Biggest weakness

**NICU Guy, BSN, RN** · Mar 29, 2018

My go to answer is "I have a tenancy to not ask for help when I get busy. I am will to help anyone else that gets busy, but struggle to ask for help for myself." It is a weakness, but implies that I am a hard worker.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 2, 2018

As someone who interviews people ... I hate any answer that sounds too reheorificed and perhaps, not true. So, I usually ask follow-up questions to assure that the person is not giving me a "made up" answer. If they have made up a fake answer, I can usually discover that -- and often, make a squirm a bit with my follow-up questions. Eventually, the truth comes out -- and we can deal with their development needs in a positive way.

I recommend starting with the truth. What really is one of you main weaknesses? Be honest with yourself. Then ... figure out a way to discuss that weakness in a way that doesn't make you sound too bad. Talk about what you have done to address that weakness so that it doesn't cause a big problem at work.

Employers don't expect to hire people who are perfect and who have no learning/development needs. They want to hire people who are aware of their development needs and who are taking care of them so that they don't interfere with their ability to do their jobs.

So what really are some of your development/learning needs that you could discuss in an interview?

Have Nurse, ADN, RN · Apr 3, 2018

Does anyone have any advice or examples on how to answer the question on what is your biggest weakness?

Sounds like you're prepping for an interview. And you alone can answer that, no one else can. Go get 'em!

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Apr 3, 2018

Interviewers ask that stupid question to see how good you are at "playing the game". If they don't have any more imagination than that, don't go overboard on a creative or honest answer.

Pick some silly character quirk and exploit the heck out of it.

1) I always get to my appointments too early because I don't like to be late.

2) I work so hard I sometimes do other peoples' work for them.

3) Sometimes my co-workers tell me I'm too neat at work.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 5, 2018

Interviewers ask that stupid question to see how good you are at "playing the game".

That's not why I ask that question. I honestly want to know what an applicant's learning needs are. If an applicant is "playing a game" with me ... I'm probably not going to offer them the job.

KelRN215, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2018

I hate that question. I usually say something to the tune of delegation/always wanting to do everything myself. And that's why I apply to jobs where I function very independently and don't have to delegate to UAPs.

Mavrick, BSN, RN · Apr 7, 2018

That's not why I ask that question. I honestly want to know what an applicant's learning needs are. If an applicant is "playing a game" with me ... I'm probably not going to offer them the job.

Then why don't you just ask that instead of the silly "weakness" BS.

There is plenty of game playing going on and it starts in HR. What exactly do you think "competitive salary "means to job seekers?

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 9, 2018

Then why don't you just ask that instead of the silly "weakness" BS.
There is plenty of game playing going on and it starts in HR. What exactly do you think "competitive salary "means to job seekers?

I do. I usually ask them what weaknesses they have that they need to work on -- or what aspects of nursing do they need to improve? I don't have a standard way for phrase it. An applicant should be smart enough to understand the question regardless of the exact phrasing. It's not that obscure.