Uhh, what do you want to know? Definitely not everything. At first glance, this question can seem easy to answer (and it can be), but you need to have your compass pointed to true North to pull it off. The interviewer doesn’t want to know that you love flea markets or that you named your Cocker Spaniel “Chickpea” because you lead a locally sourced, 

plant-based life. They want to know how your personality and experience relate to the job.  To prepare, start by thinking of three to five strong and relevant adjectives that describe you and your values. Tell the interviewer what they are, then give real examples of how you embody the adjectives. Certainly, you can mention hobbies or 

"Because I need a paycheck..."Even if that's the truth, that's not going to get you the job. This is your opportunity to show off all the interview prep you did about the company, product/client/etc, and use that to tailor your answer. For example, if you're a huge TV fan and you're interviewing at Hulu, you might want to 

weave in your love for one of their recent Originals—while you share how your skills would bring value to the company. Another good place for inspiration for this answer is on CNBC's Shark Tank. Many times the investors will ask the person, "Why should we invest in you?" and the best answers are when the business owner shares the things that are 

most interesting to an investor—their revenues, their patents, how big the market is, etc. You will do the same—what do you have that your potential boss would value? Follow this formula when you give your answer: – Specific skills you have that show you can do the job – Impressive results you've achieved

Many of us tend to dislike this question, but we actually think it's one of the more fun questions you can be asked. It’s an opportunity to showcase how well you really know yourself, which is more critical to employers than many applicants realize. People often get stuck on how to spin a weakness into a positive asset because,

admittedly, you shouldn’t be telling a potential employer that you have bad habits. Let's say you have a tendency to get distracted. You can tell your interviewer that, but clarify the actions you've taken to remedy it. Mention that you’ve now implemented a schedule where you wake up early, work out, and set aside the hours from

Employers want to hire people who can not only solve their problems with their skills but are also passionate or interested in the job. Pretty much any hiring manager will tell you that they go for passion over proficiency—every time. While you're researching the company and learning more about what they do, what they offer, and who works there, 

start to create a shortlist of why it's a good fit. How does this job align with your own career ideals and skills? For example, if you love helping people figure out their next career move and volunteering at your college's career center taught you a lot of great skills, that might explain why you're interested in becoming a recruiter.

This might feel like a personal question but you bet the recruiter is going to want to know—why didn't you stay at the last job? Remember how we said to keep positivity in mind? Here's your first big test to keep it positive. Even if you hated your boss and every colleague who created the toxic work environment, don't say that. Instead, shift

the focus to why this opportunity appeals so much to you. You might say something like, "I enjoyed my last role and definitely learned a lot, however, when I came across this job I knew I had to apply because of X, Y, and Z." Instead, try to focus on what the company offers like, "I knew I wanted to work for a company in the wellness space that's 

This is a fun question that is usually reserved for candidates early in their careers—think new grads or during intern interviews. Have some fun with this, but keep it professional. You don't want to say, "I choose the college as far away from my parents because I never wanted them to visit." Professional yet fun could be, "I choose UCLA

because I wanted to have access to the best internships—but also enjoy a great football game." or "I choose NYU because they gave me the most scholarship money, which has allowed me the opportunity to start my post-grad life with less debt." The interviewer will probably get nostalgic over their own college days and share something fun with you, too.

This question seems like something out of left field, but it's way more common than you realize. It's asked partly to understand if what you're sharing is true—like when you told me you're obsessed with Brene Brown but have never read one of her books and to see if you'll fit in with the team culture. Feel free to include some details about 

the current novel or memoir you've got on your nightstand—this is a great way of showing some personality, which makes your interviewer more likely to connect with you—but we'd also recommend tying it back to your career.  Mention some blogs you visit regularly that have to do with your industry. Talk about a recent article you read on a 

When it comes to fit, they are curious if the team culture, workflow, and projects align with what you not only enjoy but where you want to spend your time and build your career. For example, if your dream is to run your own social media agency and you're interviewing to work in finance, it's obvious this job doesn't fit into your long-term goals. You can 

avoid being too "extra" about the job and also not being excited enough about the job by getting clear on three things that really excite you about the role or company. Another idea is to spin your answer. For example, "I think dream jobs are a great concept but what's better to me is doing great work and producing incredible results I'm proud 

A danger zone between self-assured and cocky, this essentially amounts to "What makes you so special?" and "Why do I need you?" Answer this question through a problem-solving lens. Through your research and even the current interview, you should have a pretty good grasp of what the company is struggling with. Your answer should 

This is probably the most uncomfortable question in an interview but it WILL be asked—so be prepared. If you're really nervous, practice your answers beforehand so you don't make a difficult situation even worse. The recruiter is trying to make sure you two are not so far apart on salary expectations and budget that it's doesn't 

make sense to continue the interview, but you also don't want to share too low of a number before you know what the job really entails. Our best advice is to defer giving an exact number. However, if they are really adamant, provide a salary range that is backed up with research or flip the question around with something like, 

Think of it this way. They don't want to hire someone who knows nothing about the job and then they have to train them from scratch. That seems like a lot of work.  They would rather have the interviewee explain to them—through their qualifications—what they already know and can start doing for the company right away.

Consider your hard skills, soft skills, and knowledge that can be applied, and share those specifics in your answer. Read the job description carefully and pay attention to the information you learn about the role throughout your interview process. You might say, "Earlier you mentioned that there was a real challenge with getting your

Start by thinking about a few memorable situations at work—like a time when you made a mistake, a time when you disagreed with someone, a time when the project didn't go your way, etc. Interviewers usually want to know about failures, interpersonal relationships, and your wins. After you've written a few of these situations, use the STAR 

It's tempting to answer this question with, "everything this job is offering!" but let us suggest another angle. Connect your motivation, long-term career goals, and what you know about the job and company. For example, you might say, "I'm looking to expand my marketing knowledge and really hone in on my analytical skills.

I'd also like the opportunity to use my finding to edit the creative materials produced so I'm involved in every part of a campaign. But most importantly, I want to work for a company that is redefining the e-commerce space and will allow me to carve out expertise in this industry." With an answer like this, you're opening up the door for the