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.

　　桑特拉说，当他后来在一家全球性制药企业求职时，他的回答让面试官很有共鸣。这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.

　　考虑目标公司的企业文化也同样重要。纽约心理学家达特纳(Ben Dattner)说，如果到一家初创公司面试，你可以说，“我的缺点是容易对日常的循规蹈矩感到厌烦”。

　　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.

　　理想的情况是，你在回答中应尽量避免使用“缺点”这样的词，同时还可以提到改正措施。Maidenform Brands销售主管、《在面试中推销自己》(Sell Yourself in Any Interview)一书的作者阿德勒(Oscar Adler)说，将你最大的缺点转化为"机会之窗"，表明你的改善措施将使工作受益。比如他建议说，销售人员可以说，在强化数学能力后，销售业绩上升了。

　　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.

　　当面试官突然提出这样的刁钻问题时，你的身体语言也能反映一些问题。不当的肢体语言会削弱你的可信度。某些求职者会蜷缩身体，茫然地瞟着房间四周，或是扭动出汗的手掌。阿德勒说，他们看起来就有点像遇到了他们没法对付的问题。

　　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!”

　　心理学家皮尔森(Pat Pearson)说，保持视线接触、正常呼吸和明朗的微笑可以让雇主觉得“你对有关弱点的问题有所准备”。皮尔森着有《停止自我摧毁》(Stop Self-Sabotage!)一书。

　　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，如果你回答问题前稍作停顿会让你看起来深思熟虑。不过不要时间过长。莫罗警告说，如果你的停顿时间长达一分钟，那我已经能发现你的弱点了。  
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