How do I address the … dreaded … “what are your weaknesses?” question.

In short, the interviewer simply wants to ensure the candidate has the right ‘behaviours’ and skillset for the job, for example, will this person be good at problem-solving? Will they work well in a team situation? Do they have an eye for detail? We suggest you avoid that terrible word “weakness” and euphemise it with “an area for improvement”. Choose a skill you may not actually directly need in the position you’re applying for, like languages. Also mention you are trying to change your weakness into a strength by doing, e.g. a night course once a week in English, to show you are actively making an effort.