Weakness Question

[oink2655]

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I am preparing for my interview and I am completely stuck on the tell me about your weakness question. I was thinking of talking about time management but seeing that you will have to handle 20 units in school, I don't think I should use that as my weakness. My professor told me to use shyness. Does anyone have any advice?

 

[DHG]

I am preparing for my interview and I am completely stuck on the tell me about your weakness question. I was thinking of talking about time management but seeing that you will have to handle 20 units in school, I don't think I should use that as my weakness. My professor told me to use shyness. Does anyone have any advice?

Whatever you pick, make it sound like a strength in the end. Example:

My biggest weakness is that sometimes I try to take on too many responsibilities. I am very energetic and always want to be involved in a lot of things. I sometimes feel like I can do anything, if I put my mind to it! Sometimes because of this I find myself with a massive workload, and even though I handle it well, I need to learn how to schedule a little more time for myself to recharge. I'm finding that the more I do take some time for myself, the better I preform in my other tasks, and the older I get, the better I get at scheduling my time. So even though I sometimes find myself having to resist the urge to take on 'just one more project,' I have been able to still do a lot of things, do them better, and yet also have time for myself ...


You can take any negative quality and make it sound good if you get creative...

Where is your interview?

 

[bananaface]

Well, what are some things that other candidates have as an advanatage over you?

 

[ndearwater]

Don't use an overused weakness like "I'm a perfectionist" or something like that. Be sincere. There are three little rules about strengths/weaknesses that I learned in an interview seminar:
1. Do not list more strengths than weaknesses or vice versa. It appears arrogant when you can't seem to think of a weakness.
2. Choose a weakness that is not really mandatory for the job/position/career for which you are applying. (In the case of pharmacy, don't say you have bad time management). In other words, choose a weakness that wouldn't affect you everday, such as Public Speaking. Shyness might not be good cause you deal with patients regularly but you probably won't be giving a lot of big speeches.
3. Identify a way in which you are working on this weakness. You can say, I'm practicing my public speaking by giving presentations at work or I'm taking speech next semester or even just "I have gotten more comfortable speaking in front of large groups since I began my college career through oral presentations/group work."

Think in terms of what you are the least comfortable doing and state that as your weakness but always make sure you can defend how that won't keep you from becoming an awesome pharmacist.

 

[DownonthePharm]

"Kryptonite"

see if they laugh.

I dont think what the answer you give is as important as how you give it. I think the intent is not really to see what your weaknesses are, but to gauge how you see yourself and see that you arent someone who sees themselves as perfect.

What if you said something like "I tend to overeat when I get stressed, so I make sure to have plenty of mini-carrots around when Im busy." Would they think that was trite? What if that IS your big weakness?

Shyness is OK to use, but Pharmacy is still a very public oriented field, so unless you plan on working in mail-order or in a hospital where your sure they wont send you out around the patients this is an iffy weakness. Although truth be told I did address a lot about my struggles through social anxiety in my personal statement.

You are correct, do not use anything related to time management or organization or accuracy as weaknesses.

 

[dana92085]

i hate this question. i think that it is a load of crock because everyone says something that is actually a strength. i want someone to just say the truth like i am so 'take charge' that most people just think that i am really really mean or something like that.

 

[usi]

i hate this question. i think that it is a load of crock because everyone says something that is actually a strength. i want someone to just say the truth like i am so 'take charge' that most people just think that i am really really mean or something like that.

No doubt, the world would be a better place if everyone was this honest. I would not try to change the world during my interview for Grad School or for a JOB. Wait until you are in, then you can be yourself.
An interview is sort of like a play. Everyone is acting, everyone is on their best behavior. (Is not easy for the interviwer either, trust me)
Is just the human acceptable way of letting each other belong to a circle that enjoys certain privileges. Blunt honesty is scary to most people.
Just relax, and be yourself within the realm of the interview
😉

 

[MaybeCO2010]

So I guess then procrastination would be a "bad" weakness?

"Kryptonite"

see if they laugh.

I dont think what the answer you give is as important as how you give it. I think the intent is not really to see what your weaknesses are, but to gauge how you see yourself and see that you arent someone who sees themselves as perfect.

What if you said something like "I tend to overeat when I get stressed, so I make sure to have plenty of mini-carrots around when Im busy." Would they think that was trite? What if that IS your big weakness?

Shyness is OK to use, but Pharmacy is still a very public oriented field, so unless you plan on working in mail-order or in a hospital where your sure they wont send you out around the patients this is an iffy weakness. Although truth be told I did address a lot about my struggles through social anxiety in my personal statement.

You are correct, do not use anything related to time management or organization or accuracy as weaknesses.

 

[freshbeatschris]

What about saying math is my weakness? How bad does that look?

 

[38ctk]

be honest, don't be stupid. It takes a little common sense to figure out that stating a particular weakness might not be so much in your favor (it also helps in the way you state the weakness).

Everyone usually says the same thing "taking on too many responsibilities, perfectionist, etc. "

Dig deep and think about it. It came to me after a little while. I was actually brutally honest and said I have to really learn how to balance my school work and my social life. Although it seems like a really bad answer, I explained myself and gave them examples of how I was working towards fixing that "weakness" (ie. playing tennis, shooting pool, traveling whenever and whereever I can, picking up new hobbies). Whatever you do, always state how you are moving towards fixing the problem. Hope that helps!

I went through the whole interview thing and I realized, being honest (smart honest) is a lot better than trying to pull something out of your butt. You will find yourself a lot more nervous during the interview if you don't know what you're talking about.

 

[ndearwater]

How about "I have a hard time delegating responsibility to other people in a team/group setting. It's sometimes difficult for me to let go of control over a project etc."? That's kind of a spin off the old "taking on too many responsibilities".
It's a legitimate weakness but it shows that you are take charge and not lazy! Does that sound too overused or fake?

 

[38ctk]

How about "I have a hard time delegating responsibility to other people in a team/group setting. It's sometimes difficult for me to let go of control over a project etc."? That's kind of a spin off the old "taking on too many responsibilities".
It's a legitimate weakness but it shows that you are take charge and not lazy! Does that sound too overused or fake?

As long as you explain yourself and talk how about the steps you are taking in delegating responsibilities to other people, it should be fine. Always spin off the question so that it is in your favor somehow. Maybe even mention a time how you were relieved that you could take some of the responsibilities off your shoulders. Be careful, because "your weakness" might turn into a "well how do you work in a group setting" question. It's really about trust, teamwork, and communicating with your peers and coworkers.