'What's your greatest weakness?' 3 smart replies

1. Focus the discussion on how you've improved over time. Instead of hashing over a current weakness (assuming you can think of one), talk about a past shortcoming and how you resolved it. Maybe you used to have trouble meeting deadlines, for instance, until you took a time-management course that helped you get your schedule under control. "The idea is to show that you are interested in getting better and better at what you do," says Dattner.

2. Talk about how the job you're applying for will help you stretch and build your skills. Again, no matter how good you already are, you can always improve - and you may see specific ways in which this particular job will help you do that. If so, the interview is a good time to mention it.

3. Describe a valuable piece of advice someone gave you, and how it has helped your career. "This could be, for example, a boss who once told you not to give people the answers but to let them figure things out on their own," says Dattner. "Or maybe a mentor once pointed out to you that not everyone is motivated by the same things you are, and that insight helped you become a better manager." Whatever the pearl of wisdom you received, a willingness to talk about its effect on you "shows that you want to learn and grow," Dattner notes. "And that's really what hiring managers are trying to find out."