Weakest attribute...

[CantStop_WontStop]

The question is... What would be your strongest attribute? what would be your weakest as a XXXX student?

For my weakest attribute, I want to say that I have historically had trouble with being overly-focused when I am devoted to achieving a goal, and making time for activities outside of work/school suffer. Although this has it's benefits at times, when left unchecked it can have a negative impact on personal relationships, health, as well as a counter effect on school/work performance. To balance this, I make a purposeful effort to exercise, eat healthy, study in intervals, and communicate regularly with friends, family, and significant other.

Although this is true for me, I feel like it has that aspect of looking like I'm trying to use a positive attribute as a negative, but I'm not meaning it too.

Opinions on if it comes off as BS/weak statement, or if it sounds okay?

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[Goro]

You can be criticized by a screener or interviewer asking "A virtue is a negative attribute"?

You're not the first person who has tried this.

The question is... What would be your strongest attribute? what would be your weakest as a XXXX student?

For my weakest attribute, I want to say that I have historically had trouble with being overly-focused when I am devoted to achieving a goal, and making time for activities outside of work/school suffer. Although this has it's benefits at times, when left unchecked it can have a negative impact on personal relationships, health, as well as a counter effect on school/work performance. To balance this, I make a purposeful effort to exercise, eat healthy, study in intervals, and communicate regularly with friends, family, and significant other.

Although this is true for me, I feel like it has that aspect of looking like I'm trying to use a positive attribute as a negative, but I'm not meaning it too.

Opinions on if it comes off as BS/weak statement, or if it sounds okay?

 

[CantStop_WontStop]

True, and that's how I'm worried about coming off as... thanks for the input.

 

[CantStop_WontStop]

@Goro, what would your thoughts be on admitting to being indecisive in certain situations and how I've worked on that over the years?

 

[Goro]

I'd be OK with that. My wife is really, really indecisive, except in crisis situations.

@Goro, what would your thoughts be on admitting to being indecisive in certain situations and how I've worked on that over the years?

 

[YoungDoc25]

I talked about being overly attached to patients and used an example of my first night as a tech in the ED when a patient coded and I did chest compressions for 10+ minutes as the family watched from outside. The patient died and the family was devastated and I struggled to be ok with that (not that you should ever be totally ok with it). It's tough for me to stay in the middle emotionally sometimes. Probably comes with time and experience, but for now I think everyone who walks in the ED is saveable. Not always the case though.

 

[getfat]

"I work to hard" or "I am a perfectionist"

But seriously, One interview book i've read (Thanks to @JDWannabe) suggested answering weakness questions in the following manner.

You want to list genuine but non damning weakness that most of us have (Don't mention you drank too much in college, partied too hard or anything drug related). Most importantly, you want to effectively explain what you have done to improve on this weakness.

So for example, I was asked this question in my last interview. My response was that my main weakness was taking on too much responsibility at once. I mention taking the time to introspectively understood my school work suffered and something needed to change. I took the time to mention that I learned how to actively evaluate my future schedule. Most importantly, I learned to be realistic and speak with ECs and learned how to multitask or turn down opportunities.

They want applicants that can understand themselves and most importantly effectively take steps to fix the problem.

 

[GBCrzzyy]

One interview book i've read (Thanks to @JDWannabe)

Do you mind giving the title/author of the book? I would definitely be interested in reading that.

Also, I was thinking of using impatience as my weakness to answer this question and I work on it by using reason and distracting myself with other important tasks. Not sure if this will be good or not

 

[getfat]

Do you mind giving the title/author of the book? I would definitely be interested in reading that.

Also, I was thinking of using impatience as my weakness to answer this question and I work on it by using reason and distracting myself with other important tasks. Not sure if this will be good or not

Sorry I took so long. I was working all weekend.

The Medical School Interview By:Jeremiah Fleenor

Credit to @JDWannabe for that reference.

Edit: Mistyped authors name

 

[Neurality]

@getfat Thanks for listing the book. Just ordered the final used copy available on Amazon for my 1st II on the 15th. I was also thinking of responding along the lines of the OP until reading this. My determination to accomplish/change something truly has affected my relationships, friendships and personal life negatively. I thought that would be gold. I am now brainstorming as to what else I could say 😕

 

[DocMcMommy]

 

[JB50]

"I work to hard" or "I am a perfectionist"

But seriously, One interview book i've read (Thanks to @JDWannabe) suggested answering weakness questions in the following manner.

You want to list genuine but non damning weakness that most of us have (Don't mention you drank too much in college, partied too hard or anything drug related). Most importantly, you want to effectively explain what you have done to improve on this weakness.

So for example, I was asked this question in my last interview. My response was that my main weakness was taking on too much responsibility at once. I mention taking the time to introspectively understood my school work suffered and something needed to change. I took the time to mention that I learned how to actively evaluate my future schedule. Most importantly, I learned to be realistic and speak with ECs and learned how to multitask or turn down opportunities.

They want applicants that can understand themselves and most importantly effectively take steps to fix the problem.

I've always done that for job interviews after I read that somewhere. Definitely planned on doing a similar strategy for interviews 🙂