RE: common interview question

["Carey Jennifer (Cry)" <jennifer -dot- carey -at- cdi -dot- cerberus -dot- ch>]

This may not be a popular answer, but how about the truth?  

Let's face it, we all have flaws, as we all have strengths. I find that
almost always they are simply two sides of a single characteristic.  For
example, one of my weaknesses is that I get bored if I have to repeat the
same process more than a few times. If that happens, the quality of my work
suffers.  But on the other hand, I tend to build systems that eliminate the
need for repetative processes so that I can move on to the next challenge.
If I were interviewing for a job where repetative processes were a large and
unavoidable part of it, knowing that I would ultimately suck at it and we
would all suffer, I would thank them for their time and decline immediately.
Another example of two aspects of a single characteristic is having a high
standard for quality. You might have a great eye for detail and can really
put out great work, but you might have trouble letting go even at the risk
of holding back the product release date. If you get your satisfaction from
putting out near-perfect work but you never have enough time to produce
anything you're proud of, dissatisfaction is an inevitability.  Assuming you
are talking with the person who will actually hire you and knows the
position well, it's important to get these things out in the open so that
you can both understand if you will fit well together.

Now, from the other side of things, as someone who has to hire someone else,
I would find a fake answer very annoying and probably pretty obvious.  When
a person tells me honestly what their weaknesses are, it tells me that they
know themselves and are humble. Further, it gives me a good idea of how we
might be able to work together in a way that is positive for both of us. If
the person is talanted but works best with a lot of structure, by golly, I'm
going to give them structure. If you already know this about yourself, don't
make me guess!  If I'm unable to provide that structure and I know it, don't
trick me into thinking that's it's not a problem because it will be, and
we'll both lose.

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