1 00:00:00,009 --> 00:00:03,750 Speaker 1: Shortlisted is brought to you by Future Women's Jobs Academy. 2 00:00:04,079 --> 00:00:07,190 Speaker 1: Getting back to work after a career break isn't easy. 3 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:11,300 Speaker 1: Future Women's Jobs Academy is a free online programme supported 4 00:00:11,300 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: by the Australian government. It's proven to increase confidence and 5 00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:22,850 Speaker 1: connect women with meaningful and flexible jobs. Apply today at jobsacademy.uwomen.com. 6 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,229 Speaker 1: We'll support you to find the right job and thrive. 7 00:00:29,170 --> 00:00:31,770 Speaker 1: Nothing makes a person go weak at the knees quite 8 00:00:31,770 --> 00:00:36,449 Speaker 1: like a job interview. Enter shortlisted. A podcast by future 9 00:00:36,450 --> 00:00:40,060 Speaker 1: women where Helen McCabe and I hold your virtual hand, 10 00:00:40,330 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 1: walking with you every step of the way, right to 11 00:00:43,279 --> 00:00:46,810 Speaker 1: the interview door and straight onto the shortlist. 12 00:00:47,900 --> 00:00:51,240 Speaker 1: In this episode, we're diving in deep with the most 13 00:00:51,240 --> 00:00:57,439 Speaker 1: unpleasant of common interview questions. What's your biggest weakness? This 14 00:00:57,439 --> 00:01:00,990 Speaker 1: might sound backwards, but being ready to answer this can 15 00:01:00,990 --> 00:01:06,279 Speaker 1: actually be an enormous advantage and even become your secret 16 00:01:06,279 --> 00:01:07,559 Speaker 1: interview superpower. 17 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:13,119 Speaker 2: What's your biggest weakness from caring too much to being 18 00:01:13,120 --> 00:01:17,149 Speaker 2: too organised? Jamila, how do you answer that question? 19 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,639 Speaker 1: I hate this question, and I'm pretty sure that any 20 00:01:19,639 --> 00:01:22,559 Speaker 1: time we've done a podcast episode about a particular question, 21 00:01:22,599 --> 00:01:24,559 Speaker 1: I say how much I hate it. This one is 22 00:01:24,559 --> 00:01:27,430 Speaker 1: up there again. I feel like it's almost a trick question, 23 00:01:27,470 --> 00:01:29,239 Speaker 1: and I suspect that's how a lot of people feel 24 00:01:29,239 --> 00:01:32,569 Speaker 1: when they're in an interview. And it's one of those 25 00:01:32,569 --> 00:01:34,389 Speaker 1: cliched questions where 26 00:01:34,709 --> 00:01:37,279 Speaker 1: You feel like you have to say, I just care 27 00:01:37,669 --> 00:01:41,870 Speaker 1: too much, and I work too hard. So I think 28 00:01:41,870 --> 00:01:45,509 Speaker 1: what it's worth doing is taking a step back and 29 00:01:45,510 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 1: asking yourself what an employer is actually trying to figure 30 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,910 Speaker 1: out by asking you this question, because they don't want 31 00:01:51,910 --> 00:01:53,110 Speaker 1: you to sit there and go, Oh. 32 00:01:53,819 --> 00:01:55,949 Speaker 1: And treat them like your therapist and start telling them 33 00:01:55,949 --> 00:01:58,379 Speaker 1: all your faults and failures. That's not what they're looking for. 34 00:01:58,669 --> 00:02:02,190 Speaker 1: What they're actually looking for is to see whether or 35 00:02:02,190 --> 00:02:08,699 Speaker 1: not you have enough self-awareness and honesty and insight into yourself. 36 00:02:08,910 --> 00:02:10,839 Speaker 1: That means that you can acknowledge you've got. 37 00:02:10,907 --> 00:02:13,888 Speaker 1: Stuff to work on, like everyone. They're wanting to make 38 00:02:13,889 --> 00:02:17,529 Speaker 1: sure that you're someone who is proactive and resilient enough 39 00:02:17,529 --> 00:02:19,779 Speaker 1: that you're gonna work on getting better, that you're not 40 00:02:19,779 --> 00:02:22,978 Speaker 1: just taking this job to sit around, stay where you're at, 41 00:02:23,018 --> 00:02:26,657 Speaker 1: and not advance your skills and lean in further into 42 00:02:26,657 --> 00:02:27,899 Speaker 1: the kind of work you're doing. 