“What do you think are your biggest weaknesses?”

You'll find lots of information online about what to do when you're asked about your biggest weakness in an interview. You've probably read a lot about how to showcase a strength as weakness - “l work too hard” or “I'm a perfectionist” are always popular answers, and the chances are that your prospective employer will have heard them many times before. Try to be honest — talk about a real weakness and how you are overcoming it. For example: “l used to find it difficult to speak up in social situations. As computer programmer, | rarely had to give presentations. However, this changed -when | moved into a managerial position. | signed up for an online public speaking course and am now comfortable speaking to small audiences”. An answer like this shows potential employers that you aware of your weaknesses and that you're working to overcome them.

“What do you think are your greatest strengths?”

On the flip side of the ‘biggest weaknesses’ question, this question gives you the opportunity to demonstrate what makes you stand out from other candidates. Instead of simply listing lots of adjectives, pick one or two specific qualities that you can relate back to the position, and back them up with examples. The great thing about this question is that it's pretty versatile, so you can use your answer to talk about something you haven’t had the chance to share in the interview yet. With the job role in mind, think about the skills you really want to emphasise or any attributes you have which you know would be a great fit within the company culture, such as teamwork, creative problem-solving or open communication.