7 Cliche Job Interview Questions Answered Like A Boss

Managers ask these questions because most of them think they know what they're doing. Take advantage of these canned, cliche questions and give them beauty pageant answers that will leave them hopefully impressed.

1. Tell me about yourself.

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This is a really, really common starter question that novice (and even the experienced!) interviewers use. A good tip is to highlight all professional and academic experience that would get you the job. Talk about your past work experience, internships, thesis, favorite subjects, and why you chose that major, among other things. Close it with your hobbies or interests that are related (but still real!) to the job you are applying for. Your introduction should be at least a minute long, but not longer than 3 minutes.

EXAMPLE: "I'm Cady Heron. I just got my bachelor's degree in accountancy at xxx university. I chose to take up accounting because I really like analysis and logic, and find myself fascinated with how accurate mathematics is when it comes to money. I was able to get an internship opportunity at XYZ company where I learned and familiarized myself in general accounting and bookkeeping. I was the vice president for external communications for our university's accounting professional organization for 2 years. During my spare time I like reading books, browsing the stock market and sudoku puzzles.

2. What is your greatest strength?

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Use the key skill needed for the job you are applying for. Example, you are applying for an accounting-related vacancy, use "attention to detail" or "efficiency" and add an example after the strength you chose. The trick here is to tell them that you have the skill and it has indeed helped you before.

EXAMPLE: "I pay very close attention to detail. I find it enjoyable to double check numbers and make sure they're accurate until the last cent."

3. What is your greatest weakness?

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This usually follows the question above. The key is to answer a "weakness" that is actually something that can be used to advantage in the job you are applying for. For instance, "perfectionists" and people who have an over-reactive sense of urgency will shine in a job related to finance and accounting. Another route is to answer a weakness and follow-up with something that you have done to address that weakness. This shows that you are aware of your shortcomings and can work around them without hindering your work.

EXAMPLE: "People say that I'm too much of a perfectionist. I tend to triple check everything I do. That slows me down but I make sure that my output is the best it can be." - or - "I think my organizational skill is not my strongest suit. But I created my own system so I can track all the documents that pass through me so I can easily retrieve them."

4. What color best describes your personality? (A really vague pop psychology or situational question that supposedly has a psychological meaning)

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There's a good chance that you interviewer has some sort of answer key for these kinds of questions and they supposedly mean something. The trick is to add a reason so that they associate your answer with YOUR interpretation, not THEIRS.

EXAMPLE: "I think blue best describes my personality. Blue is associated with calmness and patience, I like to think that I still feel relaxed even under really stressful situations."

5. What is 254 x 112? (A random trivia or math question)

Depending on the interviewer, sometimes you'll encounter obscure trivia or math questions to catch you off guard. This question actually measures either a) how smart you are or b) how witty you are. If you can answer the question, by all means go ahead! If not, make a witty excuse and promise that you'll do your homework after the interview is finished.

EXAMPLE: "I don't know the answer to this right now, but I promise you I'll find out after this interview and send my through an e-mail or a text message." - OR - "Is it ok for me to bring out a calculator? I believe as an accountant calculator use is STILL an important skill. I can show you right now."

6. Why should we hire you?

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This question is supposedly going to measure how you sell yourself. Usually an impressive answer would be is something in line with your personal career goals and you see yourself contributing to the company really well because you have the skills they are looking for. You can also sprinkle compliments about their organization as you answer this question for maximum effect.

EXAMPLE: "I think working in a prestigious company such as yours would be a great learning experience. I would be learning a lot of things while in your organization and I believe that my education and previous experience would help achieve your organizations' goals."

7. How do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

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Ok this is a cliche question, and is usually the last question, but as an interviewer I consider this an important question. It tells me if you know what you're going into and have plans for yourself. If you can't answer this question properly, then I really suggest you re-examine your career goals (or set them if you haven't any) while it's not too late! A solid answer is a pretty ambitious but still achievable goal, like getting promoted or learning a specialization in your field.

EXAMPLE: "I plan to specialize in financial analysis as I go up the corporate ladder. By 5 years I want to be an analyst and by 7 years I think I would be a capable manager by that time, given proper opportunities and training."

Final Pointers

The right interview answer should always feel natural, and come from you. This serves as a guide and not a complete basis. The point is that you can prepare a really good answer for these questions, and take that to your advantage.