Ummm ... my biggest failure? That would be NOT telling the last jerk that asked me all these question - what an idiot he was!
Bump
I’m in a job search situation (and starting a small business at the same time) and appreciate this article. I’m going to have to read more from this author.
Failing and learning from it is the only positive thing about failure.
Good grief!
I have been pretty annoyed lately about the way our company operates. Thought regularly about moving to a smaller company that is closer to home.
When I started working for them (40 years ago) there was no drug testing or psychological questions during an interview. I just knew someone that worked there that told me they needed help in the office. Talked to the department head and went to work the next day.
I have decided to finish out my working life there and quit griping about the current politics. Better the devil I know that the one I don’t. Even if the commute is hellish! It’s only about five years...and the way time is speeding by it will seem like tomorrow.
Had a guy crash and burn in an interview on this very question. In his answer he blamed basically everyone else on the project, didn’t take any responsibility. It was obvious he didn’t learn anything and he doesn’t pay well with others.
these don’t seem like trick questions. either give the correct answer from experience, or lie convincingly.
She knows there's no success like failure
And that failure's no success at all.
More intricate.... extremely so.
So much so, that people not in the author’s field could not begin to follow it... much less remember it.
(Yes, I’m a non managerial techie)
Easy answer: second wife who was a stripper. NEXT!
Interviewee: My greatest fault is my honesty.
Interviewer: But that’s not a fault ...
Interviewee: I don’t give a rat’s arse what you think.
I was asked once in an interview what my greatest weakness was. I looked down at my lap and paused. Then I said “well, ummm, uhhh, it’s kind of hard to talk about but I have this birthmark...” and I brought my hand up with my thumb and index finger showing about a 2 inch gap. He started laughing and we both laughed for about 5 minutes and we giggled through the rest of the interview. It was good clean fun but I accepted another job offer the next day.
“I tried to feed all of the homeless people, but decided that I had failed when they only wanted cash, not food from me.”
“I made a fantastic product for my previous company, but we couldn’t get funded because I wouldn’t lie to the investors about the safety risks, so my firm failed.”
One of the “Jeopardy!” contestants this week was once asked in an interview what kind of tree he’d be and why, and he said he picked oak, because then he’d have strong limbs to beat the interviewer for asking that question. He didn’t get the job, but he got me to laugh.
bfl
The stuff of nightmares. I feel for any FReepers in the professional world who have to do these song and dance routines for a job. Just point me in the direction of the cafeteria kitchen, I’ll wash dishes or scrub the floors. Just please spare me the hellish interviews, lol.
btt