How to answer 10 of the most common interview questions:

How to answer 10 of the most common interview questions:

“Tell me about yourself.” While this isn’t exactly a question, answering this the wrong way could really hurt your chances of getting a job, Teach says. “I was once told by an HR executive that this can actually be a trick question. Hiring managers can’t ask you certain questions legally but if you go off on a tangent when answering, you may tell them some things about you that are better left unsaid.” The worst way to approach this request is to tell them your life story, which is something they’re definitely not interested in. The best way to approach this is to only discuss what your interests are relating to the job and why your background makes you a great candidate.

“What are your strengths and weaknesses?” It’s easy to talk about your strengths; you’re detail oriented, hard working, a team player, etc.–but it’s also easy to get tripped up when discussing your weaknesses, Teach says. Never talk about a real weakness unless it’s something you’ve defeated. “Many hiring managers are hip to the overused responses, such as, ‘Well, my biggest weakness is that I work too hard so I need try to take it easy once in a while.’ The best answer is to discuss a weakness that you’ve turned around, such as, you used to come in late to work a lot but after your supervisor explained why it was necessary for you to come in on time, you were never late again.”

“Where do you want to be five years from now?” “What employers are really asking is, ‘Is this job even close to your presumed career path? Are you just applying to this job because you need something? Are your long-term career plans similar to what we see for this role? How realistic are your expectations for your career? Have you even thought about your career long-term? Are you going to quit after a year or two?’” says Sara Sutton Fell, CEO and founder of FlexJobs.

Show them that you’ve done some self-assessment and career planning. Let them know that you hope to develop professionally and take on additional responsibilities at that particular company. “Don’t say something ridiculous like, ‘I don’t know,’ or “I want your job,” she says.

Teach says no one can possibly know where they’ll be in their career five years from now but hiring managers want to get a sense of your commitment to the job, the company, and the industry. “In fact, I would even mention that it’s hard for you to know what job title you may hold five years from now but ideally, you’d like to have moved up the ladder at this company based on your performance. You’re hopeful to be in some management position and your goal is to help the company any way you can.” If you give the impression that this job is just a stepping stone for you, it’s unlikely the hiring manager will be interested in you.

"Why do you want to work for this company?" “This is becoming an increasingly important question in many interviews,” Attridge says. “Employers what people who are interested in their company--not just a job anywhere.”

Teach says there are two components to this question. “The first component relates to how the company is going to help the candidate. You mention to the hiring manager that you've researched many companies and feel that this one is the best, then state the reasons why you think that they're the best,” he explains. “It may have to do with their reputation, their financial success, their ranking among top places to work, how they train their employees, etc. Importantly, you need to know their products and services inside and out and tell the hiring manager why you feel these products and services are the best out there and how you want to work for the best in the industry.” Mention a few key executives from the company and discuss how you're impressed with their track record.

“The second component relates to how you, as an employee, are going to help them,” he adds. The key is to mention how their company will allow you to exhibit your strengths the most because their goals align with your goals. Talk about how you feel that they will provide the best atmosphere for you to excel, which, in a small way, will help them as a company get to the next level.

Salpeter says to make sure your answer is in line with the job of interest and focuses on what youoffer, not specifically on what you want. “While the company may be asking about ‘want,’ what they really need to know is why you are a good fit and how you can help solve their problems.” Conduct some research before the interview so you can make a strong correlation between what you offer and what will appeal to the company.

"What is your dream job?" When you mention what your dream job would be, it doesn't necessarily have to have a specific title or be with a specific company, Teach says. “When you mention what your dream job would be like, it should be about the type of work you'd be doing, the caliber of the people you'd be working with, the type of recognition you would get (including being promoted when it's deserved), how much you'd be contributing to your department and company, and the type of job that you look forward to going to every morning. It's a job that utilizes your education and skills to the fullest extent possible. Your dream job is one that defines you, it makes you tick; it gives you validation and personal fulfillment. A dream job is a job that you love and that you're thankful for every day. Perhaps best of all, it's not a job to you at all. It's a career.”

