How The Weakness Interview Can Cost You The Job

How the Weakness Interview Can Cost You The Job

I have a client who lost a $234,000 a year job because he couldn't overcome the dreaded weakness interview questions. I don't want this to happen to you. And I am sure you don't either right? So the following suggestions are based on the advice I gave my client. To protect his identity I made some of the answers more general than specific.

1. Show a balance between confidence and over aggressiveness: In my clients case he was so excited about working the position that he may have come across as too aggressive. A moderate amount of aggressiveness is good in fact great. But show balance.

2. Relax and make body movements that are not awkward: One of the things you must do is study the interviewers body language. Then you match his or her movements. Don't mimic or imitate. Just match in a way they don't notice what your doing. This is a mental strategy to get the interviewer feel more comfortable with you.

3. Ask as much as you answer: Here is where my client got hit really hard on the weakness interview. He answered well. But he failed to followup with details questions before and after the interviewers questions. This part was the essence of a weakness interview session.

That is because it is setup to make you slip and make mistakes. Honestly I that's why I hate it and consult so many people to prepare for it before it rears its ugly head. My client was advised to ask as many thorough questions instead of assuming and delivering an answer. He didn't and that is what cost him the job.

4. Make them smile or even better laugh: Don't be so serious or intense that you can't turn a tense situation into a light one. For example when getting those tough questions. Be prepared to answer them thoroughly with a little humor/smile. It has been proven in studies that if you give someone direct eye contact and a smile. They are 80% likely to return with a smile. The more comfortable you both are during the tough questions the better.

5. You don't know everything and you shouldn't be trying to let them think that: Answer the questions honestly and you do that by breaking down your answers into parts. That way you can methodically think things through.

6. Followup and follow through is CRUCIAL: Remember what I said about over aggressiveness? Well apparently my client wasn't when it came to this part. Again never assume. End with a power statement asking to followup with the hiring process. And then follow through on that with a phone call.

In conclusion never assume anything. Especially if your going for a high end crucial position like this. Do your homework and deliver. But in the end ENGAGE them in general and especially if a weakness interview presents itself. Because the candidate that breaks down those questions in a Socratic way will get the job.

by: Scott Maxwell

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