The dreaded 'weakness' question

What is your weakness?  I do not ask this question any more.  Why?  This is one of the most futile questions anyone can ask a candidate in a interview, it leads to answers that are often made up, unrelated to the role or just plain daft.  It really irks me that there are interviewers out there still asking this very 1990's question.  I train interviewers throughout Ireland, in corporates and the public sector, on how to conduct professional interviews and, without fail, because my course doesn't cover this 'dreaded question' the trainee interviewer will actually ask me if they can ask it in the interview, to which my reply is why would you want to? 

In 2016 there are much more effective ways of interviewing candidates, using competency and behavioural interview questions, situational and technical questions, that a lot of the old CV led questioning is being left out, along with ad hoc questions like the weakness question.

Today I was pleased to see a great article published on the BBC about this and other cringey areas in an interview
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20160316-the-art-of-the-humblebrag.

However, if you really think this question will come up, I am here to help with this and many other questions that can make you dread the thought of an interview.  Have a look at our interview programmes for more information.