Interviewing skillz [Archive] - SoonerFans.com Message Boards

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 08:56 AM

I've got an interview this afternoon. Been preparing for a couple days. But there is one question I'm not quite sure what a decent answer would be. And I have been asked this before and it through me for a loop. Whats your biggest weakness?

C&CDean

6/26/2007, 08:58 AM

Well tell us the damn question and we'll give you a damn answer.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 09:01 AM

Whats your biggest weakness?

Sooner in Tampa

6/26/2007, 09:01 AM

Biggest weakness = surfing SF.com @ work

C&CDean

6/26/2007, 09:02 AM

Whats your biggest weakness?

OOooooh. The question on YOUR interview is "what's your biggest weakness."

I usually just say "chicken fry" or "poon."

TopDaugIn2000

6/26/2007, 09:04 AM

I'm a procrastinator.

I'll tell you my answer later.

jk the sooner fan

6/26/2007, 09:06 AM

OOooooh. The question on YOUR interview is "what's your biggest weakness."

I usually just say "chicken fry" or "poon."

lol

i hate that question myself, its a trap - i've never understood why HR types ask it, do they ever get an honest answer?

KABOOKIE

6/26/2007, 09:07 AM

Working with stupid people.

sooner_born_1960

6/26/2007, 09:08 AM

My greatest weakness is intolerance for stupid questions and those that pose them.

springs sooner

6/26/2007, 09:08 AM

my weakness is my urge to smack people in the face when they asked what my weakness is.

Big Red Ron

6/26/2007, 09:12 AM

Seriously, I'd say, "I work too hard, and sometimes at the detriment of my family." You know the whole job before family routine and add a little I can't even take a sick day unless I'm forced to for fear of spreading a virus. That'll throw em for a loop.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 09:19 AM

Or also possibly I can get to involved with the details of a project. Which is somewhat true at times.

Pricetag

6/26/2007, 09:23 AM

lol

i hate that question myself, its a trap - i've never understood why HR types ask it, do they ever get an honest answer?
Yeah, it's a total cliche, and generates nothing but bull**** for answers. It's mental masturbation in one of its highest forms.

OzarkSooner

6/26/2007, 09:25 AM

Big Red Ron kinda' beat me to it, but, in reality I'd say something like:

"My biggest weakness is I'm loyal to my employer to the point of not always considering areas such as what's best for my self, family, friends, etc. as critically as I should."

SCOUT

6/26/2007, 09:29 AM

Yeah, it's a total cliche, and generates nothing but bull**** for answers. It's mental masturbation in one of its highest forms.
It may be a cliche and one easily danced around by all those who reside on sf.com.

However, people have given some very poor, and sometimes shocking, answers to this question. I look at it as a simple weed out question. If you are too dim witted to give some canned response, there really isn't much need for the rest of the interview.

mdklatt

6/26/2007, 09:35 AM

Here's my stock answer for when that question comes up. It's actually true, even though it sounds like BS.

My biggest weakness is that I can be too much of a perfectionist. Sometimes I focus too much on doing something right instead of doing something right now.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 09:40 AM

Thanks!!!

Soonrboy

6/26/2007, 09:42 AM

I was interviewing a teacher once with a group of others. One of the others asked her this question. She replied, "I'm not perfect...I'm working on it everyday, but not there yet!" Then she giggled. I thought that was good. Plus, wear a nice pink sweater.

Viking Kitten

6/26/2007, 09:42 AM

It may be a cliche and one easily danced around by all those who reside on sf.com.

However, people have given some very poor, and sometimes shocking, answers to this question. I look at it as a simple weed out question. If you are too dim witted to give some canned response, there really isn't much need for the rest of the interview.

Yup. This type of question is asked more see how you handle tricky questions rather than to elicit any kind of honest response. As already mentioned, the best answers are "I'm a workaholic," or "I'm too much of a perfectionist." Then you say nothing and wait for the next question. There may be a brief pause while they wait to see if they can trick you into saying something else. Don't be the dorkwad who falls for that one. Just wait out the pause, and don't elaborate with the details of your Internet porn addiction.

Sooner Born Sooner Bred

6/26/2007, 09:45 AM

Or also possibly I can get to involved with the details of a project. Which is somewhat true at times.How about saying I can get too involved with the details of a project. However, I've learned that if I take time to look at the big picture I can complete it more successfully.

C&CDean

6/26/2007, 09:50 AM

Yup. This type of question is asked more see how you handle tricky questions rather than to elicit any kind of honest response. As already mentioned, the best answers are "I'm a workaholic," or "I'm too much of a perfectionist." Then you say nothing and wait for the next question. There may be a brief pause while they wait to see if they can trick you into saying something else. Don't be the dorkwad who falls for that one. Just wait out the pause, and don't elaborate with the details of your Internet porn addiction.

