It turns out perfectionism is a much bigger weakness than job applicants and interviewers probably assume. It’s not “I’m such a hard worker and I’m not satisfied until the job’s done,” it’s “I always strive for perfection even though I know being perfect is impossible, and I beat myself up when I don’t achieve my totally unrealistic goal which only leads to low self-esteem. Employment experts reveal how to answer the 'weakness' question in interview They said you should never say you're a perfectionist you don't look … Some interviewers even refer to the, what are your weaknesses question, as the, perfectionist interview question. Perfectionism, on the other hand, involves a tendency to set standards that are so high they either cannot be met or are only met with great difficulty.Perfectionists tend to believe that anything short of perfection is horrible, and that even minor imperfections will lead to catastrophe. Read more of her writing, Looking forward to the year ahead: A letter from The Muse |. It’s all about loosening the reins, delegating or otherwise taking a step back. Some of the advantages of being a perfectionist include: Being highly organized These answers are much more individualized, and they provide a launchpad for a meaningful conversation with your interviewer—which is really what you’re going for. For example, most people believe it is important to try to do one’s best and not make mistakes. So when you review some work that your team has produced, imagine the potential impact when you demand constant updates before you’re happy with it. c. Name a trait that will have no real impact on your work: I get really nervous speaking in front of large groups. Yet the writer says that others see perfectionism as something negative. They will often say that it’s the same thing as the drive to improve, or pursuit of quality. It’s easy to become flustered and begin to list multiple negatives before talking about one. The main reason p e ople answer “perfectionist” is they are looking to flip it into a strength rather than a weakness. More on measuring perfectionism Most … Read More: The Best Way to Talk About Your Strengths and Weaknesses in a Job Interview, Jessica Taylor is the annoying friend who responds "seen it" to every link you send her. Remember that, when asking this question, interviewers aren’t looking for super-human candidates whose only weakness is that they’re “a little too perfect.” They’re looking for people who know themselves—both their strong suits and points of weakness—and who can improve on those things. Being asked about your weaknesses in a job interview isn't easy, and can often feel like the employer is trying to catch you out. After all, perfectionists work hard to make everything, well, perfect. Updated: Sep 26, 2019. And more than anything, they’re looking for a real person. ", you don't want to respond, "I tend to work too hard," or "I am too much of a perfectionist.". Do recruiters still buy it—even if it’s sort of true? You know your biggest weakness is perfectionism … but you can avoid the cliché and point to what, specifically, is holding you back and share all the steps you’re taking to make it better. And then, you can point to this lesson in your next interview, admitting perfectionism is a weakness, but explaining how working on it has made you a better employee all around. The short answer, we found, is that perfectionism is a much bigger weakness than job applicants and interviewers probably assume. As a result, perfectionists seldom claim to be perfectionists. This type of reflection can actually enhance your workplace performance, which is great news for perfectionists. After graduating with a BA in public relations from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, Jessica went on to earn her MBA and is a corporate communications professional in Phoenix, Ariz. She’s reportedly allergic to cold weather and anything sci-fi related, and known to travel great distances to see the Red Sox play. Sometimes, perfectionists build a bad reputation for themselves at the office because, well, nothing’s ever good enough. Whilst, obviously not a weakness, giving this answer is a way of converting a question that invites self-deprecation, into an opportunity for self-aggrandisement. Which it does in fact become a weakness or a strength as a strength the! A step back it can be a perfectionist and can linger on the of... Result, perfectionists build a bad reputation for themselves at the very least they! You in your business and help us improve on our weaknesses try to do one ’ best! 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