What is your greatest weakness?

[MarillionFan]

This is one of those questions that makes me wonder how stupid the interviewer really is. What the hell do they want me to say? How about something along the lines of; 'stripping off, jumping up and down on my desk and singing 'look at my willy' to the tune of Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries.'

Wow! I thought i was the only one who'd ever done that.

[FiveTimes]

I've been asked where do you see yourself in x years ... for a 6 month gig, but if someone asks me what would I consider my weaknesses I usually reply that I don't do documentation very well and prefer to write good readable code with the occasional comment

[Clare@InTouch]

Has anyone ever actually been asked this question or is it just some urban myth? Nobody has ever asked me this question and I've never heard it asked in any interview I've sat in on.

I've been asked something similar to that in an interview before - "tell me three negatives about yourself". I can't remember what I said, probably the usual "I'm a perfectionist" but I found out later that one of the candidates for the job had given the answer "my nose is too big".

[Old Hack]

I like to 'strip off, and jump up and down on the (heavily reinforced) desk, singing 'find my willy' to the tune of Wagner's Flight of the Valkyries.'

FTFY

[Mich the Tester]

When applying for Unix jobs;
'I'm quite normal Monday to Thursday but Friday is my Orc day.'

When applying for a job as a bank director;
'I have a complex relationship with the truth'

When applying for testing jobs;
'I am better at breaking things than making things'

[Old Hack]

When applying for Unix jobs;
'I'm quite normal Monday to Thursday but Friday is my Orc day.'

When applying for a job as a bank director;
'I have a complex relationship with the truth'

When applying for testing jobs;
'I am better at breaking things than making things'

When applying for PM roles;
'I am better at telling, than doing'


This could run

[Moscow Mule]

Port and stilton. Fortunately, I'm blessed with excellent genetics and my cholesterol is very low.

I once got asked "Why should we hire you over anybody else?". I answered, "I work hard and I'm a really nice guy" which seemed to get a laugh (and the job).

My opinion is that you don't want to alienate the interviewer for the rest of the interview as that's just impolite so I muddle through the "HR" questions, and put a black mark in the "culture" box when assessing the client.

[Old Hack]

My opinion is that you don't want to alienate the interviewer for the rest of the interview as that's just impolite so I muddle through the "HR" questions, and put a black mark in the "culture" box when assessing the client.

100% on the money; if you want the gig, why be impolite, or obtuse, or even evasive?

[MarillionFan]

What is my greatest weakness?

I always need to have the last word.

Supremespod.

[NotAllThere]

...I don't think I believe there's anyone who'd say 'now thats just a silly question' at a gig they were interested in, that really doesn't make any sense at all.

The two are mutually exclusive. If that question is asked, and they really want an answer, then I really don't want the gig.

Of course, if your only option is MacDonalds, then you just have to go with it.