1) Why should we hire you? What makes you so special out of the 100 candidates applying for this position?

2) What are your weaknesses?




How would you answer them?

…What?? Are you aware of what does and does not constitute a “debate” or “discussion”?

Will you please pee in this cup so our company can find out what you do on your own time?

I am not sure if this is a debate. I would postulate that a skilled interviewee can spin anything to her advantage regardless of qualifications, whereas a better-qualified but less-skilled interviewee will blow it.

"My biggest weakness is that I am a perfectionist. That and I work too hard, SIR.

…job hunt got you down?

carrollhach
"My biggest weakness is that I am a perfectionist. That and I work too hard, SIR.

I don't mean any offense by this but honestly…I never liked that answer. Luckily for everyone else, I was never in a position to decide on the hiring. :D

I'm the backup interviewee for a mock interview session my school's holding for professional development so I got sent this package that I'm suppose to read through regarding CVs and interviews. One of the things they've said was that when asked about your weaknesses, try not to be too negative about yourself but instead identify the lack of skill as an area of improvement.

So for example, you may not be so good at say…time management. So instead of saying “oh I really suck at time management,” you may consider saying things like “well I've been working on my time management skills” or “I've always found time management to be extra challenging so I work hard on improving that.”

The whole idea behind an interview is selling yourself. If you can't tell them why they should be hiring you instead of the Joe Average who just came before you…well, think harder. :P

I'm not sure what we can debate or discuss in this thread truthfully. So I'm just going to move this to the General forum.

Actually, Companies like that “workaholic weakness” answer.
A supervisor told me to say that once after he didnt hire me for a position that he gave to his *cough* girlfriend.

I just did the interview thing recently for a job with two openings within my current company and although I was the least qualified, I was the first person chosen.

What I did was create a booklet with as much information and knowledge on the job I could find. I studied it thoroughly and took it with me to the interview. They were so impressed by this that they gave me the job. They said they wanted someone who is willing to go out and get the information needed. It shows initiative and desire to learn. (Of course my boss tried to take credit for me making this study booklet which made me a little upset. While she did give me one piece of the material, I found the rest on my own.)
I learned this from a coworker in another job. She created a booklet with a plan for the company filled with goals and ideas. Although they didnt like her much, she got the job. I hope to make up a “goal/plan book” myself and hopefully I can get a director's job when I get the required years under my belt and a little more hands-on familiarity with operations.

Also, one tip is to use the word “proactive” when describing yourself. A lot of people feel its a meaningless BS word, but its interview gold if not overused.

One of the oddest questions I had was “If you could have dinner with three people, who would they be?”
Somehow I managed to say two that were exactly the same that the interviewer had in mind, but then, as I said, he gave the job to his *cough* girlfriend.
(I quit that job a week later, btw)

1) Why should we hire you? What makes you so special out of the 100 candidates applying for this position?

I breath Fire.

2) What are your weaknesses?

I procrastinate more than anyone I know.

You really have to be able to read the interviewer and business you're interviewing for because while saying something like

“My weakness is I work too hard” is a good, solid answer to someone who's uptight, or a very coporate envrioment, it wouldn't work very well in a much more relaxed non-corporate setting.

Were you to say something like:
“I'm trying to sell you a product, I'm not going to tell you what's wrong with it.” in the same setting it woudln't work, but a much more relaxed attitude, with an interviewer who isn't uptight (if they're wearing jeans, and are young for example) this would probably be a decent answer that'll at least make them remember you in a good way - which is what you want.

kyupol
1) Why should we hire you? What makes you so special out of the 100 candidates applying for this position?

2) What are your weaknesses?

1) Well, oddly enough, I can't really answer that question. However, if you were to tell me the qualifications of those other 99 candidates, I would then be able to spin their qualifications into negatives, thus making me look like a god in comparison. I'm just cool that way.

2) I'm too awesome for most people. But seriously, if I'm applying for a job, I clearly want it. You know that no one you interview is going to answer that question honestly. Well, unless their morons. You don't think I'm a moron do you?

kaminari
Actually, Companies like that “workaholic weakness” answer.
A supervisor told me to say that once after he didnt hire me for a position that he gave to his *cough* girlfriend.

Oh I don't doubt it works. I just personally never liked the answer myself. Again I'm not trying to offend anyone but if you really are a workaholic, you probably shouldn't tell them that. If you're not a workaholic, then you're not really being truthful.

I dunno. I think it just rubs me the wrong way. What does it mean to work too hard? And what are you really saying about yourself? And why is working hard a weakness? Is it suggesting that you're an easy target for exploitation and that's why they should hire you?

But then again, if it gets you the job…does it matter? ^^;;;

3) Are you drunk?

4) Dear god…. What is that?

5) Could you please leave?

6) WAKE UP!!!!!

No, no, no, no! I have a good one:
“So, just how far are you willing to go to get this job? Hmmmm?”

Ozone, you are a dirty, dirty man.

Moi? :)

ozoneocean
No, no, no, no! I have a good one:
“So, just how far are you willing to go to get this job? Hmmmm?”

Gives me an idea for a plot for a hardcore porn comic. Thanks ozone. ;)

wow, now that's dirty.

1) Why should we hire you? What makes you so special out of the 100 candidates applying for this position?

Well first off, why should I want this job? Out of the millions of occupations available (that aren't being taken by goobacks at severely reduced pay), why should I want to work here?


2) What are your weaknesses?

Nothing. Not even god.

Well, I left my last job because my dickhead boss fired me. Said I was stealing. It was BORROWING, man! BORROWING! I woulda brought back the computer. And the chair. And even the petty cash. I told him I only did it because I was high, but the asshole fired me anyway! So after I hit him with the phone a few times I yelled “YOU CAN'T FIRE ME BECAUSE I QUIT, JERK!”
But anyway, THIS place looks much cooler! What was the question again?

“Please explain the felony on your record.”

Tough question, that.