In any job interview, there are always one or two questions that simply have us stumped for words.
There's no point in preparing for such questions if you don't understand what they are trying to establish.
After all, one of the most difficult job interview questions is "Tell us what you think your weaknesses are" At which point, simply responding with negative answers such as "I don't like early mornings, I hate teamwork, I am lazy on Monday mornings...
" are all going to get you instant rejection.
The point is, this is one of the most common job interview questions that people get stumped on, and it doesn't have to be when you understand what the interviewer is trying to get at.
The interviewer is trying to get a balanced view of your overall abilities, and trying to see how honest a person you are in letting them know.
After all, the employer will be less likely to believe your continuous claims that you're great at everything and therefore, showing a weakness adds credibility, believability and ultimately, balance to your pitch.
However, that is not to say that you cannot turn this difficult question into a positive spin.
By answering with...
"I feel that I can sometimes be a little apprehensive before making big decisions, which can allow for more time...
" "I feel that I sometimes strive for perfection over completion...
this can make certain higher level tasks more comprehensive to complete" The idea is that you twist a negative point so that it actually looks positive.
The key is to make sure that you state how you intend to improve on these so called "weaknesses" in your new role.
By getting over this hurdle of an interview question, you'll be much more relaxed and able to face the other questions ahead.