How do you answer when a job interviewer asks, "What's a negative about you?"

Question

Recently, I went on a job interview and the interviewer asked what negative comment a previous boss may make. I didn't know how to respond! I don't want to say anything negative about myself in a job interview, much less put negative words in a previous employer's mouth. How should I respond to this question?

Answer 1

a negative would be to ask for a promotion too often, ask for over time, work too much.... gotta find a positive negative

Answer 2

That I concentrate so hard that I lose track of time and work too many hours.

That I take my work too seriously and forget to have fun.

That sort of thing.

Answer 3

This is one version of many versions you will hear over the course of your career, whereby the employer wants you to tell him/her how you deal with developing yourself and growing through the challenges you face.  The worst thing you could do would be to say "nothing" or become uncomfortable or refuse to answer.  A well-balanced person (and employee) should be able to speak rationally about their weaknesses as well as strengths.

You don't have to look at this negatively, if you choose you can think of this as just more information they want to gather, so it means they are interested in you.  In this case I think they could have phrased the question better, so for this specific question, you might start with, "well, I can't think of a negative comment, but I do remember some constructive feedback x employer had for me on y project..." and go from there.

Your best approach to the substance of these answers is to prepare an honest example that has a potentially positive side or that you can talk about how you have worked to overcome the weakness.  An example is being perfectionistic - it makes it hard to let go of a work product as being done, so you have to work hard to moderate your expectations and prioritize the most important aspects of the work product.  

I hope this is helpful.  Best of luck!