43 00:02:28,270 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 1: And finally, I think they also do want to understand 44 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: if there's perhaps a skills gap that might lie in 45 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,520 Speaker 1: the future of a team makeup. So, they are perhaps 46 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:40,039 Speaker 1: looking for you to articulate whether or not there's a 47 00:02:40,038 --> 00:02:43,149 Speaker 1: technical skill involved in this job that maybe you don't have. 48 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:45,679 Speaker 2: I think that's right. And if I think about asking 49 00:02:45,679 --> 00:02:48,160 Speaker 2: that question, which I, I actually never ask, and I'm 50 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 2: not quite sure why, probably because it, it is a 51 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,880 Speaker 2: bit of a naf question, but definitely be prepared for it. 52 00:02:55,460 --> 00:02:57,389 Speaker 2: But it's also really hard to answer. And so one 53 00:02:57,389 --> 00:03:00,149 Speaker 2: of the things that we're gonna do now is just 54 00:03:00,149 --> 00:03:03,589 Speaker 2: tell you what others recommend you don't say. Now, I 55 00:03:03,589 --> 00:03:06,259 Speaker 2: don't think these are the perfect answers, but others, like, 56 00:03:06,389 --> 00:03:08,289 Speaker 2: people who are experts in this field will say, do 57 00:03:08,288 --> 00:03:12,179 Speaker 2: not say the following things. I'm a workaholic, I'm a perfectionist, 58 00:03:12,389 --> 00:03:14,830 Speaker 2: or I don't have any weaknesses. I do like the 59 00:03:14,830 --> 00:03:17,970 Speaker 2: third one, cause that's just not possible. But Jim Miller, 60 00:03:19,020 --> 00:03:23,339 Speaker 2: If I hear that I'm a workaholic, I'm not necessarily 61 00:03:23,339 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 2: put off by that. In fact, I, I'd probably be 62 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:28,970 Speaker 2: excited by hiring another workaholic. 63 00:03:29,258 --> 00:03:32,940 Speaker 1: Yeah, look, I think those recommendations from Seek.com.au are as 64 00:03:32,940 --> 00:03:36,330 Speaker 1: good as any, but this is a really subjective question, 65 00:03:36,619 --> 00:03:39,089 Speaker 1: and in the same way that you'll have a different 66 00:03:39,089 --> 00:03:42,570 Speaker 1: response to an interviewer asking this question to the next person. 67 00:03:43,139 --> 00:03:45,580 Speaker 1: The interviewer is gonna have a different response to what 68 00:03:45,580 --> 00:03:49,300 Speaker 1: you say. Personally, if someone says that they're a workaholic 69 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:51,580 Speaker 1: and that work is what motivates them, and work is 70 00:03:51,580 --> 00:03:54,020 Speaker 1: what drives them, and they're someone who does live to 71 00:03:54,020 --> 00:03:57,179 Speaker 1: work rather than work to live, that, that sounds quite 72 00:03:57,179 --> 00:03:59,660 Speaker 1: good to me. Possibly because I'm one of those people. 73 00:03:59,779 --> 00:04:02,860 Speaker 1: So I think people who are interviewing often like to 74 00:04:02,860 --> 00:04:05,339 Speaker 1: hire someone who's like themselves. We're all like that. We 75 00:04:05,339 --> 00:04:07,899 Speaker 1: like to chat to people and see people and have 76 00:04:07,899 --> 00:04:10,220 Speaker 1: things to do with people who are like ourselves, because 77 00:04:10,220 --> 00:04:11,419 Speaker 1: we're human beings. 78 00:04:11,830 --> 00:04:13,300 Speaker 1: But being a workaholic. 79 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I, I wouldn't react badly to that in an 80 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:17,450 Speaker 1: interview at all, 81 00:04:17,579 --> 00:04:17,899 Speaker 2: so. 82 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,109 Speaker 2: I guess the point we're making here is careful how 83 00:04:21,109 --> 00:04:23,470 Speaker 2: you express it, because if you say a workaholic or 84 00:04:23,470 --> 00:04:26,950 Speaker 2: a perfectionist, they do feel like they're just words. They're 85 00:04:26,950 --> 00:04:30,750 Speaker 2: just descriptions that you, you just fell back on because 86 00:04:30,750 --> 00:04:33,130 Speaker 2: you didn't know what else to say. If you say, 87 00:04:33,670 --> 00:04:35,789 Speaker 2: probably one of the things I need to work on 88 00:04:35,790 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 2: is that I am inclined to work. 89 00:04:39,214 --> 00:04:42,445 Speaker 2: Two longer hours, I go way over and above, and 90 00:04:42,445 --> 00:04:45,045 Speaker 2: sometimes I get burnt out, or I crash at the 91 00:04:45,045 --> 00:04:47,315 Speaker 2: end of a big project because I haven't had any sleep. 