The weakness question represents the most common and most stressful one posed during interviews. Yet in today's weak job market, the wrong answer weakens your chances of winning employment.

　　“缺點”問題是求職面試中最常見也最讓人頭痛的一個問題。而在眼下就業(yè)市場疲軟的情況下，不恰當?shù)幕卮饘⒔档湍阙A得工作的機會。

　　Some people offer replies they mistakenly assume that bosses love, such as “I am a perfectionist.” That response will be used against you because you appear incapable of delegating, warns Joshua Ehrlich, dean of a master's program in executive coaching sponsored by BeamPines Inc., a New York coaching firm and Middlesex University in London.

　　一些應聘者會給出誤以為老板會喜歡的答案，比如，“我的缺點是過于追求完美”。對此埃里奇(Joshua Ehrlich)提醒說，這個回答會對你求職不利，因為它顯得你似乎沒有能力授權給他人。埃里奇是一個由紐約職業(yè)培訓機構BeamPines Inc。和倫敦米德塞克斯大學(Middlesex University)合辦的經(jīng)理人碩士班培訓項目的負責人。

　　A careful game plan could help you cope with the shortcoming query in a way that highlights your fit for a desired position. Job seekers who field the question well demonstrate that they can “take initiative and improve themselves,” Mr. Morrow says.

　　為對付這個問題，可事先精心設計好一個答案，以凸顯你適合所申請的這個職位。莫羅說，出色回答這個問題的求職者表現(xiàn)出他們能夠“主動行動，改善自己”。

　　The key? Thorough preparation. Career specialists suggest you take stock of your weaknesses, focusing on job-related ones that won't impede your ability to perform your duties. Tony Santora, an executive vice president for Right Management, a major outplacement firm in Philadelphia, says an information-technology manager flubbed a 2007 interview by choosing a personal foible as his reply: “My true weakness is that I am a terrible cook.”

　　關鍵在哪里？那就是充分的準備。職場專家建議，你可以整理一下自己的缺點，挑出其中跟工作有關、但又不會妨礙你行使工作職責的方面。費城大型職業(yè)介紹機構Right Management執(zhí)行副總裁桑特拉(Tony Santora)說，2007年一位IT經(jīng)理在參加面試時，在有關缺點的問題上敗下陣來：他的回答居然是，“我真正的缺點是，我的烹飪技術很糟糕。”

　　Rehearse your responses aloud, role play with a friend or videotape yourself -- but don't memorize your words. As you review the video, “look for aspects you would like to change so you can continue to get better as you practice,” says Peggy Klaus, a leadership coach in Berkeley, Calif.

　　大聲朗讀答案，可以找朋友或自己用錄像來一番角色扮演。不過，不要背誦自己的答案。加州管理培訓師克勞斯(Peggy Klaus)說，回頭看錄像的時候，找出你覺得可以改善的地方，這樣在練習時可以做得更好。

　　The IT manager changed his tune after practice sessions with fellow job seekers and a counselor in Cincinnati for Right Management. He instead said he worked such long hours that he found it difficult to stay current with world events. So, he spent 30 minutes every evening catching up at home.

　　那位IT經(jīng)理在辛辛那提和其他求職者及咨詢師一起參加Right Management的訓練課程后改變了思路。他后來的回答是，由于每天長時間忙于工作，他發(fā)現(xiàn)自己很難及時了解世界大事。因此，他每天晚上在家花30分鐘惡補這方面的信息。

　　When the manager pursued an opportunity at a global drug maker, his revamped response “really resonated with the interviewer,” says Mr. Santora. The manufacturer hired the man.

　　桑特拉說，當他后來在一家全球性制藥企業(yè)求職時，他的回答讓面試官很有共鳴。這家公司最后雇用了他。

　　It's equally important that you consider an employer's corporate culture. “While being interviewed by a start-up, you could say, ‘My weakness is I get bored by routine,’” says Ben Dattner, a New York industrial psychologist.

　　考慮目標公司的企業(yè)文化也同樣重要。紐約心理學家達特納(Ben Dattner)說，如果到一家初創(chuàng)公司面試，你可以說，“我的缺點是容易對日常的循規(guī)蹈矩感到厭煩”。

　　Ideally, your reply also should exclude the word “weakness” and cover your corrective steps. Dubbing your greatest fault a “window of opportunity” signals your improvement efforts should benefit the workplace, says Oscar Adler, a retired Maidenform Brands sales executive and author of the book, “Sell Yourself in Any Interview.” For instance, he suggests, a salesman might note that he sold more after strengthening his facility with numbers.

　　理想的情況是，你在回答中應盡量避免使用“缺點”這樣的詞，同時還可以提到改正措施。Maidenform Brands銷售主管、《在面試中推銷自己》(Sell Yourself in Any Interview)一書的作者阿德勒(Oscar Adler)說，將你最大的缺點轉化為"機會之窗"，表明你的改善措施將使工作受益。比如他建議說，銷售人員可以說，在強化數(shù)學能力后，銷售業(yè)績上升了。

　　When an interviewer pops this nerve-wracking query, your body language counts as well. The wrong nonverbal cues undercut your credibility. Certain candidates hunch over, glance furtively around the room or wring their sweaty palms. “They sort of look like they're being asked a question they can't handle,” says Mr. Adler.

　　當面試官突然提出這樣的刁鉆問題時，你的身體語言也能反映一些問題。不當?shù)闹w語言會削弱你的可信度。某些求職者會蜷縮身體，茫然地瞟著房間四周，或是扭動出汗的手掌。阿德勒說，他們看起來就有點像遇到了他們沒法對付的問題。

　　Maintaining eye contact, regular breathing and a broad smile impress employers that “you're prepared for the weakness question,” says psychotherapist Pat Pearson, author of “Stop Self-Sabotage!”

　　心理學家皮爾森(Pat Pearson)說，保持視線接觸、正常呼吸和明朗的微笑可以讓雇主覺得“你對有關弱點的問題有所準備”。皮爾森著有《停止自我摧毀》(Stop Self-Sabotage!)一書。

　　For the same reason, you seem thoughtful if you pause before responding. But don't wait too long. “If you're going to take a minute,” Mr. Morrow cautions, “I've just identified your weakness.”

　　同理，如果你回答問題前稍作停頓會讓你看起來深思熟慮。不過不要時間過長。莫羅警告說，如果你的停頓時間長達一分鐘，那我已經(jīng)能發(fā)現(xiàn)你的弱點了。