Scarlett Career Services reader says: How would I answer "what is your weakness" on a job interview?
SCS Answer: In my experience, the "What is your biggest weakness" question tries to identify one thing: Are you big enough to realize that you are not perfect?. Once we get past the need to impress our interviewer at all costs, we can be honest with ourselves.

The question needs to be answered with 3 steps:
1.- The weakness - needs to be a real weakness and should be related to the job... However, it should not be a weakness that prevents you from doing your targeted job (don't use public speaking when interviewing for a Corporate Trainer role; or time management for a scheduler position).

2.- How is this weakness related to the job? - If you identify how this can be a weakness for performing the job, you can downplay the negative effect your weakness will have on your audience. This allows step 3 to be much more effective...

3.- What are you doing about it? I want to hire somebody who is coachable and that works hard to improve. If you have a plan of action that you are following in order to overcome your weakness, then I will be impressed with how you handle yourself. You are always a work in progress and overcoming your weaknesses is part of your professional growth.

* Be careful not to talk about a weakness that you have already overcame. The question is what IS your weakness, instead of what WAS your weakness.