People who identify as such often struggle with self confidence; they may struggle to finish a project without reinforcement from a superior or might not even start said project if any little detail is left out or left for them to come up with.

 

[setdoc7]

This question appears in most corporate interview books, and there are lots of good answers listed. I have made mention of his resource numerous times in the past. Interviews require preparation. Relying on your otherwise charming personality may not be enough. Luck comes to the most prepared. (thanks Erica).

 

[IdleKoala]

Always make sure to turn your weakness into a positive. Don't just answer the question at face value "I struggle with procrastination," and leave it at that. Always try to frame them in a positive light or show how you've improved in that specific area. It is a very common question, I was asked it at my HPSP interview and at two dental schools so far, so be prepared.

For example, one of my weaknesses is that I have an addictive personality when it comes to media ( Netflix/Facebook etc), when I start a new show or a new book, I get sucked into the story and almost have to finish it above everything else or I can't focus properly. So my solution is just to limit my media time, and during a tough semester I completely remove Netflix or other distractions from my life, and through doing this I have learned how to prioritize my goals and work hard on the things that matter for my long term success. Best of luck!