What is your greatest weakness?

[oscarose]

Booze.

HTH

[Old Greg]

That's fair enough. However, I would consider it rude, were I interviewing. It's not a question I would ask, so I see your point, as it will invariably bring an answer designed to make you look good, whilst apearing bad, so it's pointless. However, if I am asked it, I would always respond. Maybe I have it wrong and more respect would be shown for saying, 'ask me some proper questions, not from the crib sheet'. But hey ho, we all have different techniques.

Maybe they don't want the answer, but they want to see how you deal with stupid questions.

[Gentile]

Maybe they don't want the answer, but they want to see how you deal with stupid questions.

I think that's exactly the point of questions like these. Of course nobody cares about the safe, sensible and trite answers that aware people trot out. They do care, however, about whether people can communicate at all levels. The average person is pretty unaware about technology, at least in those areas that you may be an expert in. And, by definition, half of them will be even less aware than that. Some of those people will be users and managers of the systems you'll hopefully be successfully implementing during a given contract. Some others, whilst unaware about technology, will still be experts in their own niche areas that you'll have no knowledge of but will have to get up to speed on. How an incoming technical expert manages those knowledge gaps running in both directions is a big part of what makes them effective or not; there's a huge difference between being knowledgeable and skilled, and being able to be effective in your dealings with people. If you can't play nice when you get asked a 'stupid' question in an interview, it's unlikely that you'll be able to play nice when someone asks you a 'stupid' question (= "something that you know but they don't") about the technologies you're there to implement.

[Mich the Tester]

I think that's exactly the point of questions like these. Of course nobody cares about the safe, sensible and trite answers that aware people trot out. They do care, however, about whether people can communicate at all levels. The average person is pretty unaware about technology, at least in those areas that you may be an expert in. And, by definition, half of them will be even less aware than that. Some of those people will be users and managers of the systems you'll hopefully be successfully implementing during a given contract. Some others, whilst unaware about technology, will still be experts in their own niche areas that you'll have no knowledge of but will have to get up to speed on. How an incoming technical expert manages those knowledge gaps running in both directions is a big part of what makes them effective or not; there's a huge difference between being knowledgeable and skilled, and being able to be effective in your dealings with people. If you can't play nice when you get asked a 'stupid' question in an interview, it's unlikely that you'll be able to play nice when someone asks you a 'stupid' question (= "something that you know but they don't") about the technologies you're there to implement.

far too sensible for CUK General

Can we get back to silly answers please?

[Gentile]

far too sensible for CUK General

Can we get back to silly answers please?

Quite right, Mich; sorry - I don't know what I was thinking.

[oscarose]

[exguid]

Diet coke surely?

Ha ha, yeah, prostitutes love that stuff.

[exguid]

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.'

exactly, I've been interviewed and held interviews, and I can't imagine being able to keep a straight face to hear or to ask the question. It's way too hacknied, too contrived and too obvious. I can't imagine anyone expecting to get an honest answer to it. Most people probably don't even know what their greatest weakness is, but I bet they've all got an answer to that question that is basically a strenght dressed up as a weakness. Daft.

I'm too persistent, by the way, keep pressing on past the point when it might have been better to give up until I find a solution. You see I put myself out to find a solution... for you... is my strength clear yet?

[Old Greg]

far too sensible for CUK General

Can we get back to silly answers please?

It's time Gentle was banned.

[Gentile]