Related Posts
More Posts
I get a few every year
Additional Posts in Data & Analytics Consultants
New to Fishbowl?
Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
I get a few every year
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Download the Fishbowl app to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
Copy and paste embed code on your site
Send download link to your phone
OR
Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile
I piss excellence. This can be an issue if I drink too much water.
My greatest weakness is overfitting models to training data.
Sometimes I do [bad thing] which can lead to [problem] so I do [good thing] to prevent this from happening.
Note: make sure [bad thing] isn't a job requirement.
“I talk too much”. Then stay quiet.
Lack of experience or exposure to some areas and I think this job can help me expand myself a bit there
That’s a fantastic response!
Coach
"Perfectionist... I want to do very well, but sometimes in a business context, good is enough. Still trying to learn how to balance both, but that's life isn't it?"
I'd still avoid calling yourself a perfectionist; saying perfectionist is the epitome of a BS answer. Instead, why not say: your preference is to do things thorough in uncomfortable positions, which causes you to occasionally overthink and overwork, but you've learned that being comfortable with uncertainty is a skill you're still practicing and getting better at.
Do people still ask this? That’s just lazy on the part of the interviewer. What useful data point comes from it?
Give some variant of “I’m just too darn motivated”. Really any implication of your willingness to “go the extra mile” by sacrificing more of your time for a firm’s goals requiring no additional investment will shoot you through those goalposts.
I just got asked this question last week 🙄.
Say that your greatest weakeness is applying for jobs that hire stupid HR people that still ask what one's greatest weakness is...
+1
I quote a friend “I knew you were going to ask me this question yet still I don’t have a good answer”
Own a genuine weakness in your job profile but not something that can be considered as a red flag per your job description, and show how you are getting better at it or plan to do so. It can be something of the pandemic WLB also.
And please say I am a perfectionist, HMs have taken too many interviews that says it's pure BS. Hope this helps. :)
Coach
Perfectionist is BS just like the scripted question, isn't it?
So the question is cliche and BS, but the answer can't be cliche and BS?
I can lose focus if I don't have hard deadlines, so I schedule check ins with colleagues to create deadlines for myself
As it relates to Data Science, I would note that I go where the data takes me, even if it’s not in line with the original hypothesis. Also, in my experience, 2 out of 10 times do you find things that really go anywhere.
Walk out of the interview. It’s a terrible question.
I usually say I resist/get afraid of change, it could be due to change of project, manager or anything which makes me feel uncomfortable.
But I've tried to overcome this by calming myself and planning better.
Sounds lame?
Yes, in that case obviously you won't be saying this, maybe something's else.
I say this because it's a real thing.
Whatever you say your weakness is, you should follow it up with how it challenges you and how you’ve overcome it or manage it to be successful. I believe/know there are ways to answer this question that can really set a candidate a part from the crowd