Re:Have you ever been asked “What is your biggest weakness?”
by simmons on Monday February 20, 2012 @04:08PM
(#3613934)
I remember being asked this question in interviews when I was starting out in the job world in the late-90's. It certainly came across as a cliché, and I suspected the interviewers were just following an uninspired script.
I still suspect that most interviewers are being trite with this question, but the years of experience have taught me that the question does have a kernel of relevance. Ideally, the goal of working with a team (i.e. a company) isn't just to have a linear productivity amplifier, but to build something greater than the sum of what the individual members could build. This means understanding not only the strengths that you bring to the table, but also your weaker areas where you can benefit from the strengths of others. In the context of building a strong team, I now think this could be a very valid question.
I still suspect that most interviewers are being trite with this question, but the years of experience have taught me that the question does have a kernel of relevance. Ideally, the goal of working with a team (i.e. a company) isn't just to have a linear productivity amplifier, but to build something greater than the sum of what the individual members could build. This means understanding not only the strengths that you bring to the table, but also your weaker areas where you can benefit from the strengths of others. In the context of building a strong team, I now think this could be a very valid question.