92 00:04:47,605 --> 00:04:49,844 Speaker 2: That kind of thing is helpful to know. And that 93 00:04:49,845 --> 00:04:53,204 Speaker 2: is a workaholic. So it's just probably about how you 94 00:04:53,204 --> 00:04:56,075 Speaker 2: express your weaknesses versus 95 00:04:57,059 --> 00:05:01,459 Speaker 2: Just tapping into the authentic weakness versus the, the 96 00:05:01,459 --> 00:05:04,299 Speaker 1: humble brag as well. Like being a workaholic, being a 97 00:05:04,299 --> 00:05:06,940 Speaker 1: perfectionist can also be a humble brag, and that is off-putting. 98 00:05:07,100 --> 00:05:07,500 Speaker 1: That's right. 99 00:05:07,700 --> 00:05:10,609 Speaker 2: That's right. I mean, again, perfectionism is a really common thing, 100 00:05:10,649 --> 00:05:12,899 Speaker 2: and if you've got that, don't shy away from it. 101 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,579 Speaker 2: But do work out how to describe it in a 102 00:05:15,579 --> 00:05:18,820 Speaker 2: way that is actually believable that this is a thing 103 00:05:18,820 --> 00:05:19,779 Speaker 2: that you are working on. 104 00:05:19,988 --> 00:05:22,260 Speaker 1: Yeah. And I have hired a whole bunch of perfectionists 105 00:05:22,260 --> 00:05:24,769 Speaker 1: in my time, and I know you have too, Helen. 106 00:05:24,859 --> 00:05:28,500 Speaker 1: And the reality is that perfectionists tend to have high 107 00:05:28,500 --> 00:05:31,779 Speaker 1: attention to detail. They tend to be really focused on 108 00:05:31,779 --> 00:05:34,219 Speaker 1: delivering a piece of work that is outstanding. But if 109 00:05:34,220 --> 00:05:37,058 Speaker 1: you're going to say that perfectionism is your weakness, then 110 00:05:37,059 --> 00:05:39,059 Speaker 1: you need to elaborate to the point that it is 111 00:05:39,059 --> 00:05:41,988 Speaker 1: an actual weakness. Otherwise, again, it does sound like a 112 00:05:41,988 --> 00:05:43,339 Speaker 1: humble brag. So 113 00:05:43,390 --> 00:05:47,058 Speaker 1: Perhaps the answer there is, I'm a perfectionist, which can 114 00:05:47,059 --> 00:05:51,579 Speaker 1: be helpful in achieving high-level results, but sometimes it means 115 00:05:51,579 --> 00:05:53,738 Speaker 1: that I can take a little bit too long to 116 00:05:53,738 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 1: deliver a project because I'm just trying to get that 117 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:59,290 Speaker 1: last 1%. And I probably need to learn to settle 118 00:05:59,290 --> 00:06:02,519 Speaker 1: a bit better there. Or I'm a perfectionist to the 119 00:06:02,519 --> 00:06:04,500 Speaker 1: point that sometimes I wrap myself up in knots and 120 00:06:04,500 --> 00:06:06,660 Speaker 1: I start to feel a little bit anxious about that. 121 00:06:07,209 --> 00:06:10,970 Speaker 1: And, again, different employers will react differently, but for me, 122 00:06:11,170 --> 00:06:13,450 Speaker 1: I find that information really useful because it means if 123 00:06:13,450 --> 00:06:15,570 Speaker 1: that person's gonna join my team, I know what to 124 00:06:15,570 --> 00:06:17,238 Speaker 1: look out for. Yeah, I completely agree. 125 00:06:17,450 --> 00:06:21,239 Speaker 2: It also just strays slightly into an earlier episode around 126 00:06:21,529 --> 00:06:22,329 Speaker 2: whether you have health. 127 00:06:22,404 --> 00:06:25,605 Speaker 2: Issues, physical or mental health issues, so if you are 128 00:06:25,605 --> 00:06:29,195 Speaker 2: going to raise some of those issues, it might encourage 129 00:06:29,195 --> 00:06:32,595 Speaker 2: the employer, the prospective employer, to ask you other questions 130 00:06:32,875 --> 00:06:35,984 Speaker 2: um around mental health issues. So just, just flagging that. 131 00:06:36,234 --> 00:06:37,635 Speaker 2: What should you say? 132 00:06:38,549 --> 00:06:43,630 Speaker 1: Well, Big Interview.com recommends choosing a weakness that is relatively 133 00:06:43,959 --> 00:06:46,679 Speaker 1: minor and fixable. I don't think you want it to 134 00:06:46,678 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 1: be so minor that it's like, well, you know, buy 135 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,720 Speaker 1: a box of band-aids and you're fine, mate, but something 136 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,350 Speaker 1: that isn't core to the selection criteria involved in this role. 137 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 1: And when you describe that weakness, you want to describe 138 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,179 Speaker 1: it in a concise and neutral way. You don't want 139 00:07:01,178 --> 00:07:04,750 Speaker 1: to sound super aggressive, you don't want to sound defensive. 