What follows are some common questions and tips on how to answer them the right way:

The most common question you will be asked is: Tell me about yourself. As an open-ended interview question, this is your opportunity to play up your positive work habits and your qualifications. It would be best to devote your reply to facts about your work and career.

A skillful interviewer will know how to use this one question alone to bring out more information about you than a series of questions would.

Try to keep your answer to a maximum of one minute long, inclusive of a description of your most recent position and what you are hopeful to do next.

After answering this question briefly, choose to stay silent or follow-up with this question: Is there anything else you wanted to know?

Listen well to the reply of the interviewer so that you will know just what he or she would like to hear from you.

Do not rush into giving an answer immediately to any question. Interviewers are aware of your anxiety and will want you to think first before answering. However, try not to wait too long between answers or you will seem like you are stalling.

Interviewers select open-ended questions just to see what you can come up with so do not ramble on while trying to determine your real answer.

The next most common question interviewers like to ask is: why do you want to leave your present job? Or why did you leave your most recent position? These are dangerous questions that should be treated carefully.

Try not to make derogatory statements about your previous employers or negative comments such as: I needed more money. Generic answers like: I'm making a career decision by applying at this new job, are better.

Another common question is: What are your strengths? Use this lead to play up the positive traits you possess in connection with the job you are applying for.

The interviewer may then ask you: What are your weaknesses? Try not to dwell on your answer to this question.

Buffer your weak points by pointing out a strength that compensates for it.

The interviewer is interested in your problem-solving abilities when he says to you: Tell me how you overcame a major problem in your past or current job.

You will have to explain how you solved the problem and show pride in your skill in doing so.

A killer question which you might be asked is: What sets you apart from the other applicants who are applying for this position?

It is best to devote your answer to highlighting your skills, experience, and presentation as you have no inkling of what the other applicants might have to offer.

Learn to match what you can bring to the table to what the organization needs since this is key to clinching the job. Determine the key elements of the position and how you can add value to the group.

It is highly likely for interviewers to ask more creative questions than these but these are the basic and most common.

By using these guide questions, you will be more prepared to hurdle that interview and get the job for yourself.