Interview tomorrow amHello, I have an interview tomorrow am and I had interviewed with this agency before. This is social services agency and in this position I would be basically starting all over again after being terminated 2 years ago from another city agency. The day I was called, I was sent a letter telling me I was not hired for the position. It will probably be a panel of 3 persons, the supervisor, the agency director and an eligibility worker. The first time, I believe I did as well as can be expected. The one question I have a problem with is "what are your weaknesses(s)"? Can anyone help me with this one? I had printed some answers a while back but am unable to locate them. I really want this job because it will allow my foot back in the door. Also, I have been reading posts and I see that there are some in the same situation as myself. I was terminated from my last position as an Eligibility Screener due to mistakenly taking someone' s medical records home. To give some background on that, the company I was employed with did not have office space for us, so for some time I was riding around with information in my vehicle. No one advised me that I could lock the information in the patient accounting office. My supervisor flew to Virginia and fired me after I was told that I probably would only receive a reprimand and office duty for a while. I believe her and my counterpart were threatened by my knowledge and expertise in Medicaid policy and this was the real reason for my termination. I was awarded unemployment because I was advised that even though I made an error in judgment, it was not warranted for termination. Can anyone give me some good answers to the weakness question? When asked, tell them that your weakness is that you have a hard time saying no to someone. Tell them that you have to carry a notebook around with you--your day is soooo full that you have to write things down or you may forget to do something... My problem isn' t the answer to the question of weaknesses but to strengths. Simply because my strengths make me sound like just another drone. I am efficient, organized, know how to prioritize, can multi-task, etc etc. Every time I give an answer to that question, I reword it in a different way so that I am able to provide reasons why I am those things. For example: I am efficient, organized and know how to prioritize and since all of these qualities are tied into one another I would be glad to give you examples of how. Usually, interviewers are eager to hear how I can tie all my strengths together. If they don' t want me to, they will indicate that. I have realized that I cannot answer the question of my weakness truthfully because my greatest weakness is that I like to talk. Most interviewers will view that as I cannot keep a confidence and/or that I provide clients with too much information. So, instead, I tie my weakness in with one of my strengths. Which is: Multi-tasking. For example: If I receive a phone call from a client who insists on re-hashing the entire case from his perspective, I find myself putting him on speaker, hitting the mute and going about other activities until the client winds down his diatribe and I can get a word in edgewise. I find your story confusing. You were terminated from another city agency, the company you worked for didn' t have office space...did you work for a company, or the city? Your supervisor flew to Virgina to fire you? Why would a city supervisor leave the state to fire you? I have an interview tomorrow afternoon and I am having trouble with the question about my weakness. I was wondering if I said something like I have a bad memory so to remember things I have to write them down, is that a good answer for that question? I would really like an answer for this before my interview tomorrow. I' m sorry, I would really like to help but I have no suggestions. I have thought about it and my mind totally blanks out. The only thought that even comes close is probably no help whatsoever, but if your weakness is that you don' t have a good memory, then tell the interviewer that you may be seen as overly organized because you keep a notebook to record all aspects of your job even if they don' t seem to another employee as pertinent. But, I don' t think that I would say that I have a bad memory or that I tend to be forgetful. You may be perceived as unreliable or that you cannot be trusted with follow-thru. For heavens sake--DO NOT tell the interviewer you have a bad memory!!!! Do what I suggested---Your day is so full you have to write things down or you will forget to do something..........You got to take a negative and turn it into a positive............Don' t tell them you have a bad memory!!! Tell them you have a violent temper. Then give the IHR wennie an a$$ whup' in to prove it. No one likes IHR, the hiring manager may be impressed and hire you. I just graduated from college, but have had jobs and interviews before. First of all, I think when you are asked to give a weakness, say something that is TRUE, but make it something that you have taken steps to improve upon. I hate reading canned answers like "I'm super organized" or "I'm a perfectionist" because everyone is human. There's always going to be something that you aren't good at. For instance, my weakness is public speaking. It scares the crap out of me (of course I don't include that in my answer!) I would rather sit in a dentist's chair and get a root canal than speak in front of a large group of people. BUT....my last couple of years of college, I did several things to improve in that area. I love financial education, so I volunteered to teach several seminars on campus. I also participated on a presentation team where we had to memorize a script and perform in front of a large audience and a regional competition last year. Now, it still scares me, but at least I've had some experience with it and more confidence in myself. My point is that I think when you answer it in this way, it sounds authentic (because it is), and it shows that you are able to reflect on your strengths and weaknesses, and can take action to improve upon them. | |
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