140 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:06,470 Speaker 1: You simply want to recognise that 141 00:07:06,515 --> 00:07:09,904 Speaker 1: This is something that needs some work. And I often 142 00:07:09,904 --> 00:07:13,375 Speaker 1: like it if someone answers that sort of question in 143 00:07:13,375 --> 00:07:17,015 Speaker 1: the positive. So, instead of saying what your weaknesses are, say, 144 00:07:17,345 --> 00:07:19,345 Speaker 1: one of the things that I'm really looking to develop 145 00:07:19,345 --> 00:07:21,744 Speaker 1: in my skill set, which perhaps has been a bit 146 00:07:21,744 --> 00:07:25,184 Speaker 1: undeveloped until now, is, and it shows a willingness to 147 00:07:25,184 --> 00:07:27,785 Speaker 1: work on something that perhaps you're not super skilled at. 148 00:07:27,864 --> 00:07:30,024 Speaker 1: And it might even be a way, if there is 149 00:07:30,024 --> 00:07:33,505 Speaker 1: a particular selection criteria that you're worried you don't have 150 00:07:33,505 --> 00:07:34,545 Speaker 1: a great answer on. 151 00:07:34,799 --> 00:07:38,589 Speaker 1: It's a way of owning that and positively saying, I'm 152 00:07:38,589 --> 00:07:41,660 Speaker 1: really looking forward to becoming accomplished at this. 153 00:07:41,869 --> 00:07:44,799 Speaker 2: Yeah, you could say something like, I'm working on my 154 00:07:45,269 --> 00:07:48,750 Speaker 2: skills at Excel spreadsheets, because I've got basic skills in 155 00:07:48,750 --> 00:07:50,619 Speaker 2: that space, but I know it needs to be better, 156 00:07:50,750 --> 00:07:52,790 Speaker 2: and it's a real weakness in my skill set. So 157 00:07:52,790 --> 00:07:54,750 Speaker 2: you can answer it completely different. 158 00:07:54,846 --> 00:07:59,276 Speaker 2: Differently to what you might have originally thought. So, just 159 00:07:59,276 --> 00:08:01,305 Speaker 2: toss that around in your head before you go into 160 00:08:01,305 --> 00:08:01,756 Speaker 2: the 161 00:08:01,756 --> 00:08:05,115 Speaker 1: interview. Expanding on what might work for you, make sure 162 00:08:05,115 --> 00:08:07,915 Speaker 1: that you have an answer that's honest. Don't, don't pick 163 00:08:07,915 --> 00:08:10,156 Speaker 1: a weakness that's not true. Remember, you're trying to work 164 00:08:10,156 --> 00:08:12,276 Speaker 1: with these people, and you'll be seeing them 8 hours 165 00:08:12,276 --> 00:08:14,756 Speaker 1: a day, possibly 5 days a week for quite a while. 166 00:08:15,002 --> 00:08:17,041 Speaker 1: Uh, they're going to figure it out, if you're lying. 167 00:08:17,391 --> 00:08:21,082 Speaker 1: Make sure that when you're describing your so-called weakness, that 168 00:08:21,082 --> 00:08:24,511 Speaker 1: it demonstrates you have the capacity to see your failures. 169 00:08:24,761 --> 00:08:27,391 Speaker 1: Remember what we said at the top of this chat, 170 00:08:27,481 --> 00:08:30,272 Speaker 1: which is that this question is being asked to make 171 00:08:30,272 --> 00:08:33,601 Speaker 1: sure that you have some self-awareness about where your weaknesses 172 00:08:33,601 --> 00:08:36,790 Speaker 1: or your failures are, and show that you can take 173 00:08:36,992 --> 00:08:40,802 Speaker 1: and plan to take proactive steps towards fixing it or 174 00:08:40,802 --> 00:08:41,401 Speaker 1: managing it. 175 00:08:41,909 --> 00:08:45,630 Speaker 1: This is not about telling the interviewer everything you've ever 176 00:08:45,630 --> 00:08:48,099 Speaker 1: been bad at in your life. It's about being honest, 177 00:08:48,309 --> 00:08:51,289 Speaker 1: briefly and then focusing on how you're gonna fix it 178 00:08:51,289 --> 00:08:52,099 Speaker 1: and the positives. 179 00:08:52,700 --> 00:08:56,179 Speaker 2: So it's an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to learning. 180 00:08:56,510 --> 00:08:59,718 Speaker 2: Big tick. So that question can be a massive positive. 