The Fateful 15 Interview Questions

The idea of answering tough interview questions can be intimidating for many job seekers, but preparing for the interview may be easier than you think, suggests James Reed, author of "101 Job Interview Questions You'll Never Fear Again." Reed says there are really only 15 interview questions a hiring manager wants answers to and are the only ones you need to prepare yourself for.

1. "Tell Me About Yourself."

Devise a succinct answer that summarizes your experience and qualifications in 30 seconds or less.

2. "Why Are You Applying?"

Talk about the company's needs and explain how your skills and experience are the best fit for the position.

3. "What Are Your Strengths?"

Consider the job description and what the company is looking for. For any claim made, be sure to back it up with concrete examples and data.

4. "What Are Your Weaknesses?"

This is one of the trickiest interview questions. Don't come in with a generic, cliché answer. Be honest about one of your shortcomings, and talk about how you are improving in that area.

5. "What Ideas Are You Bringing to the Table?"

Talk about some fresh ideas or skills you possess that can take the company to the next level.

6. "What Management Style Do You Prefer?"

Do you prefer lots of direction, or are you the autonomous type? The answer to this interview question lets the hiring manager know whether your working style fits into the company culture.

7. "Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?"

It is OK if you're not sure how to answer this question just yet. Try to talk about your accomplishments thus far, and state that you hope to see as much or more success in the future.

8. "How Would You Approach This Job?"

Talk about how well your skills and experience would fit into the role, but avoid making general statements.

9. "What Have You Achieved Elsewhere?"

Take advantage of the opportunity to toot your own horn here. Focus on the most recent and relevant accomplishments that you're proud of.

10. "What Are Your Likes and Dislikes About Your Last Job?"

Don't bad-mouth your current or former job here. Keep it honest, and assure the interviewer that you don't expect perfection.

11. "Tell Me About a Time You Worked on a Team."

Every job, no matter the industry, requires working well with others. Provide the interviewer with recent examples of when you've done just that.

12. "What Would Your Co-Workers Say About You?"

The answer to this question lets the interviewer know how self-aware you are. Try to provide actual testimonials rather than empty adjectives.

13. "How Do You Deal With Stress?"

Give examples of stressful situations in which you handled yourself gracefully and professionally.

14. "What Salary Are You Looking For?"

Try to avoid any talks of money until you've received a concrete offer. If the interviewer persists, give a range rather than a specific figure.

15. "Are You Creative?"

This question may not come in these exact words, but you can be sure that this is an underlying theme of many interview questions.

While there may be hundreds of interview questions an interviewer may ask you potentially, they all really boil down to these 15 common themes.

Photo courtesy of Becris at FreeDigitalPhotos.net