Human Answer
TRAPS:
If an interviewer has read your resume carefully, he may try to zero in on a “fatal flaw” of your candidacy, perhaps that you don’t have a college degree…you’ve been out of the job market for some time…you never earned your CPA, etc. A fatal flaw question can be deadly, but usually only if you respond by being overly defensive.
BEST ANSWERS:
As every master salesperson knows, you will encounter objections (whether stated or merely thought) in every sale. They’re part and parcel of the buyer’s anxiety. The key is not to exacerbate the buyer’s anxiety but diminish it. Here’s how… Whenever you come up against a fatal flaw question:
1. Be completely honest, open and straightforward about admitting the shortcoming. (Showing you have nothing to hide diminishes the buyer’s anxiety.)
2. Do not apologize or try to explain it away. You know that this supposed flaw is nothing to be concerned about, and this is the attitude you want your interviewer to adopt as well.
3. Add that as desirable as such a qualification might be, its lack has made you work all the harder throughout your career and has not prevented you from compiling an outstanding tack record of achievements. You might even give examples of how, through a relentless commitment to excellence, you have consistently outperformed those who do have this qualification.
Of course, the ultimate way to handle “fatal flaw” questions is to prevent them from arising in the first place. You will do that by following the master strategy described in Question 1, i.e., uncovering the employers needs and them matching your qualifications to those needs.
Once you’ve gotten the employer to start talking about his most urgently-felt wants and goals for the position, and then help him see in step-by-step fashion how perfectly your background and achievements match up with those needs, you’re going to have one very enthusiastic interviewer on your hands, one who is no longer looking for “fatal flaws”.
ChatGPT Answer
The "Fatal Flaw" question in an interview refers to a question where the interviewer asks you to identify a weakness or potential area for improvement in yourself. Answering this question can be a bit tricky, but it's important to be honest and professional in your response.
Here are a few examples of how to answer this question:
- Be honest and specific: Identify a specific weakness or area for improvement, but frame it in a positive way. For example, "I have been working on improving my time management skills, as I have a tendency to get caught up in details and sometimes struggle to prioritize tasks."
- Discuss steps you've taken to improve: Explain what steps you have taken to address your weakness and how you have been working to improve in that area. For example, "I have been working on improving my public speaking skills by taking a course and practicing in front of a mirror and with friends."
- Show that you're aware of your weakness: Emphasize that you are aware of your weakness and that you're taking steps to improve. For example, "I know that I can be too perfectionistic at times, but I'm working on learning when to let go and accept that done is better than perfect."
- Highlight the positive side of the weakness: Show that your weakness can also be a strength. For example, " I have always been a bit of a perfectionist, and while it can be a weakness when I am not able to move on from a project, it also helps me to produce high-quality work."
- Show that you're willing to learn: Express your willingness to continue learning and growing as a professional. For example, "I understand that no one is perfect and that we all have areas for improvement. I am always open to feedback and willing to continue learning and growing as a professional."
It's important to remember that the interviewer wants to know that you're self-aware, that you're willing to learn and that you're able to improve.
Showing your self-awareness, willingness to learn, and ability to improve will demonstrate that you're a good fit for the company and the position.