181 00:08:59,989 --> 00:09:02,669 Speaker 2: Don't dwell on the weakness. It's really tempting for some 182 00:09:02,669 --> 00:09:07,979 Speaker 2: of us, particularly women, to overexaggerate a weakness. Don't do that. 183 00:09:08,150 --> 00:09:10,919 Speaker 2: If you've got a weakness and you've stated it, just 184 00:09:10,919 --> 00:09:12,830 Speaker 2: let it hang there and wait for the next question. 185 00:09:13,179 --> 00:09:15,669 Speaker 2: And if you're stuck thinking about a weakness, consider, and 186 00:09:15,669 --> 00:09:19,589 Speaker 2: we've mentioned this before, doing an online strengths test. And 187 00:09:19,590 --> 00:09:25,390 Speaker 2: we've recommended VA VIA. It's the VIA Strengths assessment, and 188 00:09:25,390 --> 00:09:28,219 Speaker 2: you can do that for free, and it's super interesting. 189 00:09:28,390 --> 00:09:30,309 Speaker 1: It is, and it will give you all the lists 190 00:09:30,309 --> 00:09:33,109 Speaker 1: of strengths that exist in the world. I think they've, 191 00:09:33,190 --> 00:09:34,789 Speaker 1: they've recognised something like 27. 192 00:09:35,289 --> 00:09:38,020 Speaker 1: And you will find it's pretty comprehensive, and they will 193 00:09:38,020 --> 00:09:40,299 Speaker 1: give them to you in a list. And I am 194 00:09:40,299 --> 00:09:43,090 Speaker 1: an advocate for focusing on the top 5 or 6 195 00:09:43,090 --> 00:09:45,409 Speaker 1: of uh strengths on that list, the ones that you have. 196 00:09:45,659 --> 00:09:47,659 Speaker 1: But maybe to answer this question, it is worth scrolling 197 00:09:47,659 --> 00:09:50,020 Speaker 1: the whole way down to the bottom and going, OK, 198 00:09:50,219 --> 00:09:52,700 Speaker 1: what am I perhaps lacking? And if it speaks truth 199 00:09:52,700 --> 00:09:55,090 Speaker 1: to you, it might give you some language around what 200 00:09:55,090 --> 00:09:56,419 Speaker 1: you need to work on. 201 00:09:57,280 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: Helen, I'm keen to know how you would answer this question. 202 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:00,080 Speaker 1: I'm 203 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 2: just laughing, we've got notes in front of us and 204 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:06,478 Speaker 2: the team is actually written in the notes what Jamilla 205 00:10:06,479 --> 00:10:07,830 Speaker 2: and I are both weak at. 206 00:10:08,039 --> 00:10:09,049 Speaker 1: How rude. 207 00:10:10,229 --> 00:10:12,229 Speaker 2: Well, actually, I think it might just be me. So, 208 00:10:12,309 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 2: struggle with delegation. Actually, I think I'm pretty good at delegating. 209 00:10:15,070 --> 00:10:16,830 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, I would, I would argue that you're a 210 00:10:16,830 --> 00:10:20,549 Speaker 1: good delegator. I think all good managers and leaders, that's 211 00:10:20,549 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: a pretty baseline requirement. So I would be, they're 212 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:25,179 Speaker 2: talking about you in this case then. 213 00:10:25,859 --> 00:10:30,210 Speaker 1: Oh, I hope not. How rude. Um, I would step 214 00:10:30,210 --> 00:10:34,569 Speaker 1: away from saying that you're not someone who's great at delegating. Again, 215 00:10:34,650 --> 00:10:36,890 Speaker 1: it feels a little like a humble brag to me. 216 00:10:37,049 --> 00:10:39,049 Speaker 1: Like you're like, you're saying to someone, it's, I do 217 00:10:39,049 --> 00:10:41,890 Speaker 1: all the work myself. I'm a one woman show. It's 218 00:10:41,890 --> 00:10:45,359 Speaker 1: all me. I don't need anyone else's help, when really, 219 00:10:45,450 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: I think a great team member is someone who delegates 220 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,059 Speaker 1: really well and delegates really effectively. 221 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,289 Speaker 2: And the other one is fear of public speaking. So 222 00:10:53,549 --> 00:10:57,709 Speaker 2: this is just something I have always dealt with. I 223 00:10:57,710 --> 00:11:00,020 Speaker 2: don't love public speaking, and I don't know that I'm 224 00:11:00,020 --> 00:11:03,469 Speaker 2: scared as much as really just don't enjoy it. There's 225 00:11:03,469 --> 00:11:08,989 Speaker 2: nothing about that process that I enjoy. So, that's certainly 226 00:11:08,989 --> 00:11:12,390 Speaker 2: in my mind a weakness, although for much of my career, 227 00:11:12,469 --> 00:11:14,260 Speaker 2: I've been required to do quite a lot of it. 228 00:11:15,669 --> 00:11:16,890 Speaker 1: So is that how you'd answer the question? 