5 ways to respond to the “Are you a perfectionist?” interview question

Those who consider themselves to be a perfectionist typically desire to be flawless in everything they do. Whether in their professional life or personal life, they will not finish a project or task until they decide everything is perfect. In some cases, this can be a positive aspect of one’s life, but in others, it can be the opposite. In fact, during an interview, being a perfectionist can be seen as a negative. When you are faced with the “Are you a perfectionist?” interview question, there are many ways you can answer it.

In this article, we will look at five ways you can answer this tricky question so that the features of your personality work in your favor. Here’s what we'll cover:

• Why do interviewers ask the “Are you a perfectionist?” question?

• How do you turn being a perfectionist into a strength?

• Five ways to answer “Are you a perfectionist” in an interview

Why do interviewers ask the “Are you a perfectionist?” question?

When you’re asked the “Are you a perfectionist?” question in an interview, your interviewer wants to learn things about you and your personality. It may seem like a given that being a perfectionist is a good thing. However, depending on their needs, being a perfectionist may indicate that you are not the right employee for them. 

Here are some of the perfectionist tendencies they may be hoping to avoid:

• Procrastination. Some perfectionists may be so fearful of not reaching complete satisfaction in their work that they delay starting new tasks. As an employer, dealing with someone who procrastinates is not desirable because they then have to juggle deadlines or worry work isn’t getting done efficiently.

• Delegation. Perfectionists may also have a hard time effectively delegating work to others because they don’t trust anyone else to perform it according to their standards. When this happens, projects can become delayed because only one person is doing the work. Delegation is an important part of the business world because it boosts efficiency and productivity.

• Unrealistic expectations. When managers or leaders within an organization have a perfectionist trait, they could place unrealistic expectations on their employees. Not only is that bad for company morale, but it can lead to high turnover rates, costing the company money.

How do you ensure being a perfectionist is seen as a strength?

If you are a perfectionist, that doesn’t necessarily mean the hiring manager will see it as a negative trait, even when it comes up in an interview. When you are faced with the “Are you a perfectionist?” question in an interview, there are some ways to make sure it comes across as a strength. 

Here are some things to consider in your answer(s):

• Display that you are capable of focusing on the progress of a project rather than perfectionism and also setting realistic goals that are still challenging

• Show that you can prioritize tasks and identify the important aspects of a project.

• Discuss how you are not afraid to recognize and learn from your mistakes

• Give examples of how you collaborate with other members of your team, including team leaders, to move projects along.

• Portray yourself as someone with impeccable time management skills who can plan ahead and complete projects on time.

5 Ways to answer “Are you a perfectionist?” in an interview

Since being a perfectionist isn’t necessarily seen as a positive trait, have a prepared answer for when you face the “Are you a perfectionist?” interview question. 

Here are a few examples to give you inspiration for your answer, depending on your personality and priorities:

1. If you consider yourself a perfectionist

“I consider myself a perfectionist. I use this trait to ensure the work I produce and expect from my team is high quality and effective. To ensure projects are completed to the company’s standards, I set realistic goals and schedules and seek feedback from others on the team to ensure priority tasks are taken care of appropriately.”

2. Not a perfectionist, but…

“I do not consider myself a perfectionist, but I am a detail-oriented person and strive to ensure every project I work on is completed satisfactorily and on time.”

3. Maybe you have perfectionist tendencies

“I do have perfectionist tendencies, but I have learned how to use them positively. Thanks to my strong attention to detail, I can strive for excellence in my work. The high standards I set for myself allow me to produce superior work consistently.”

4. Instead of perfectionism, you focus on. . . 

“I would not say that I am a perfectionist. I tend to focus more on making things efficient and meeting deadlines while still ensuring high levels of quality. I’m also not afraid to learn from my mistakes and use those opportunities to grow and improve.”

5. Not a perfectionist, but you understand priorities and goals

“I do have a strong desire to achieve the highest levels of quality, but I understand how important it is to work with others on the team, prioritize tasks, and develop realistic goals that all lead to a quality final product.”

We want to make sure you are ready for your interview! Visit our interview prep page today to learn how we can help you on your interviewing journey.

Key takeaways

1. Perfectionists can be seen as procrastinators with high standards and an inability to delegate their work or set realistic expectations for their employees.

2. In an interview, you should show that you are good with time management, setting goals, prioritizing tasks, collaborating with others, and learning from your mistakes.

3. When preparing for interviews, it’s a good idea to have an answer prepared in advance for the “Are you a perfectionist?” interview question so you can turn that trait into a positive one.