Interview tomorrow. What's your strategy for this question?

[dustyn]

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Yeah I'm not going to use one of the cliché answers. But what do you guys think of some light hearted humor thrown into an inteview (that's used sparingly, and not overdone, obviously)? I was thinking of doing something like this:

Interviewer: so what would you say are your weaknesses?
Me: Hmm, I have to go with chocolate. Definitely chocolate. <I'll laugh a little bit here>. Ok ok, I suppose you want to know something relevant to my past work experience. In all seriousness...[and then I talk about my actual weaknesses]

I know it's kind of cheesy, but I was thinking it might get the interviewer to laugh a little bit and shows that I'm comfortable dealing with people. I was also thinking it might make the interviewer more comfortable with me, like we're having a conversation between friends, rather than some high stress job interview.

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Answering this question with a smartass response is a horrible idea, and a sign you aren't taking the interview seriously. This likely will send the message that you don't take your work seriously, which is exactly the type of employee most people don't want to hire. There is a time and a place for humor, and the interview process isn't it.

[C.R.E.A.M.]

Smartass comment? I admit the example I gave is quite the lame attempt at humor, but I'm really surprised someone thinks it's crossing the line at an interview. I don't think joking around a little bit makes it seem like I don't take my work seriously. Don't employers want to hire real, genuine people and not soulless robots?

[edit]and I just wanted to add, I think it's obvious I wouldn't follow an exact script of what I would say to every question. I wouldn't really plan out a joke and laughing like I did in my previous post, I was just using it as an example. I would take a read when initially meeting the interviewer and then decide from there what I felt like the best way to answer would be.

[Leaky Eye]

While answering sarcastically is a bad idea, an interview is a fine place for humor.

I have only liked funny people I have interviewed more. In fact, I don't recall recommending anything but hire for someone who was funny. However, an interview is a bad place to bomb.

[RunDownHouse]

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However, an interview is a bad place to bomb.

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That's the key. Typically, the risk isn't worth the reward. Especially if the best you've got is that chocolate line.

[BadBoyBenny]

I say go with "lack of experience". They know exactly how much you have, they've read your resume along with everyone else they are going to interview. Also, it implies that you are confident that you will be able to improve quickly as you get experience.

[uncleshady]

I STEAL STAPLERS, MANG!!