I hate this question...

[ONCRN84]

I have a couple interviews coming up and I need some advice. I think I interview pretty well (I've never not gotten a job I've interviewed for), but I always struggle with the "what's your greatest weakness?" question. What are some good answers to this that make it into a positive? It's the question I always find myself struggling through!!! I hate it so much and get so nervous about it that I don't even remember what some of my previous answers have been. I know that I'm a perfectionist... but that seems really generic. The positions I'm interview for are critical care and ER, if that helps. Thanks!

[talaxandra]

The perfectionist thing is actually true... I'm sorry it's generic, but I am. I have a tendency to come home from work and think about things I can improve on. "I don't like the way this was handled, how can I do it better next time?" kind of thing.

In that case you could preface your reply with saying you know it is a generic, cliched response but perfectionism really is an issue, then discuss what you mean, how this is a weakness rather than a way of reflecting on and improving your practice, and what strategies you use to overcome it.

I have to say, though, that what you describe sounds more like the kind of practice I would hope all nurses practice - what did I do well, what did I do badly, what prevented me from performing better, what could I change next time? Problem perfectionists either can not cut corners regardless of the clinical scenario (eg a patient is coding next door but they have to finish a complete and comprehensive bed bath on their dependent patient before helping), demand others perform all work to their idiosyncratic standards, redo perfectly adequate work because it fails to meet their standards regardless of what else needs to be done, or stay late and get in the way of th next shift because they either have yet to finish or think nobody else can do it right. All these are disruptive behaviours that adversely affect the unit as a whole, as well as the perfectionist nurse.

Interviewers want to hire people - otherwise the job would not be advertised. The CV, interview and references are their only way of knowing who will be a good candidate and a good fit. Frankly, warning bells go off for me with job-obsessed responses, too - either you are lying or your life is one dimensional and you are not well adjusted and well rounded. And if you are lying and even one referee mention you ran in sick or were inflexible or anything else that conflicts with your statement, you are screwed.

[llg, PhD, RN]

The perfectionist thing is actually true... I'm sorry it's generic, but I am. I have a tendency to come home from work and think about things I can improve on. "I don't like the way this was handled, how can I do it better next time?" kind of thing. I'm also a cleaner. I clean up after people before they even realize they've made a mess. And I'm one of those annoying people who won't pick a side in a fight because I can usually see both sides... so this is both a curse and blessing.

Ahhhh...It seems to me that you are being honest in your answer quoted above. You are able to discuss it and explain how it causes problems for you. It seems as if you could discuss it further it asked to do so. In such cases, it's OK to use that response. It's not a lie for you and you wouldn't be "thrown" by my follow-up questions. I would see that you are being truthful and that would be a good thing.

It's the people who are just lying when they say that whose lies trip them up.

[ONCRN84]

Thanks for everyone's replies. It's all good, useful information to help me prepare a little bit. I think my previous answers during interviews have been good (and I know I've been asked this every time), but I think I get so freaked out and nervous about the question that I just blank it out. I have no idea what has spewed from my mouth in the past, so I'm trying to come up with something BEFORE hand.

[Scrubby]

I agree that the perfectionist thing is cliche.

My answer to this question is completely honest and has never stopped me getting a position.

'My biggest weakness is that I tend to be very hard on myself if I don't pick learn new skills quickly.' I guess this makes me sound like a perfectionist but I try not to use the term.

[Tait, MSN, RN]

"Asking for help more" is always my go to answer.

Independence with the humility to realize sometimes you try to do everything yourself

[Marvie]

smile and say "chocolate"

[ONCRN84]

I had an interview today. It was REALLY well and they never asked me what my biggest weakness is. =)