Wrong answer.

I've done LOTS of interviews. Many times using canned interview forms/questions - which all have this type of question. When someone gives me the old bull**** "my only fault is that I work too hard" he'll never get hired by me. Mainly because I don't like to hire bull**** artists.

What any interviewer worth his salt would like to see is someone's honesty and/or creativity here. I was dead serious when I said "chicken fry." If the interview says "well I mean while on the job" I usually just say "I have to be honest, my desk is usually always a mess, but I always know where everything is. If I could improve something, it'd be my personal space organization." I've told the truth, and the truth shall ALWAYS set you free.

Viking Kitten

6/26/2007, 09:52 AM

Okay, but what if his biggest weakness truly is his Internet porn addiction? Would you hire someone who came right out and told you that? I sure the hell wouldn't.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 09:56 AM

What about I have a problem about bringing a flask to work? Would that fly?

SCOUT

6/26/2007, 09:59 AM

Wrong answer.

I've done LOTS of interviews. Many times using canned interview forms/questions - which all have this type of question. When someone gives me the old bull**** "my only fault is that I work too hard" he'll never get hired by me. Mainly because I don't like to hire bull**** artists.

What any interviewer worth his salt would like to see is someone's honesty and/or creativity here. I was dead serious when I said "chicken fry." If the interview says "well I mean while on the job" I usually just say "I have to be honest, my desk is usually always a mess, but I always know where everything is. If I could improve something, it'd be my personal space organization." I've told the truth, and the truth shall ALWAYS set you free.
I don't disagree with this at all. You demonstrated the ability to think on your feet and come up with an answer. The, "my desk is usually a mess but..." part is pretty much a canned answer though :)

Viking Kitten

6/26/2007, 10:04 AM

Here's my honest response.

"Well... I hate waking up in the morning. I mean I really hate it. You're all snuggled up in your warm and cozy blankie havin' some hot dream about a Jonathan Rhys Meyers/Colin Firth threeway and then "BEEEEEEP!!!! BEEEEEEP!!!! BEEEEEEEP!!!!" goes that stupid alarm clock. So I am a big fan of the ol' snooze button. I mean seriously. I've snoozed for like an hour. So I hope your corporate culture doesn't place a huge emphasis on punctuality because I'm usually running 10-15 minutes late in the mornings on a good day."

Yeah sorry... I just don't see this question as the time for 100 percent honesty.

C&CDean

6/26/2007, 10:05 AM

There's a lot of **** you can be honest about without being REALLY honest.

King Crimson

6/26/2007, 10:11 AM

Here's my honest response.

"Well... I hate waking up in the morning. I mean I really hate it. You're all snuggled up in your warm and cozy blankie havin' some hot dream about a Jon Rhys-Davis/Colin Firth threeway and then "BEEEEEEP!!!! BEEEEEEP!!!! BEEEEEEEP!!!!"

http://w-uh.com/images/John_Rhys-Davies_as_Gimli.jpg

Mongo

6/26/2007, 10:15 AM

What about I have a problem about bringing a flask to work? Would that fly?

The days of boozing on the job are over in the patch, it is now oxycotin(sp) and meth, so get after it mister.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 10:17 AM

The days of boozing on the job are over in the patch, it is now oxycotin(sp) and meth, so get after it mister.

:hot: :texan:

6/26/2007, 10:18 AM

6/26/2007, 10:19 AM

Okay, but what if his biggest weakness truly is his Internet porn addiction? Would you hire someone who came right out and told you that? I sure the hell wouldn't.

VK, who are you fooling. You'd reach across the desk and give him a high five. ;)

1stTimeCaller

6/26/2007, 10:20 AM

Here's your response.

'On the golf course I sometimes let my right elbow get away from me. At work it's the same weakness every other person my age has that you are interviewing, inexperience. But that won't be a problem with me as I have been a mud logger for __ months and am a quick learner.'

Viking Kitten

6/26/2007, 10:22 AM

http://w-uh.com/images/John_Rhys-Davies_as_Gimli.jpg

That would have been funny if you would have spelled "Davies" correctly.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 10:23 AM

I like that one. Even though I have two years interning I still consider myself pretty inexperienced about the industry but I learn something new about how it all works every day.

toast

6/26/2007, 11:10 AM

I usually tell them I keep the fries in the deep-fryer too long.

TMcGee86

6/26/2007, 12:13 PM

Just say "interviews".

Throws it right back at him and it lets him know that everything he sees only gets better when he hires you.

Frozen Sooner

6/26/2007, 12:55 PM

I always say "Kryptonite."