Attridge agrees. She says this question offers a great opportunity to talk about how you would like to use your skills and expertise instead to talking about an actual job. “For instance, you might say, ‘I enjoy making organizations more efficient. My dream job would be one where I could use my leadership, analytical, and people management skills to increase the effectiveness of an organization.’”

“Please give me an example of a time when you had a problem with a supervisor/co-worker and how you approached the problem.” “I think that the hardest thing about work isn’t the work, it’s the people at work,” Teach says. Most employees have a problem with a supervisor or co-worker at some point in their career. How they handle that problem says a lot about their people skills. If you can explain to the interviewer that you were able to overcome a people problem at work, this will definitely help your chances of getting the job, he says.

“What are your salary requirements?”  “What employers are really asking is, ‘Do you have realistic expectations when it comes to salary? Are we on the same page or are you going to want way more than we can give? Are you flexible on this point or is your expectation set in stone?’” Sutton Fell says.

Try to avoid answering this question in the first interview because you may shortchange yourself by doing so, Teach says. Tell the hiring manager that if you are seriously being considered, you could give them a salary range–but if possible, let them make the first offer. Study websites like Salary.com and Glassdoor.com to get an idea of what the position should pay. “Don’t necessarily accept their first offer,” he adds. “There may be room to negotiate.”

When it is time to give a number, be sure to take your experience and education levels into consideration, Sutton Fell says. “Also, your geographic region, since salary varies by location.” Speak in ranges when giving figures, and mention that you are flexible in this area and that you’re open to benefits, as well. “Be brief and to the point, and be comfortable with the silence that may come after.”

“Why are you leaving your current job?” Hiring managers want to know your motivation for wanting to leave your current job. Are you an opportunist just looking for more money or are you looking for a job that you hope will turn into a career? If you’re leaving because you don’t like your boss, don’t talk negatively about your boss–just say you have different work philosophies, Teach says. If the work was boring to you, just mention that you’re looking for a more challenging position. “Discuss the positives that came out of your most recent job and focus on why you think this new position is ideal for you and why you’ll be a great fit for their company.”

If you’ve already left your previous job (or you were fired), Sutton Fell suggests the following:

• If you got fired: Do not trash your last boss or company. Tell them that you were unfortunately let go, that you understand their reasoning and you’ve recognized areas that you need to improve in, and then tell them how you will be a better employee because of it.
• If you got laid off: Again, do not trash your last boss or company. Tell them that you were let go, and that you understand the circumstances behind their decision; that you are committed to your future and not dwelling on the past; and that you are ready to apply everything that you learned in your last role to a new company.
• If you quit: Do not go into details about your unhappiness or dissatisfaction. Instead, tell them that while you valued the experience and education that you received, you felt that the time had come to seek out a new opportunity, to expand your skills and knowledge, and to find a company with which you could grow.

"What can you offer us that someone else can't?" “This is where you summarize all of your skills in a 30-second elevator speech,” Teach explains.

Salpeter says the best approach is to be prepared with specifics regarding what the company wants. “Give examples of how you have solved problems, overcame challenges and accomplished items that relate to what the company will need from you. You may or may not be able to come up with something specific that you offer that someone else does not, but if you are prepared and know as much as possible about the organization, you'll have a better chance of making a strong connection.”

Don't forget to consider intangible items that may set you apart if you really have nothing skills-related to describe for this question. “Sometimes, passion and strong interest and excitement can help your cause. However, be sure you don't plan to count on your strong interest at the expense of focusing on your skills and expertise.”

“Why should I hire you?” A hiring manager may not ask you this question directly but every question you answer in the interview should contribute to helping them understand why you’re the best person for the job. “Stay focused on why your background makes you an ideal candidate and tell them how you are going to contribute to that department and that company,” Teach says. “Let the interviewer know that one of your goals is to make their job easier by taking on as much responsibility as possible and that you will be excited about this job starting on day one.”

Salpeter suggests you print and highlight the job description, looking for the top three or four most important details. “Do they include terms such as, ‘cross-functional team,’ ‘team work,’ and ‘team player’ several times?” If so, your answer to, “Why should we hire you?” (asked directly or as an underlying question) should mention and focus on your abilities as they relate to teams.