[jfengel]

I do really like the idea of "Tell me about a mistake you made?" rather than "What is your greatest weakness?"

The latter is begging them to lie to you. I cannot imagine what answer it is they're hoping for. Some weakness that's bad enough to seem honest but not too bad to hire?

But asking about mistakes can tell you a lot:

* It shows that you understand the complexity and difficulty of real development.

* How do you go about solving problems?

* How will you react to other people's mistakes?

* Most importantly, it's an opportunity to tell a story. Communication skills, not just facts.