Hamhock

6/26/2007, 01:02 PM

i'm a fan of the question.

one person said "i tend to hop around jobs too much"

another said (while interviewing for a job that would have put her in daily dealings with physician clients) " I lack tact".

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 01:07 PM

Alright. How about where do you see yourself in five years?
How do you say along the lines of well with a company and have moved up the latter??.....something.........................

sooner_born_1960

6/26/2007, 01:09 PM

The latter what?

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 01:14 PM

moved up the coorporate ladder. My bad. I've done a ton of these but I still get nervous.

Sooner Born Sooner Bred

6/26/2007, 01:41 PM

My biggest piece of interviewing advice is to research the company ahead of time. That way, when they ask if you have questions, you can actually think of some ahead of time.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 01:42 PM

I read on your web site you drill for oil. Hows that going for you? Something like that? :D

Sooner Born Sooner Bred

6/26/2007, 01:43 PM

I read on your web site you drill for oil. Hows that going for you? Something like that? :DOr Do you know J.R. Ewing?

6/26/2007, 01:44 PM

Another tip: see if the person who's interviewing you has a myspace. Then you'll get a better idea of what you could be working with (keep in mind they'll probably do the same to you)

1stTimeCaller

6/26/2007, 01:47 PM

tell them you see yourself as being on the verge of becoming their youngest Sr. Geologist/Resovior Engineer/Drilling Engineer/BJ giver outer.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 01:50 PM

I sure hope he doesnt myspace. Anyone over 30 shouldnt myspace. I sure dont. But thats for another thread. The people I work with now know several over at the place I'm interviewing for this afternoon. They seem good. In this business everyone knows somebody.

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 01:51 PM

tell them you see yourself as being on the verge of becoming their youngest Sr. Geologist/Resovior Engineer/Drilling Engineer/BJ giver outer.

Thats the plan. :texan:

Hamhock

6/26/2007, 01:52 PM

if you're serious about the job, you should post the name of the person you're interviewing with and their phone number.

we could call in advance and put in a good word for you.

Big Red Ron

6/26/2007, 01:57 PM

I sure hope he doesnt myspace. Anyone over 30 shouldnt myspace. Why do you hate Bri?

:D

Big Red Ron

6/26/2007, 01:59 PM

Wrong answer.

I've done LOTS of interviews. Many times using canned interview forms/questions - which all have this type of question. When someone gives me the old bull**** "my only fault is that I work too hard" he'll never get hired by me. Mainly because I don't like to hire bull**** artists.

What any interviewer worth his salt would like to see is someone's honesty and/or creativity here. I was dead serious when I said "chicken fry." If the interview says "well I mean while on the job" I usually just say "I have to be honest, my desk is usually always a mess, but I always know where everything is. If I could improve something, it'd be my personal space organization." I've told the truth, and the truth shall ALWAYS set you free.See this is why I started my own company 6 years ago. I got sick of some cranky old middle management type deciding whether or not I was going to feed my family or not over some BS question. JMHO

C&CDean

6/26/2007, 02:04 PM

See this is why I started my own company 6 years ago. I got sick of some cranky old middle management type deciding whether or not I was going to feed my family or not over some BS question. JMHO

I ain't cranky, I ain't old, and I certainly ain't middle management. I also have my own company. It sounds more to me like you can't get along with people so you had to go it alone.

Big Red Ron

6/26/2007, 02:13 PM

I ain't cranky, I ain't old, and I certainly ain't middle management. I also have my own company. It sounds more to me like you can't get along with people so you had to go it alone.Nah, I think you and I are probably more alike than you think. If you own your own business, then you probably didn't like those types I mentioned either.

Besides you lost all credibility when you said you weren't cranky. ;)

Petro-Sooner

6/26/2007, 03:13 PM

Wish me luck.

sooner_born_1960

6/26/2007, 03:14 PM

Good luck.

BlondeSoonerGirl

6/26/2007, 03:38 PM

Think he's got sweaty palms yet?

:mack:

Bourbon St Sooner

6/26/2007, 03:38 PM

What about I have a problem about bringing a flask to work? Would that fly?

If you say that you like to share with the team than that's a major strength.

Sooner Born Sooner Bred

6/26/2007, 10:06 PM

Well?

Did you ask them when "Bring Your Beer to Work Day" is?

OU Adonis

6/26/2007, 10:37 PM

My biggest weakness? I am a perfectionist. I want to do everything right the first time and sometimes that’s just not possible. I realize it can keep me focused at the task at hand and allows me to be detailed oriented, but if something doesn’t go just right, I sit back and say that’s ok as long as I correct the mistake and move on.