Facing hard HR interview questions - your weaknesses?
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A truthful and canned answer I have for that is that sometimes I take too long getting the ball rolling. I either want to have every answer ahead, want to be perfectly organized or want to make sure I picked just the right team. My end run around that is that I am very much a deadline oriented person instead of work as you go so I set up a meeting with either someone above me or someone who could be in on the project. It basically forces me into motion. Sometimes its literally just a input/fact gathering meeting- but that tends to work well since I do not delve too far before I fully realize the parameters.
The other answer I give is that I can sometimes go too far down the rabbit hole if I am too invested or working too hard/long at something so I like to structure my projects in smaller phases so I put them down or hand them to someone else for brief review. This lets me pick them up with fresh eyes. I also tend to reach out to people mid project and ask for a list of anything they are expecting from me since even when you have laid out a timeline/deliverables people often have expectations you do not realize.
1) Don't use the "I'm a workaholic" as the answer to your weakness question because that one is really overused and most of us know it is BS...lol.
2) As others have said, use a story about a former weakness and how you have turned it into a strength. I personally like the one about the public speaking.
3) Other questions you can expect HR to ask are the behavioral-based questions. The reasoning behind these is that past behavior is supposed to predict future behavior. Some of the more popular ones:
"Tell me about a major project that you were a part of. What was the project? What was the outcome? What would you have done differently?"
"Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your supervisor. What was the issue? How did you handle it?"
"Tell me about your biggest accomplishment/accomplishment that you are proudest of."
"Tell me about yourself."
Those are just a sample. The one that I personally hate the most is the "Tell me about yourself" question. It is best answered with a 20-30 second summary of what you want to set you apart from other candidates or what you want to highlight about yourself.
It never hurts to rehearse possible questions and your responses as well as think about what career highlights and particular skills you want to play up in the interview.
2) As others have said, use a story about a former weakness and how you have turned it into a strength. I personally like the one about the public speaking.
3) Other questions you can expect HR to ask are the behavioral-based questions. The reasoning behind these is that past behavior is supposed to predict future behavior. Some of the more popular ones:
"Tell me about a major project that you were a part of. What was the project? What was the outcome? What would you have done differently?"
"Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your supervisor. What was the issue? How did you handle it?"
"Tell me about your biggest accomplishment/accomplishment that you are proudest of."
"Tell me about yourself."
Those are just a sample. The one that I personally hate the most is the "Tell me about yourself" question. It is best answered with a 20-30 second summary of what you want to set you apart from other candidates or what you want to highlight about yourself.
It never hurts to rehearse possible questions and your responses as well as think about what career highlights and particular skills you want to play up in the interview.
2) Added to my weaknesses, it´s completely true I find difficult to speak in public but I overcame It since I took part in project meetings and since I am doing interviews overseas with people of different nationalities, I trust in my speech more than ever. I will change interviews with videoconferences.
3) I can answer you 3.1 easily as I worked in a project, 3.2) I can barely answer to this, I would stutter, 3.3) I would need extra time to answer but I think I have an answer, 3.4) unfortunately I don´t understand that question. I know is very common but I have a doubt, this refers to professional or personal skills?
Thank you, this is exactly what I was looking for. Now, please tell me what do you think about the hiring process: I was told to be interviewed with HR Manager and then I will be speaking directly with director (remember I got it through networking, is not for an opening vacancy).
I could answer most of those except the 3.1. Confidentiality agreements prevent me from answering in anything other than a general "I worked on X" Can't give any details or what I did or what I'd do differently type answers.
The interview was delayed. This is the first time I prepared an interview in deep detail. Please, any HR specialist, could give me an orientation regarding how much time an interview with a HR Manager usually takes?
I just have had the interview, I failed the interview. I am sad because I studied a lot to face picky questions and being a big company, It was obvious the HR Manager had canned questions, he asked me: strengths, weaknesses, why are you interested in this company, your best achievements, etc.. I gave canned answers, everything was perfectly executed, he even told me but finally the position is for Senior and I lack half of the minimum years of experience, there is nothing to do. The salary is even good for an american salary, imagine for Mexico.
I am exhausted, I don´t know how to do, where to search, I did everything supposed to do to land a job. I am really tired. Where on earth I search jobs for entry level position? do they even exists? Give me a country, only one where I can apply for jobs and I will die looking for jobs there 12 hours/day. I m tired. I want to give up.
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Please, any HR specialist, could give me an orientation regarding how much time an interview with a HR Manager usually takes?
