Interviewers, Keep an Eye on These Generic Answers From Candidates

One question that frightens many unprepared job candidates is: "What is your greatest weakness?"

There are many ways a job candidate can answer this question, but there are also specific answers that they should avoid altogether. No candidate wants to admit their weaknesses, especially in front of the interviewer.

Job candidates have been taught to portray themselves as motivated, highly skilled, and in the most favourable light possible. When a candidate admits they have flaws, it is a quick way to ruin everything they are trying to display. 

 

A perfectionist is not really that good

Career coaches have trained job candidates to turn every negative into a positive. A generic response to the greatest weakness question is, "I'm a perfectionist". The implication of this response hints that the candidate's biggest weakness is actually a strength. 

However, in reality, it is a cliche answer that tells the interview nothing. Everybody has weaknesses, and those who are more prepared to be honest about themselves are the ones that employers want to hire. 

If being a perfectionist truly is the candidate's greatest weakness, science says that perfectionism is not something one should brag about. According to Harvard Business Review, studies show that perfectionists have higher anxiety, stress, and burnout levels. 

If the interviewer asks, "what's your greatest weakness," the candidate may be saying that they have increased levels of stress, anxiety and are at a higher risk of burnout. 

Perfectionism does not sound so nice when you put it that way. 

As virtual job interviews become more popular, it is crucial to listen to what the candidates say as body language has become harder to detect.

 

Keep an eye on the candidate's generic responses

If you are interviewing candidates, keep an eye on these responses. The candidate may not be the best person for the job. 

 

1. "I don't have any weaknesses."

The only way this candidate is not flat out lying if they are actually a perfect human being. If you do not think that they are perfect, then you are interviewing a liar, someone you do not want working for you. 

 

2. "I don't know."

If the candidate genuinely does not know the answer to the question, they should at least show that they know where they can find the answer.

For example, if they do not know the proper way to finish a task, they should say that they would seek guidance from their peers and company policies to find the answer before approaching their supervisor for help. 

 

3. "I need a job."

Some employers ask the candidate why they want to work for the company. The candidate might try to be candid and brutally honest by saying the above response. 

But if you are the interviewer, their answer only tells you that they are desperate. However, since we are in a pandemic, you should give the candidate some leeway. These are challenging times. 

 

4. "I'm passionate about this company."

A generic response to the question, "Why should we hire you?"

As the interviewer, you might understand that they are passionate, but does that make them stand out from the others?

A good candidate would be descriptive and focus on their strengths and what would make them successful.

 

5. "I like working with people."

Unless you need a person that deals exclusively with machines or animals and not humans, it is not a helpful response. 

Interviewers should find this cliche answer to be meaningless. 

 

6. "This is my dream job."

As the employer, you might find the statement to be flattering, but it does not tell you why this candidate may or may not be the dream employee for your company. 

 

The best answers from the best candidate

An interviewer should look for personal experiences as it provides strong support for the candidate's answers. The candidate should answer the questions with transparency and purpose, based on their life history and skill set. 

As an employer, it is our task to find candidates that can tell us they are genuine, hardworking, and the best candidate for the job without saying, "I am the best candidate for the job."

 

Source: Ladders

 

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