Interview tomorrow - questions?

alenax

Hello everyone,

I have an interview tomorrow (though I'm not getting my hopes up) and I was thinking that there are 2 questions that I always tank on -

1. What would you say your weaknesses are?

and

2. What makes you better than/sets you aside from other applicants?

I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to answer those questions because I always draw a massive blank! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

dehaani

alenax wrote: »

1. What would you say your weaknesses are?

You can't think for yourself?

alenax wrote: »

2. What makes you better than/sets you aside from other applicants?

Depends on the job?

alenax

dehaani wrote: »

You can't think for yourself?

I think I made it pretty clear that I can't think of an answer to that question and I'm sure everyone is well aware that there are certain "right" and "wrong" answers to questions like this.

singingkettle

Haha this has reminded me of that episode od the office the fella sais his weakness was ezema!

You need to make it seem like you have identified a weakness but you are working on turning it into a strength. For example "I identified that I wasn't as confident at public speaking as I'd like to be so I did x (e.g. practiced in some manner) and I feel I have adressed this weakness although I am always keen to improve"

Or you can be sneaky and say something which others would not view as a weakness e.g. "my meticulous attention to detail".

Eiether way relax and be yourself (well your work self).

Good luck : )

dehaani

alenax wrote: »

I'm sure everyone is well aware that there are certain "right" and "wrong" answers to questions like this.

Sorry, I thought honesty should have prevailed. What if you use someone else's answer then you get found out?

tealady

Hi. Re weakensses. What you need to do is show a strength as a weakness.
eg You could say my enthusiasm often runs away with me so that I often start off leaving others behind
or you always take things carefully, people have said you are slow but being methodical means fewer mistakes
or how about although you have good customer service skills, this often means customers want to spend time chatting to you which can take up your day and mean you have more work.

Being better than other applicants. I would answer that by saying as I haven't met the other applicants I couldn't compare myself to someone else but hope by my answers in interview I have given you an idea of my skills and what I can bring to the job.

dehaani

singingkettle wrote: »

Or you can be sneaky and say something which others would not view as a weakness e.g. "my meticulous attention to detail".

I've tried that before. They just called my bluff and said "That's not really a weakness, is it? Try to think of something else.".

singingkettle

dehaani wrote: »

I've tried that before. They just called my bluff and said "That's not really a weakness, is it? Try to think of something else.".

Yeah it is not really a good idea don't do that OP.

Dont obsess over certain questions as they may not even come up.

Just relax and pause before you answer if you can have a sip of water while you have a think.

You need to think of one of your actual (minor!) weakness and what you have tried to do to correct it and just tell them.

You could always have a run through of the interview with a friend tonight - give them a list of qs and practice answering them.

alenax

singingkettle wrote: »

Yeah it is not really a good idea don't do that OP.

Dont obsess over certain questions as they may not even come up.

Just relax and pause before you answer if you can have a sip of water while you have a think.

You need to think of one of your actual (minor!) weakness and what you have tried to do to correct it and just tell them.

You could always have a run through of the interview with a friend tonight - give them a list of qs and practice answering them.

Yeah, I've said that before and they said, "well I'd see it as a strength to be honest but fair enough!" so that's a no-go. I think I have an idea for what I'd say anyway.

I'm not obsessing but it has come up a few times and I'd like to be prepared in case it comes up again! Thanks

Mini_Bear

i bought a book on tough interview questions - answered. it was a bit americanised and sort of sales related but it did give me confidence and i got the job from the interview. i practised all the worst questions that could come up and none did!
best £15 i ever spent.
to answer your question 1. i often get told that i take the work too seriously at times and concentrate/fixate on one problem and its solution rather than lookin at the bigger picture. i have learnt to take a step back now and try to assess the problem in its proportion to my daily tasks and firms goals.
my biggest piece of advise - make sure you have examples (industry specific) for things you have done. i get my twin to practise an interview with me and she gives me tips on body language and stuff. practise practise practise.
Good luck OP

Reggie_Rebel

My weakness is not being able to answer stupid questions