Here's how I intend things to go next time I am hit with the scripted questions we have all heard and should all be able to answer in our sleep:
Them: Tell us about yourself.
Me: I'm extremely good at what I do. I'm communicative, collaborative and efficient.
Them: What are your strengths?
Me: I'm extremely good at what I do. I'm communicative, collaborative and efficient.
Them: We have half an hour. Would you like to add something?
Me: I could, but I'd merely be restating what I've already said. I respect my colleagues' and clients' time too much to waste it, which is why I mentioned that efficiency is one of my strengths.
Them: What are your weaknesses?
Me: I regret that I never mastered the French language.
Them: There must be something else.
Me: Well... if you must know... sometimes I have trouble deciding when to use "that" and when to use "which" as a pronoun.
Them: Thank you for coming in. Do you have any questions for us?
Me: Yes. Would you all please tell me your weaknesses now? We have nearly half an hour.
I usually tell them that I don't exercise enough, take my vitamins or call my mom on a regular basis. When that doesn't fly I tell them that I'm "Type A" and have little patience for things that impede my ability to get work tasks done. They are usually bored of that asinine question by then. I was once asked what my strengths were, in Japanese, while interviewing at Lehman Brothers. See what happened to them!
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