1. Tell me about yourself

One of the most common questions in an interview is "Tell me about yourself." Actually, it is not even a question — it is an invitation. Your answer is your opportunity to share with the interviewer whatever you think is important about you in their hiring decision. More importantly, it is your chance to differentiate yourself from other candidates. In most cases, the standard questions offer the same opportunity.

The interviewer wants to know why you're an excellent fit for the job. Try to answer questions about yourself without giving too much, or too little, personal information. You can start by sharing some of your personal interests and experiences that don't relate directly to work, such as a favorite hobby or a brief account of where you grew up, your education and what motivates you. You can even share some fun facts and showcase your personality to make the interview a little more interesting.

2. Why should we hire you?

Are you the best candidate for the job? The hiring manager wants to know whether you have all the required qualifications, but they already have your CV. And you don't know what the other candidates had to offer. So be prepared to explain why you're the applicant who should be hired. Make your response confident, concise and focused, and explain what you have to offer. You need only share how you meet almost all the criteria they seek, and also have two to three additional abilities that they might not even know they need… yet. They need to know you are a candidate who can not only meet their needs now, but will also be valuable for where they want to go in the future.

There are other ways of asking this question, i.e.: "What do you feel I need to know that we haven't discussed?" Or even "If you could get a do-over on one of my questions, how would you answer it now?" Rarely do candidates come to the end of an interview feeling they've done their best. Maybe the conversation went in an unexpected direction. Maybe the interviewer focused on one aspect of their skills and ignored other key attributes. Or maybe candidates started the interview nervous and hesitant, and now wish they could go back and better describe their qualifications and experience.

3. What is your greatest strength?

This is one of the questions employers almost always ask to determine how well you are qualified for the position. When you are asked about your greatest strengths, it's important to discuss the attributes that qualify you for that specific job, and that will set you apart from other candidates.

Provide a sharp, on-point answer. Be clear and precise. If you're a great problem solver, don't just say that: provide a few examples, pertinent to the opening, that prove you're a great problem solver. If you're an emotionally intelligent leader, don't just say that: provide a few examples that prove that. In short, don't just claim to have certain attributes — prove you have those attributes.

4. What is your greatest weakness?

Another typical question interviewers will ask. Most will advise you to frame your answers around positive aspects of your skills and abilities as an employee, turning seeming "weaknesses" into strengths.

A better approach for me is to choose an actual weakness, but one you're working to improve. Share what you're doing to overcome that weakness. No one is perfect, but showing you know yourself, and that you are willing to improve, is more honest and will make a better impression.

Don't pick a weakness that will disqualify you for the job, but do give a real answer. When you give a real answer, you are being genuine. You are admitting you have some growth opportunities and are not perfect. But you can include that you already have a plan to overcome this weakness through training or practice (or have already started down this road).

Some people even insert a little humor in their answer — "I wish I was better at tennis." You can, too, if you feel like the interviewer has a sense of humor. But be sure to quickly follow with a serious answer. Showing you have a lighter side is usually a good thing.

5. Why do you want to leave (or have left) your job?

The interviewer wants to know why you want to work for their company. When asked why you are moving on from your current position, stick with the facts, be direct and focus your answer on the future, especially if your departure wasn't under the best circumstances.

Let's start with what you shouldn't say (or, if you're the interviewer, what are definite red flags). Don't talk about how your boss is difficult. Don't talk about how you can't get along with other employees. Don't bad-mouth your company. Complaining about your current employer is a little like people who gossip: if you're willing to speak badly of someone else, you'll probably do the same to me.

Instead, focus on the positives a move will bring. Talk about what you want to achieve. Talk about what you want to learn. Talk about ways you want to grow, about things you want to accomplish; explain how a move will be great for you and for your new company.

6. What are your salary expectations?

Or what is your actual salary. The hiring manager wants to know what you expect to earn. It seems like a simple question, but your answer can knock you out of competition for the job if you overprice yourself. If you underprice yourself, you may get shortchanged with a lower offer.

My suggestion would be: be prepared by researching what most employers in your location pay for this type of job; if you can, find out what this employer pays for the job. When you do answer, provide a salary range rather than a specific number, and indicate that it is variable depending on the benefits they offer. Be sure you are comfortable with a salary at the bottom of this range.

7. Why do you want this job?

This question gives you an opportunity to show the interviewer what you know about the job and the company, so take time beforehand to thoroughly research the company, its products, services, culture and mission. Be specific about what makes you a good fit for this role, and mention aspects of the company and position that appeal to you most.

There should be a heartfelt answer here. If the reason is about money, location, work schedule or benefits, you may want to think a little more about your answer — none of those reasons are important to the hiring manager. Focus on them: they want to hear that this job is exactly what you've been thinking about as a next step in your career. Be prepared to answer with your rationale for how this job meets your professional needs and how you can contribute at your highest potential. People want to feel like their work means something.

8. What is your biggest achievement?

Consider this question an invitation to do some bragging about what you have achieved in your career that can benefit this new employer. By asking it, the interviewers are inviting you to share an accomplishment which proves you are the best candidate for the job.

Focus on them: choose a recent accomplishment, if possible, that demonstrates your ability to do this job very well. Have several good examples prepared before the interview. Like your greatest strength, your greatest accomplishment should align with something they need. Be truthful and careful about treating this question casually — advanced preparation is the smartest strategy. The goal is to share achievements that let the interviewer imagine you in the position, and see you succeeding.

9. Describe a difficult work situation and how you overcame it

The interviewer wants to know how you respond when faced with a difficult decision. As with the question about stress, be prepared to share an example of what you did in a tough situation. It's important to share details to make the story believable and engaging. The key to this question is preparation, so think about it and find an example that will showcase what a good candidate you are.

10. What are your goals for the future?

Or where do you see yourself in 5 years. This question is designed to find out if you're going to stick around or move on as soon as you find a better opportunity. Keep your answer focused on the job and the company, and reiterate that the position aligns with your long-term goals.

Employers don't necessarily care to hear that you expect to climb the corporate ladder and be a supervisor. Focus on them: in five years, you should have made a significant impact on the company's bottom line. Think about how you can achieve this in the role you are interviewing for. Advancing your skills matters too; share what areas you want to strengthen in the near term (but be careful they are not areas of expertise the company needs now).

11. Do you have any questions?

My simple advice is: yes, you had better have questions. The interviewer always expects candidates to have questions.

This is your chance to "interview the interviewer": to learn about the company, the role, the corporate culture, the manager's leadership style and a host of other important things. Candidates who are genuinely interested ask these types of questions. Those who don't give the impression they're "just kicking the tires" or not really concerned about getting the job.

It is imperative that you ask questions that do three things:

• Show you did some research about the company.
• Mention something else (related, but interesting) about you.
• Will have an interesting answer or prompt a good discussion.

When given the floor to ask questions, realize the interview is not over yet. Good candidates know this is another time to shine.

Sources: thebalancecareers.com · inc.com · job-hunt.org