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.

"Tell me about yourself..."

While assisting a client with a career change, I came across a question that really made me think hard about what others face while interviewing. At one time or another, we all have been in the situation where a hiring manager or recruiter says... “Tell me about yourself…” It can be at a networking seminar, job interview or just simply having a lunch meeting..... I would like to know, If faced with this question... How would you answer it......but here is the twist.... you can only use....Three words.

My three words would probably be:
Strategic - Results Oriented - Determined

What are your three words?

Sending a thank you note after your interview is a very important step in your job search.

Definitely after the interview. I suggest to my clients, they get some inexpensive thank you cards(3x5), after the interview, go for a coffee, make some notes on what happened in the interview, then write up the thank you with specific points, and offer to further answer any questions they may have. After an hour, drop it off with the receptionist or mail immediately.

Detailed notes during the interview. What is wrong? - poor memory, inattentive, antisocial, lawsuit ....its an interview, not a university lecture. Making a point or 2 on paper, to come back to near the end of the interview I am fine with. Detailed notes, I would really wonder if you are the right candidate.