“It’s a question that would throw many people for a curve,” says Peter Murphy, head of talent acquisition for Guardian Life Insurance. And even though “What’s your greatest weakness?” is one of the most popular and frequent questions you hear in an interview, it still manages to feel like a question that’s impossible to answer correctly.

“It’s a question that would throw many people for a curve,” says Peter Murphy, head of talent acquisition for Guardian Life Insurance. And even though “What’s your greatest weakness?” is one of the most popular and frequent questions you hear in an interview, it still manages to feel like a question that’s impossible to answer correctly.

So why are interviewers putting you in a seemingly lose-lose situation? “I don’t really think that there’s a correct answer,” says Khalil Robinson, regional recruiter for Asbury Automotive Group. “I think that it allows us to see if the candidate has some self-awareness.”

While it’s essential that you prepare for your interview and find the best ways to highlight your strengths and make your weaknesses sound manageable, interviewers want to see all sides of you as a potential employee—which is why asking tough questions is as much a brain exercise as a way to get to know you. Hiring managers want to see how you handle tough situations and only have a short amount of time to get an impression of how you work. Thus, they ask tough, hard-hitting questions to find out the most information.

Want to know how employers can be impressed by your answer to this tough question? Check out this video and get ready to rock your interview.

Source | Careerbuilder