229 00:11:17,059 --> 00:11:19,659 Speaker 2: No. How would you answer it? On my weaknesses? Come on. 230 00:11:21,609 --> 00:11:23,210 Speaker 2: Uh, attention to detail, um, 231 00:11:24,489 --> 00:11:25,669 Speaker 1: would you say that in an interview? 232 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:28,089 Speaker 1: No. Do you want this job with me? 233 00:11:28,820 --> 00:11:30,739 Speaker 2: I would definitely not say that in an interview. But 234 00:11:30,739 --> 00:11:32,020 Speaker 2: if you asked me if I was good with detail, 235 00:11:32,059 --> 00:11:35,848 Speaker 2: I would probably say that's not one of my strengths. Yeah. Um, 236 00:11:36,260 --> 00:11:38,819 Speaker 2: but as a result, I make sure I hire people 237 00:11:38,820 --> 00:11:41,340 Speaker 2: who are good with detail to kind of compensate. So 238 00:11:41,659 --> 00:11:43,380 Speaker 2: I know how to manage that, to 239 00:11:43,380 --> 00:11:44,320 Speaker 1: plug your own holes. 240 00:11:44,479 --> 00:11:47,209 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah. So that one I've sort of sorted out. 241 00:11:48,030 --> 00:11:53,619 Speaker 2: Oh, I don't take feedback well. Um, I don't like 242 00:11:54,059 --> 00:11:56,729 Speaker 2: being told what to do. I don't like being bossed around. 243 00:11:56,820 --> 00:11:56,950 Speaker 2: I don't 244 00:11:56,950 --> 00:11:58,789 Speaker 1: think I'm gonna hire you, just so you know. 245 00:12:00,030 --> 00:12:02,159 Speaker 2: And therein lies the reason why I had to start 246 00:12:02,159 --> 00:12:03,820 Speaker 2: my own business. What about you? 247 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: Uh, I can think of a whole bunch of weaknesses, right? 248 00:12:07,719 --> 00:12:10,599 Speaker 1: Straight away, I can list weaknesses off to you. But 249 00:12:10,599 --> 00:12:14,359 Speaker 1: on the question of how to answer this particular query 250 00:12:14,359 --> 00:12:16,959 Speaker 1: in an interview, I don't want to give you every 251 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 1: weakness I've ever had, I've ever had. Uh, I suspect 252 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:21,489 Speaker 1: I would be. 253 00:12:22,030 --> 00:12:24,789 Speaker 1: As honest as I could be, while not letting you 254 00:12:24,789 --> 00:12:28,500 Speaker 1: in on all of my failures, for the record, folks, 255 00:12:28,630 --> 00:12:32,090 Speaker 1: actual weaknesses include having no poker face and everyone knowing 256 00:12:32,090 --> 00:12:34,950 Speaker 1: when I'm annoyed, upset or angry. Uh, most of the 257 00:12:34,950 --> 00:12:36,949 Speaker 1: room is laughing, who are listening in the background. I 258 00:12:36,950 --> 00:12:38,270 Speaker 2: actually had to tell you that this morning. 259 00:12:39,270 --> 00:12:40,630 Speaker 2: That I knew you were not having it at a 260 00:12:40,630 --> 00:12:41,119 Speaker 2: meeting last 261 00:12:41,119 --> 00:12:43,909 Speaker 1: night. I try very hard, but I don't, I just 262 00:12:43,909 --> 00:12:48,630 Speaker 1: don't have one. and, uh, I am also someone who 263 00:12:48,630 --> 00:12:51,718 Speaker 1: has a very poor memory. And so, again, I have 264 00:12:51,719 --> 00:12:54,630 Speaker 1: a lot of structures in place to kind of bolster me, 265 00:12:54,669 --> 00:12:56,989 Speaker 1: but I have a really bad memory, and I struggle 266 00:12:56,989 --> 00:12:59,988 Speaker 1: with that. And I'm someone who I think is generally 267 00:12:59,989 --> 00:13:02,510 Speaker 1: good at delegation, but when you get to the end 268 00:13:02,510 --> 00:13:04,950 Speaker 1: point and when it's the crunch time, I often tend 269 00:13:04,950 --> 00:13:06,859 Speaker 1: to suck things in and want to do them myself. 