What's your biggest weakness?

So you are just about to finish an interview and you think it's going well. Then, the interviewer asks you that inevitable ubiquitous question. "What's your biggest weakness?" You thought you were home free and getting the job, right? Well, hopefully, but whatever you do, please don't answer "I'm a perfectionist." This is your time to show your true self. Companies want to see that you can identify a weakness or conflict and resolve it. This part of the interview is where the interviewer is measuring your Emotional IQ. The best answers are those that show improvement on your part throughout the years. If you are a recent college graduate, don't worry as you can transfer your school or internship experience into a great answer. 

For an example, you might want to say, “I tend to do all my work at once, but I have learned that sometimes I need direction on prioritizing my work day.” This answer illustrates that you are honest; that you can ask for help; and that you can fix problems. Even if you graduated from Yale summa cum laude in IT, and worked at Microsoft the last ten years, it doesn't matter if you are unable to convey your knowledge and be truthful in an interview. Bottom line, if you can’t showcase your Emotional IQ, you won’t get the job. Just like us 80s kids didn't like the laugh tracks during "Family Ties", interviewers don't like canned responses either. Just think, that coveted job you have been eyeing on LinkedIn can be yours if you just be yourself...