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What Happens: When the interviewer asks about professional weaknesses, the candidate responds with, “My biggest weakness is that I work too hard” or “My biggest weakness is I pay too much attention to detail.”
What It Means: They are not honest about what real tasks they need to work on and what skills need improvement.
What to Do: Instead of asking the candidate what they think his biggest weakness is, ask them instead what their boss or coworkers would say their most significant area of weakness is. This approach will entice the interviewee to provide a more honest response. Ask them for the name of this person. This can also trigger a more authentic response.
References
Axelerant’s /wiki/spaces/AH/pages/87195817 Interview Steps
Interview Tips for the InterviewerHiring: How to Conduct a Phone Screen Interview
Interview Preparation: Beware of the Five Landmines of Interviewing
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