270 00:13:08,200 --> 00:13:09,799 Speaker 1: If I was in an interview, I would say none 271 00:13:09,799 --> 00:13:11,679 Speaker 1: of those things, because I don't think any of those 272 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:13,729 Speaker 1: things are gonna be useful in terms of helping me 273 00:13:13,729 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: get this job. What I would probably do is I 274 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,349 Speaker 1: would take the industry that I was going to work in, 275 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:21,359 Speaker 1: say it was the first time I'd ever worked in 276 00:13:21,359 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: the not for profit sector. I'd probably come to it 277 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:27,289 Speaker 1: and say something that was already clear from my resume. 278 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,159 Speaker 1: I'd say something that they already knew was true. And 279 00:13:30,159 --> 00:13:33,570 Speaker 1: I'd say, I am someone who 280 00:13:34,070 --> 00:13:36,530 Speaker 1: Hasn't got a lot of not for profit experience. And 281 00:13:36,530 --> 00:13:39,090 Speaker 1: right now I'm feeling a bit anxious about that. I 282 00:13:39,090 --> 00:13:41,089 Speaker 1: know that I've got the skills from working in the 283 00:13:41,090 --> 00:13:44,140 Speaker 1: private sector and the government sector, and I know that 284 00:13:44,140 --> 00:13:47,489 Speaker 1: I've proven myself there, and I'm established, and the idea 285 00:13:47,489 --> 00:13:49,609 Speaker 1: of taking the leap to the not for profit sector 286 00:13:49,609 --> 00:13:52,210 Speaker 1: really terrifies me. It makes me very, very nervous and 287 00:13:52,210 --> 00:13:54,608 Speaker 1: very aware of all the things I don't know. So 288 00:13:54,609 --> 00:13:56,599 Speaker 1: I think one of my weaknesses going into this job 289 00:13:56,599 --> 00:13:58,330 Speaker 1: is going to be that I've got a lot of 290 00:13:58,330 --> 00:13:59,079 Speaker 1: learning to do. 291 00:13:59,330 --> 00:14:01,809 Speaker 2: All right, a couple of other circumstances. Uh, I haven't 292 00:14:01,809 --> 00:14:03,119 Speaker 2: worked for, 293 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,010 Speaker 2: 8 years, and I'm being asked what my weaknesses are. 294 00:14:08,380 --> 00:14:13,159 Speaker 2: Do I say something aligned to that? My weakness is 295 00:14:13,159 --> 00:14:16,218 Speaker 2: most likely that I haven't been in a modern workplace 296 00:14:16,219 --> 00:14:19,979 Speaker 2: for 8 years, so I'm probably likely to find that 297 00:14:19,979 --> 00:14:22,799 Speaker 2: a foreign experience for a short period of time. 298 00:14:23,299 --> 00:14:26,739 Speaker 1: I think you should. I suspect if there's something that's 299 00:14:26,739 --> 00:14:29,099 Speaker 1: not obvious about you from your resume, 300 00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: That is a weakness, uh, leave that to the side, 301 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,190 Speaker 1: don't mention it. Don't bring your weaknesses into the conversation 302 00:14:35,190 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: as a new dish on the menu. But if it's 303 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,679 Speaker 1: already really obvious by reading your resume that, 304 00:14:42,809 --> 00:14:45,530 Speaker 1: For example, uh, not having been in the workforce for 305 00:14:45,530 --> 00:14:48,849 Speaker 1: 8 to 10 years, everyone knows that. Everyone in that 306 00:14:48,849 --> 00:14:50,809 Speaker 1: room is aware of that. Everyone would have noted that 307 00:14:50,809 --> 00:14:53,809 Speaker 1: on your resume. So don't pretend it's not there. I 308 00:14:53,809 --> 00:14:56,169 Speaker 1: would rather you brought it up, faced it head on, 309 00:14:56,289 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: and showed that self-awareness that we've mentioned at the top, 310 00:14:59,969 --> 00:15:02,330 Speaker 1: that is what an employer is looking for. And again, 311 00:15:02,530 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 1: moved very quickly to the 312 00:15:04,559 --> 00:15:07,679 Speaker 1: your proactive steps for dealing with that. So, I haven't 313 00:15:07,679 --> 00:15:09,919 Speaker 1: been in the workforce for 8 to 10 years. It's 314 00:15:09,919 --> 00:15:12,880 Speaker 1: something that makes me really anxious, particularly about the re-entry 315 00:15:12,880 --> 00:15:15,159 Speaker 1: when it comes to being able to use various tools. 