JOB INTERVIEW IN GERMANY: WHAT TO ANSWER ABOUT YOUR FLAWS

How to prepare answers to provocative questions at a job interview in advance

This article is an adapted translation* of the article by Beatrix Mittermann: www.stepstone.at/Karriere-Bewerbungstipps/eigenschaften-vorstellungsgespraech

We have an article that lists over a hundred interview questions which you can expect from the employer, HR or headhunter.

Among other questions you may expect questions such as:
- What are your weaknesses?
- What has been your biggest failure so far?
- Please name three negative things your former boss would say about you.

I believe this article will help to prepare your answers to this kind of questions.

How to present my negative qualities in a positive way?

If you try to make a joke by saying "I have no weaknesses", "I'm so perfect", or some little thing like "I love chocolate" or "have too much attraction to the opposite gender", your conversation partner - HR or employer, will understand that you're just joking, dodging, avoiding a direct answer. And it won't be good.

And it will be even worse if you start to list your weaknesses. This can negatively affect the employer's decision. This is what they call "lowering your stock price".

So what to do?

In the list below you find a list of rather ordinary, common flaws. For example: poor memory of names, being unable to say no, smoking. Chaotic sometimes, too kind nature, too ambitious, too creative and so on.

So you pick from the list below some flaws that you really have and present them in a favorable light for you.

What does this mean?

List of common flaws and weaknesses

The following list should help you to find your own negative trait(s) to mention in an interview.

• poor memory of names
• easily getting nervous
• unable to say "no"
• directness
• stubbornness
• being a pushy person
• delegation
• small work experience
• smoking
• quiet nature / discreet nature
• chaotic
• forgetful
• poor orientation sence
• kind nature
• fear of speaking in front of an audience
• not very organized
• willing to do too much at once
• too ambitious
• too creative
• gaps in CV
• don't like talking on the phone

Present your own negative trait(s) correctly

Inspired by examples above, the next step is to present your own negative trait(s) in a favorable light for you.

TO-DO:

1. Find the negative traits/flaws that you really have.
2. From these flaws, choose 2-3 that are not related to your future job.
3. Use limit words: occasionally, sometimes, in really stressful situations, etc. OR limit the negative trait to certain situations: in large groups, on stage, etc.
4. Make it clear that you are already working on this flaw. Give explanations. Not excuses.

Some examples:

"Sometimes I have difficulty remembering everything.
Since my last job, however, I discovered to-do lists for the week. Every Saturday I plan the next week, and every morning I go over my to-do list for the day. This practice really helps me remember all the essentials."

"When I have to speak in front that many people, I struggle with nervousness. The public speaking course has already helped me a lot with that, and I'm constantly trying to work on it with my colleagues."

Arithmetic calculations in my mind are sometimes difficult for me. A friend of mine gave me the idea to train my reaction time and logical thinking by solving brain puzzles. Since then, I've been solving puzzles on my way to work, and it keeps my brain in good form.

"From time to time in noisy surrounding it is hard for me to concentrate. A colleague suggested to try it with headphones, and it's worked a lot better since then."

Hopefully the algorithm for preparing an answer to the question about flaws and weaknesses is now clear? If not really, feel free to leave a comment or contact me.

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