1. “What made others successful/unsuccessful in this position?” These questions give you insight into what the employer values in an employee—and what can get you fired.
2. “Tell me about a typical workday in this position.” You’re looking for two things: whether the tasks involved are appealing to you and whether the list is so long that you’ll have to be at your desk until 8 p.m. every night.
3. “What are the top priorities for the person in this position over the next year?” Again, this lets you evaluate whether you’re able to complete the projects/tasks involved and/or whether the position is evolving into something that isn’t as attractive.
4. “What are some of the obstacles the company is facing right now?” This is a sneaky way of finding out if the company is about to go under—taking your new job with it. The truth is that every company faces challenges; it’s normal and to be expected. So if the interviewer can’t or won’t come up with anything specific, she’s probably hiding something. That could be a bigger problem than anything else she might say.

Believe it or not, one of the best ways to feel prepared for an interview takes place before you even get invited.  By making sure that your resume is properly formatted and full of the right information, you will have already created a list of bullet points that can be used in your interview.  However, your resume can’t do all of your talking for you.  Here are 3 interview questions that you must have an answer for.

1.    So, tell me about yourself.

While this isn’t technically a question, it definitely needs an answer.  There are a variety of ways that it can be answered, however not all of them are productive.  Think of this question as a way to add some bulk to your resume.  You don’t need to give everyone your life story.  This is an excellent way to make some “required” information much more useful.  You have to list your education history, but aside from knowing that you have a degree, this section doesn’t say much else.  This area is an excellent area to talk more about.

For example, you got a degree from XYZ.  Talk about extra-circular activities that you were involved with and explain how those activities helped you develop a skill-set that is particularly applicable to the position you are applying for.

2.    What is Your Biggest Weakness?

This question can seem like an intimidating one.  There are a lot of ways that you can this question can quickly become the bane of your interview.  If you say that you don’t have one, you are lying, excessively arrogant, or both.  If you are completely and brutally honest, you may leave your interviewer wondering why they invited you in the first place.

Over the last decade, the common practice has been to take a strength and make it sound like a weakness.  If you try this now, it will simply not work.  Answers like, “I am a workaholic” no longer cut it.  A much better option is to take an actual flaw and discuss what actions you are taking to fix it.  For example, “I can become extremely detail oriented, which can cause me to lose track of the big picture.  To create more balance in my perspective, I start and end each day evaluating my overall progress on a project”.  An answer like this creates a number of advantages for you.  First, it shows that you can accept that you have flaws and then create a proactive solution.  Second, it shows that you are always trying to improve yourself.

3.    Do you have any questions for me?

Almost every interviewer will end the job interview with this question.  Since most people do not prepare an answer, you can create a clear advantage for yourself.  Find two or three questions you have about the company in general and keep them in mind.  It shows the interviewer that you are taking the interview, the company, as well as the potential position seriously.  It is best if these questions can help you show the interviewer that your goals are aligned with the companies.

While your resume can often be the basis for your interview answers, these are 3 interview questions that you must have an answer for, before you show up.

1. Tell me a little about yourself.

This is commonly one of the first things discussed in an interview.  If you aren’t prepared for this one it can set a negative tone for the rest of the interview.  This is your first impression and way for you to convey the kind of person you are.  Think about your response this way – if this was your only chance to speak directly to the interviewer, what would you most want them to know? You should mention both personal and professional values.  Always be honest, but definitely focus on your best traits and accomplishments.  It’s always a good idea to study the job announcement integrate their desired skills or experience into your response.

2. What is your typical way of dealing with conflict or stressful situations?

The best way to answer this question is with an honest example.  If you handled a situation poorly in the past, you could give that example, focusing on what you learned from it and skills you now use to handle stress.  It’s great to incorporate desired skills such as time management, decision making, and problem solving abilities into your response.  In addition to specifics on handling stressful situations, talk about how you keep stress at bay, such as working out regularly.  Be aware that some interviewers are may even create stress in the interview to see how candidates respond.

3. What are your short and long term goals?

In this question, the interviewer wants to see how you plan and think about the future – if at all.  If you don’t have a response ready they may assume you do not plan ahead.  Short term goals should consist of things that can be accomplished within a 1 month-3 month span, while long term goals are 6 months or longer.  Good responses should include both professional and personal goals to demonstrate a good work/life balance.  While you do want to be honest, try to keep the company’s goals in mind as well.  While you may want to earn your MBA and run your own company someday, that signals to the employer you don’t plan to stick around long.