# damned job interviews!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damned-job-interviews/99858>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [March 24, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damned-job-interviews/99858 "2002-03-24T15:24:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BGo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@BGo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BGo)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damned-job-interviews/99858/1 "2002-03-24T15:24:18Z")

</div>

I interviewed last week for a job I really, really want, it was one of those where they ask those “what would you do and how did you handle” questions.  
So it’s going okay I thought, then I was asked " What’s your biggest fault?" I pipe up with I have a big mouth and I could be more diplomatic with others sometimes. I’ve been freaking out ever since because the job involves **privacy issues** and **customer service.** I guess I really do have a big mouth.:rolleyes:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damned-job-interviews/99858/2 "2002-03-24T16:36:10Z")

</div>

When I’m asked that I tell them that I tend to work too hard.

Haj

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damned-job-interviews/99858/3 "2002-03-24T17:39:57Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by hajario \*  
> \*\*When I’m asked that I tell them that I tend to work too hard.
> 
> Haj \*\*

That’s the stock answer interviewers hear 98% of the time. Obviously, they don’t expect to hear you say, “I have no respect for authority” or “I like to take frequent naps in the bathroom stalls.” It’s on these questions, where predictable answers are the norm, where you have the best chance to make yourself stand out. Any suggestions for what to answer then?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damned-job-interviews/99858/4 "2002-03-24T19:54:29Z")

</div>

Depending on the type of job, I like to say 1) that I sometimes think on things too deeply, and that I’m a perfectionist, so sometimes it takes me longer to do things than it should because I stress about every tiny detail, or 2) that I try to take too much responsibility and sometimes stick my nose into things that aren’t in the job description, because I see ways that things can be improved.

Of course, I’ve had a _lot_ more interviews than I’ve had jobs, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damned-job-interviews/99858/5 "2002-03-24T19:56:23Z")

</div>

“I’m lazy and I drink a lot.”

Seriously, my strategy with questions like this (which rarely came up in the residency hunt) was to be honest about my own perceived weaknesses, but to follow it up with what I’m doing to overcome those weaknesses.

Check out this piece from my web site, [“The Disintegration of the Residency Interview (in Five Acts)”](http://www.thejtrain.net/interviews.html). It’s funny because it’s true.

Dr. J