Getting past the stock answers

There are some questions all candidates have a prepared answer for. Here’s how to keep them on their toes.
“What’s your biggest weakness?” That question, or some version of it, comes up in a lot of interviews.
Interviewers want to see if candidates are honest about themselves and know where they need improvement. But all that question will get you is a response such as, “Well, sometimes I work too hard.”
Here’s a different question that can pry out the info you want, courtesy of David Marcum and Steven Smith, authors of the book Egonomics:
“What’s the most recent mistake you made, and why did you make it?”
That will get candidates talking about times they’ve failed, what they learned and how they’re improving themselves.
Another way to get an honest answer: Ask, “What would your previous boss say is your biggest weakness?” Then, you can verify the answer when you call the supervisor for a reference.