What if we had to tell the real truth when asked about our weaknesses?

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The standard advice during interviews when this question comes up is to pick a mild fault and put a positive spin about how you are dealing with it successfully. I suspect interviewers foolish enough to ask this question hear a lot about perfectionism and workaholic behaviors.

For fun I thought about what I would say if I had to speak the real truth with no softening or anything else.

Would I really say that I am generally unassertive and conflict avoidant.? There is a lazy streak present where I am always tempted to take the easy way out. I work part-time because I can and would rather not deal with all the stress of full-time work; it also lets me avoid staff meetings and nursing committee requirements. Hire me and you can be sure I will never be voted nurse of the year.

What would you never say for that interview question?

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I never understand questions about weaknesses and "where will you be in 10 years?" If I were an interviewer I would know these questions are unfair and will almost never yield a truthful (truly) response.

If I were to answer this question I would say I will come in every day and work very hard, but I am not going to suck up to you/coworkers, I will probably not add you/coworkers on facebook, and I will probably never go out with you/coworkers outside of work.

I personally don't view this as a weakness, but it sure has given me a lot of flack over the years I've been working.

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I would say 'I suck big time at maths!! So much so i used a calculator in year 6 in tests...it's the whole patterns thing'

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Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.

This is weird that I'm seeing this after my beginning a new thread but.....I'm weak with dosage calculations because, I next to never have to use them in LTC.

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"Don't put me on a floor where there are a lot of patient families bringing in food. I'll scarf all of it."

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"uhm...my weakness? I get nervous at job interviews! I tend to think of the perfect answer as i am driving home.."

:roflmao:

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I love that behavioral question: "When have you really ****** up, and how did you remedy the situation"

Answer: "I almost let a patient bleed to death, but then got him some blood so he was fine, and then cleaned up the floor so nobody would slip..." LOL wouldn't that be great just to see the look on their faces?

or,

"Do you believe it's OK to break the rules in order to get things done in order to please the client?"

Always the answer is: "No, O.M.G!!!!! you cannot break the rules, it is forbidden! and you won't go to heaven then when you die either. :nailbiting:" LOL.

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Truthful answers i have given in the past, included

"I once had a tardy problem while raising children. Getting everyone organized and out the door at proper time, was occasionally difficult to achieve. But, once my children grew up and moved out, i realized *I* don't have a tardy problem."

"I have occasionally had trouble delegating, and ended up doing some chore or task by myself, instead of delegating it. The drawback was, i would end up getting behind on my own list of tasks. I have since developed the confidence to be able to effectively delegate."

^both of those are actually true, of me. I really did have trouble asking others to do this or that, in the past.

(feedback welcome--i've never ever been in position to hire people, wonder how those do land in the ear of an employer.) I suppose neither one recognizes an ongoing CURRENT problem, though....of which i have a few!! ha ha!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Neuro, Respiratory.

"I have occasionally had trouble delegating, and ended up doing some chore or task by myself, instead of delegating it. The drawback was, i would end up getting behind on my own list of tasks. I have since developed the confidence to be able to effectively delegate."

I have used the delegating example in an interview. This was the most constructive (but true) thing I could come up with for a weakness!

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Specializes in LTC/Sub Acute Rehab.
"uhm...my weakness? I get nervous at job interviews! I tend to think of the perfect answer as i am driving home.."

:roflmao:

I thought it was just me!;)
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Specializes in Pedi.

If I was really going to be honest:

"Don't expect me to follow 'rules' that I don't agree with/don't see the point of just because "that's how we do things here", I'll speak my mind and challenge you every time."

"Don't expect me kiss your behind, I don't care about winning brownie points."

When I really get asked this question, I make up some nonsense that's partly true but can be spun in a positive way. I absolutely ABHOR this question... the interviewer knows the interviewee is going to lie. I remember discussing this with a friend when I was interviewing last year and we both agreed that no one would ever tell the honest-to-God truth when asked this question in an interview- she said her biggest weakness is that she's always late (which is true, I usually wait between 20-40 minutes for her when we go anywhere) but that she would never admit to that in an interview because that would undoubtedly lead to her not being hired.

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As my boss, I will tell you what I think and not sugarcoat it. I will be direct/frank/hardline with you, but that doesn't mean I can't sugarcoat or soft sell it to others when I need to.

And yes, this has gotten me into tangles in the past, at least until they get used to me

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