Good thread.

When asked by an interviewer what weakness you have, what should be your answer to this ?

As I often believe that the answer to this question gives the interviewer the amunition needed not to employ you ?

Whenever i'm asked about my weaknesses i always say something along the lines of "i don't call anything about myself a weakness but believe i am a work-in-progress that can only improve over time!!" Its cheesy but what do they want " Oh, I'm always late for work, i hate being around people, i don't like too much reponsibility, i can't handle my work being criticised..." C'mon

The best interview techniques i could offer are to stay relaxed, working yourself into a state will just make you look anxious, feel sweaty and probably mash up your speech. You know you should keep eye contact and maintain positive body language but that can all fly out the window if your not at ease.

Readup about the company so you can show you got knowledge and you have a strong interest.

Get hold of the person specification for the job you are applying for which will state exactly what they are looking for then become that person!! Theres some really good stuff on msn about how to prepare for interviews

Ok Interview tips 101..Part 1

Know your stuff...whatever the job you are going for reasearch reaserch reaserch.. do not go into an interveiw having not prepared for it.. Believe me an experienced interview can spot inside two minutes those stupid enough to believe they can wing it..

I normally take two week to prepare for my interview, the most technical or complex the job the more time you need to imbue yourself for complex questions, you cannot recall stuff on the hoof, the brain simply doesn't work that way.

If you know you're a figet then avoid wearing jewelery, watches or anything else that might tempt you to figet. In some jobs it doesn't matter if you do this but others this distracts the interviewer from focusing on your answers.

Make eye contact with the interviewer and then if necassary ask 1 once if you're not sure about a question, even better repeat the question in summary by way of clarifying their question. This does two things buys you time to think of an answer and reinforces that you're listening.

For godsake turn off your mobile BEFORE you go into an interview, not only is it the height of bad manners not to do this. Some people will be automatically put off by idiots who fail to do this..(yes i know this is supposed to be common sense, but you'd be amazed at the number of plonkers who still do this..)

Tips for interviews 101 part 2..

Strenghts and weaknesses: Yes it can be a trick question, but more likely to be a technic to assertaint whether the person has insight into their own abilities.

If i'm asked this question I never accept the word weakness, I turn it around as strenghts and needs.. So my reply would be that I see my streaghts as X,Y & Z, and that I see my needs as building on my expertise my experience or my knowledge on these areas in order to become more effective..

A weakness implies that a deficency cannot be fixed or that I might have an ingrained problem. So I think the best route is to talk about needs as a natural progression, ie i need to build on these skills as a natural progession to be manager, specialised or experienced to consider other areas of learning. Or in order to support my colleagues effectively..

Learning point: never ever use the word weakness to discribe yourself or your abilities, use only proactive words..

The question on weakness is a tricky one....but I am with Kunjufu on this, I never admit to a weakness...not in a job interview! Over-confidence to the point of brashness is the only way to tackle that question. I tend to answer that question by presenting my weakness in the past tense and then turning it around to my present strengths.

Question: what do you see as your weakness?

Answer: well, when I first stared in this career/field/position etc...I found it very difficult to blah,,,blah,,,,blah....However, I took the opportunity to do so and so which helped me tobecome more blah, blah, balh.....and now I am very effective as a blah blah blah

Always present you weakness in the past tense! I think this strategey works very well indeed.

@ BlackMatta

Good thread.niceone.gif

@ All

Here are some more job interviewingtips I found on MSN

9 Things You Should Never Say in an Interview

Avoid the following interview pitfalls as part of a strategy that sells your strengths and assets.


By Jennifer Rae Atkins, WetFeet

1. "What does your company do?"
Ask questions that show you're well informed and eager to work at the company, not those to which you should already know the answers, or that can be easily gleaned from the company's website or annual report.

2. "My salary requirements are very flexible."
Compensation is often the touchiest subject in an interview. Certainly you want to know what a company will pay, and interviewers want to know what you're willing to take. It's a negotiation, not a game. When push comes to shove, you should be willing at least to give a range, even if you have to be broad and say, for example, "I'm looking for something between $30,000 and $60,000."

But don't pretend to be flexible when you aren't. If you're worried that your salary requirements are too high for the job, you may need to do some serious thinking about how low you're willing to go. Don't sell yourself short, but ask yourself how much you honestly think you're worth. Do research about what similar jobs pay and what salaries are like in the region. If a company comes back with too low an offer, you can always try and negotiate up.

3. "It would be hella cool to get jiggy with this job."
Maybe that is how all of your friends talk (and it's become a habit with you), but it's not the way you should speak during a job interview. Using slang is a serious turnoff for interviewers. You may be articulate, intelligent, and confident, but like, you sure won't sound that way.

4. "Bill Gates himself offered me a $100,000 bonus."
Don't lie! You'll be found out, and you'll regret it. Someday when you least expect it, someone somewhere will discover that you didn't really increase sales by 999 percent in six months. Interviewers know you'll probably exaggerate a little to sell yourself; but don't cross the line between exaggeration and out-and-out lying.

5. "In five years, I see myself on a boat in the Caribbean."
When interviewers ask you about long-term goals, they want an answer that relates to the company. Telling them that you really want to be living on a farm (unless you're applying for an agricultural job) isn't going to convince them that you're an ambitious professional in your chosen field.

Even if you don't plan to stick around long, say something that reflects a commitment to the position and the company. This may seem to contradict the previous exhortation about lying, but try to think of it as a rhetorical question. You might still be at the same company in five years, right?

6. "Sorry, I don't know how to do that."
Rather than admitting that you don't have a specific skill, stress that you're a fast learner and are excited about the possibility of acquiring new skills. Most companies would rather hire an enthusiastic, smart person who needs to be trained than someone who already has the required skills but isn't as eager to learn.

7. "You see, I just went through a painful divorce. . . ."
Even if an interviewer starts getting personal, don't follow suit. You may think you're being open and honest, but you're really just coming across as unprofessional, unfocused, and disrespectful. Keep it businesslike and polite.

8. "What can your company do for me?"
Interviewers hate arrogance and selfishness. They want to know why they should hire you. Stress the contributions you can make. Tell them about how your efforts helped previous employers. Don't start asking about raises, bonuses, and promotions right away.

Remember, you're the one being interviewed, and while you should use the opportunity to get your questions answered, you shouldn't make it seem as if you'll be doing them a favor if they hire you.

9. "I left my last job because my boss was a real jerk."
Bad-mouthing your previous employer is possibly the dumbest thing you can do during an interview. Even if your last company was a chaotic hellhole, your boss was a monster, your coworkers were Martians, and you got paid in tin cans, say that you left to look for more responsibility, you wanted greater opportunity for advancement, or you were just ready for a change.

What would be good answers to questions like:

Why do you want to work for us?

What makes you qualified/the best person for the job?