Perfection - why hide it?
By
Michael Steiner
During the course of an interview, recruiters always say: “So tell me about your weaknesses.” I don’t have any to speak of. But since they ask, can you give me a smart boilerplate answer that will make me look human without tarnishing my superstar opinion of myself?
Your modesty is stunning. Self-confidence is wonderful, but let me clue you into something you doubtlessly didn’t learn in school: Everyone has weaknesses. The most successful leaders in organizational life, like Jack Welch, know their sweet spots and weak spots. It’s important you get in touch with yours. If you don’t, you are destined for derailment in your career. When you know your deficiencies, you’ll understand how you land on people and why they respond to you the way they do. If you can’t come up with any, ask some people who think you’re an asshole— they’ll cough them up easily enough. Still, on interviews always try to frame your weaknesses as potential strengths. Telling a recruiter that you have a hair-trigger temper or that you’re not a team player will doom your chances. Saying that you’re impatient, though, will catch an interviewer’s attention. HR likes people who have a bias for action.
Michael Feiner is professor of management at Columbia Business School and author of The Feiner Points of Leadership. He’s also president of his own consulting firm, advising CEOs on how to build their companies. Have a question you need answered? Email it to:
contact@junglemediagroup.com (subject line: Feiner)
MBA Jungle, Winter 2008-2009