@docbob: You realize that pretty much comes from a Simpsons episode? :)

Smithers: What would each of you say is your worst quality?
Man 1: Well, I am a workaholic.
Man 2: I push myself too hard.
Homer: Well, it takes me a long time to learn anything,
I'm kind of a goof-off...
Smithers: Okay, that'll do.
Homer: ... a little stuff starts disappearing from the workplace...
Smithers: That's enough!

Ted's Famous Kickin Chicken

Having been unemployed a few times in my career, someone once advised me that the way to answer that question is to find an undesirable desirable.

Example: I am a workaholic. Once I get a problem I do not want to stop working on it till I am done, no matter how long it takes.

Bad that you are so narrow minded. Good that you will not give up till it is solved.

docbob

I once interviewed for a job I was 99.999% sure I was going to get, with a guy who was really just doing it to fill out the HR paperwork and was a good friend. This being part of the "don't try this at home" caveat.

At one point, smiling wryly, he asked, "Tell me about your greatest weakness."

I replied, "I'm a terrible liar."

He replied, "Really?"

I finished with, "I guess not."

TinkerX

"My greatest weakness is that I feel an overwhelming urge to strangle people when they ask me inane questions as though my answers will give them any insight into my ability to perform a job. But luckily my greatest strength is adamantium self-control."

SeanOHara

SeanOHara, I am in complete aggreance. If I get a flurry of stupid questions, I realize the job's not for me and just move on because I don't want to be a part of an organization like that.

Jason

But many interview questions are stupid. It's part of the protocol. Like boring small talk at a cocktail party. You just endure it. Being interviewed is a highly confusing situation and interviewing advice is confusing too b/c you are either told that you need to be super confident and sell yourself or you are told that you need to be honest and humble b/c interviewers will read right through your fake confidence.

vered

One more thing I'll add - personality (on your part) plays a big role. Why the hell do you care about being "honest" or "humble" during an interview? Get the damn job, then worry about fitting in! There's no shame in being a chameleon to get the gig - match the body language of your interviewers, pay attention (look at pictures, things in the office and comment on them), pretend away! When you get the gig, then you can settle in and be yourself. If you can get the people you're talking to to realize that you *know* you rock (in other words, exude confidence), and also to LIKE you, then you are golden. People skills are #1, every single time. If you suck at these, work on them.

Shack

Great post. Another very popular and immediately applicable take on this topic is here - [fortifyservices.blogspot.com]

Rowan

manahan-the-magnificent

It probably depends on what kinds of positions you're going for, too. I've had a number of interviews, for higher-level positions, and no one asks this kind of BS question for the most part. If they did, my retort would be - "how does that pertain to the things I can do for this organization? Are you trying to gauge my self-awareness?". Long story short, "being humble and honest" and "selling yourself" are not necessarily synonymous, and are more likely to be oxymorons in my book. My attitude for the most part is "I'm a rock star, here's why". Not in a pretentious or self-serving way, but don't ask me silly little wannabe-psychologist questions either, recruiter-boy/girl.

Shack

Worst moment In an Interview (true story)

Interviewer (puffed up nimrod)"I am the youngest person in this company with a B.A.

Me(every so bored) er how would you like me to respond to that.........
Don't try it kids she tossed me out.

rtipping

My only weakness is the fact that I have no weakness.

surfer__ninja

I like to approach this question by mentioning areas that I'd like to get better at. Something like, "I have a decent grasp of [insert comuter program here] but would really like to learn what else can be done with it. That's why I've enrolled in a course which will teach me some advanced aspects, which I hope will enhance my abilities in this position." It doesn't even have to be a computer program. It could be public speaking or whatever...just ensure it's a peripheral area that will enhance your job performance. Don't mention anything that might indicate a hole in your abilities going into the job at hand. It should be something that you can bring to the work environment that will look good as a personal goal. My workplace has been so impressed that they've covered the cost of a couple courses that I've expressed interest in.

cheesebubble

Usually when someone asks you any of the Interview 101 or Psych 101 questions, it's an indicator they don't know what the hell they're doing, how to interview, or even what the exact job is about.

As @cheesebubble: and a few others indicate, I feel that these present great Opportunities to lead the interview a bit more and use it to present more and better information than the stupid question.

These questions, esp. the Psych ones are only as good as the smarts of the person asking it; ie: irksome at times. Some of the times I feel like answering, "Tell you what; You tell me yours and then I'll tell you mine!"

spaceman7

Ok so with the line that starts "Immediately follow with good news" Basically you say how you overcome this weakness. The problem is if you are truly overcoming this weakness by doing this it won't be a weakness anymore.

usul356

@Ted's Famous Kickin Chicken I did not know that was from a Simpson's episode. Perhaps I should sue since I first used it in 1984 or so. I rarely watch Simpsons. I do not care for dumb dad smart kids shows since I am one (a dad that is not a dumb dad).

docbob

Best ever suggestion I heard WRT this tired, trite interview question: "stupid questions demand stupid answers".

mcbain99