I’ve got a lot of experience in the interview process. Despite this, I’m always learning new ways to answer common questions that are asked during an interview. This can be both helpful and awkward if you don’t have some sort of plan in place for answering these types of questions.

So what do you do if someone asks you, “Tell me about yourself” or “Why should we hire you?” Here are five tips that will help you get through the tough moments and land your dream job.

Tell me about yourself

Here’s an example of a good answer to this question:

“My name is John, and I am interested in working with you because I love what you do.” “You have a passion for your craft, and it shows in everything you do, including how well-prepared each interviewee is.”

The interviewer wants to know about your personality and how it will fit into the team at the company. They want to know if you have any issues with authority, if there are any areas where people might clash with each other, or if there’s anything else that could negatively impact the work environment (such as being late).

They also want to make sure that whoever gets hired will enjoy coming to work every day—so don’t say anything negative about previous jobs!

What are your greatest strengths?

When you’re asked what your greatest strengths are, it’s important to be specific. Don’t say, “I’m a hard worker” or “I’m a team player.” Instead, describe how you’ve demonstrated those skills in the past—and most importantly, how they translate into success for your employer.

For example, if someone asks about your ability to lead others and get them on board with projects, don’t just say that you’ve been doing this since high school (which everyone says).

Instead, tell them about an instance where someone else took initiative and convinced others of their idea; then describe how well it went! Or perhaps they ask what makes you exceptional at problem-solving—tell them about when someone came up with a creative solution while working on group projects at college or in business class (again!).

Why do you want to leave your current job?

If you’re asked this question, be honest. You don’t want to badmouth your current employer or make things seem worse than they are. Instead of saying something like “I want more responsibility,” consider talking about what specific problems you have with your job and how those issues could be solved in the future if you were given more freedom and autonomy.

For example: “I had a hard time getting along with my boss because she was so busy all day long that there wasn’t any time for me.” Or “I didn’t feel appreciated by my coworkers because they never gave me credit for any work done.”

What is your greatest weakness?

Be honest. You should be able to answer this question honestly and without hesitation, but don’t be too negative about yourself. If you have a weakness that isn’t related to the job at hand, such as being late for work when other people are depending on you or failing to show up for an interview after being called into work by your boss, then discuss it in your answer and explain how this has affected your career.

How have you overcome it? For example, I’m always late because I get distracted by pointless things on my phone (like Facebook) all day long; however, I’ve learned not only how important it is to stay focused while working but also how much fun social media can be!

This has helped me become more productive overall since then—I’m not just checking my phone between meetings anymore, and now I’m much better at keeping track of time while working as well as remembering what needs doing next so there isn’t any confusion later down the road!

Where would you like to be in five years?

Be specific. The interviewer wants to know what you want out of your career, so be honest about how you think that can happen. If the company is interested in hiring someone with your skills, they’ll probably want to know what role or positions would be a good fit for their needs.

Be realistic. While it’s great if we all have big ambitions and dreams, we all need to remember that life isn’t always going to be fair or easy—it will take hard work and dedication on our part as well as some luck along the way (or maybe just an opportunity).

Be ambitious! This may seem obvious, but I’ve seen many candidates who don’t come across as ambitious during an interview because they don’t recognize how much potential there actually is within themselves—no matter where those opportunities may lie outside their current job title or role at this point.

Why should we hire you?

This question is one of the most common, and it’s an excellent opportunity to demonstrate that you understand what it means to be a person who can do the job well.

After all, if you’re applying for a job as a software developer, there’s no need to waste time explaining what software development is or how it works; instead, concentrate on why this company is hiring someone with your specific skillset at this specific time.

Be prepared for this question by making sure that your answer shows not only why you would be perfect for the job but also why this particular company would hire someone like yourself (and not just any other candidate).

Can you give us an example of when you displayed leadership skills or acted as a leader in the workplace?

Leadership is about getting results. It’s about motivating people to work harder, be more productive, and achieve their goals.

As a leader, you can set an example for others to follow by being a good listener and communicating effectively with your team members as well as other departments within the company.

You should make sure that everyone on your team understands what needs to be done so that everyone has a clear understanding of where they fit into the bigger picture of what needs to happen in order for your business plan (and eventual product) to launch successfully!

Leadership is also about being a role model—this means setting an example for others within your organization by showing them how someone who has been successful in business works hard toward achieving success at every level of their career path!

Why did you leave your last job?

This question is often asked to see if you are an employee-friendly person. The answer should be that of a good leader who was able to create an environment where people felt safe and comfortable enough to share their ideas.

You can’t blame the employer for firing you because of budget cuts or other reasons beyond your control. You were doing your best at all times, but these things happen in business sometimes (and they’re never fair).

You can’t blame the boss for firing you either—they hired you because they thought it would benefit them as well as yourself.

They may not have realized how much longer they’d need until they actually got started on something else, but even then there’s nothing wrong with explaining this situation to potential employers who ask about why someone left their last job under less than ideal circumstances (i.e., “It wasn’t working out”).

Tell us about a time when you failed and how you worked through it.

When it comes to answering this question, you should be honest. However, there are some things that you can say without giving away any details about yourself or your personal life. For example:

• “I failed at a project I was working on at work because I didn’t prioritize my tasks correctly.”
• “My first job was as an intern at an insurance company, and the manager gave me a lot of responsibility but didn’t give me any training.”

Conclusion

If you have never been asked these questions in an interview, it is not a bad thing. It is actually a good chance to practice your answers and find out if they are right for you. The best way to prepare yourself for this type of situation is by practicing with friends or family members who can help guide you through some mock scenarios where common questions are asked (such as the ones listed above).

Your resume should be tailored to the role you are applying for and reflect your experience and skills. If you are looking for a job as an intern, make sure that your resume is relevant to this type of work.

If you need help with your resume, we have a team of experts who can help you craft a document that highlights your skills and experience.