316 00:15:15,280 --> 00:15:16,599 Speaker 1: And one thing that I did want to get to 317 00:15:16,599 --> 00:15:19,039 Speaker 1: in this interview is asking you about some of the 318 00:15:19,039 --> 00:15:21,359 Speaker 1: tools that you use in your organisation, so I can 319 00:15:21,359 --> 00:15:23,950 Speaker 1: make sure I'm sort of skilled up before I get there. 320 00:15:24,119 --> 00:15:25,119 Speaker 2: Yep. Great. And 321 00:15:25,599 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 2: The other scenario is I blew my last job, I 322 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:34,229 Speaker 2: lost the role, or I was retrenched or made redundant. 323 00:15:34,239 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 2: It knocked my confidence around, but it's kind of, the 324 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:42,119 Speaker 2: interviewer is aware, knows that they believe in me enough 325 00:15:42,119 --> 00:15:46,239 Speaker 2: to interview me, but I've still got that nagging voice 326 00:15:46,239 --> 00:15:48,719 Speaker 2: in my head that, oh, I didn't do such a 327 00:15:48,719 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 2: good job. My last job, I had a, you know, 328 00:15:50,039 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 2: I had a conflict or I made a mistake. What 329 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:54,669 Speaker 2: do I do in that circumstance? 330 00:15:55,739 --> 00:15:57,789 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if that's one you need to bring up. 331 00:15:57,940 --> 00:16:00,500 Speaker 1: If you think that the employer already knows that, and 332 00:16:00,500 --> 00:16:03,130 Speaker 1: you know that they're taking a chance on you regardless, 333 00:16:03,340 --> 00:16:06,500 Speaker 1: they've already made that call. They've already weighed up those factors. 334 00:16:06,739 --> 00:16:09,479 Speaker 1: So my instinct would be not to bring it up. 335 00:16:09,859 --> 00:16:11,979 Speaker 1: If you really did want to bring it up, if 336 00:16:11,979 --> 00:16:14,299 Speaker 1: it felt like something you needed to say again. 337 00:16:15,559 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: I would lean into the honesty and the humanity of 338 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:20,479 Speaker 1: it rather than the workplace skill level. I agree, so 339 00:16:20,479 --> 00:16:22,679 Speaker 2: you could say I haven't been in conflict well in 340 00:16:22,679 --> 00:16:26,289 Speaker 2: the workplace before, but I've worked on that since, you know, 341 00:16:26,440 --> 00:16:29,239 Speaker 2: or I got knocked around because I was part of 342 00:16:29,239 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 2: a retrenchment. 343 00:16:30,729 --> 00:16:33,239 Speaker 2: Uh, round that had nothing to do with my ability, 344 00:16:33,419 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 2: but it did knock my confidence around. But I'm working 345 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:37,760 Speaker 2: on that, and I'm sure that that will be, uh, 346 00:16:37,770 --> 00:16:40,739 Speaker 2: resolved pretty quickly once I get back under, you know, 347 00:16:40,809 --> 00:16:42,729 Speaker 2: my feet back under a desk. I think there are 348 00:16:42,729 --> 00:16:45,289 Speaker 2: ways to kind of acknowledge that things didn't go well 349 00:16:45,289 --> 00:16:47,489 Speaker 2: in a previous job, but that you're getting out ahead 350 00:16:47,489 --> 00:16:47,570 Speaker 2: of 351 00:16:47,570 --> 00:16:51,039 Speaker 1: it. Helen, we have tried our best to answer one 352 00:16:51,039 --> 00:16:54,239 Speaker 1: of possibly the most complex questions that comes up in 353 00:16:54,239 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: a job interview. Folks, I think your 354 00:16:57,979 --> 00:17:01,659 Speaker 1: Guiding star, your north star on this one, is to 355 00:17:01,659 --> 00:17:04,930 Speaker 1: avoid the humble brag and remember the purpose of the question, 356 00:17:05,060 --> 00:17:07,438 Speaker 1: which is to show a level of self-awareness and then 357 00:17:07,439 --> 00:17:10,139 Speaker 1: to show that you're proactive and resilient in trying to 358 00:17:10,140 --> 00:17:11,300 Speaker 1: fix it. Good luck. 359 00:17:13,380 --> 00:17:17,500 Speaker 1: Shortlisted is produced by Future Women's Jobs Academy. To apply 360 00:17:17,500 --> 00:17:23,459 Speaker 1: to join, head to jobsacademy.uwomen.com or go to Futurewomen.com to 361 00:17:23,459 --> 00:17:25,410 Speaker 1: become a future women member today.