Q1: What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in a small company or a large company? WHY: Helps the HR team understand the breadth of a candidate's experience, including the amount (or lack thereof!) of resources they are accustomed to working with on the job. STRATEGY: Being honest with this answer, yet positive, will serve you well. Describe the advantages as you view them, while keeping your audience in mind! If you are interviewing at a small company, you probably want to emphasize your ability to manage a broad range of initiatives and tie that to the advantage of working with a smaller organization.

Q2: What were your responsibilities in your last position and which did you like least and most? WHY: Offers information on what is important to the candidate and how they "dig in" when necessary to get work done. STRATEGY: Think about the responsibilities that you liked the most and play those up. Acknowledge that there are things you would like to fore go, but realize that a job well done means doing everything that it takes to fulfill the task.

Q3: How many gas stations are in the US? WHY: Demonstrates a candidate's thinking style and reasoning skills. Most interviewers do not expect an accurate answer to this question; they want to see how you go about thinking through what you say. STRATEGY: When thrown a curve ball question like this take moment to appreciate it. Smile. Acknowledge that you do not have an answer and then describe how you might research for the information or formulate a hypothesis on an estimate. Looking bewildered and saying "I have no idea. Thousands?" will not demonstrate your ability to tackle challenging problems.

Q4: Why did you accept your last position (and each before it)? And, what did you get out of it? WHY: To get a sense of your motivations and career focus. STRATEGY: Besides "needing a job," try to give an answer that includes what you were looking forward to with each position, why you thought it would be a good move professionally, and what you were able to gain from the experience.

Q5: Looking back at your career, is there anything you would have changed? WHY: Gives insights into the job seekers (that is you!) decision-making process. Also lets the interviewer know if you are a good planner and adept at handling changes while staying focused. STRATEGY: Think about this question before the interview. So many people are prepared for the question "why did you leave your last job" yet cannot answer this question. Draw some linear conclusions about your career path. What was smart about each decision you made? What were the expected - and unexpected - advantages of each position? Remember to stay positive!

Q6: Why did you leave each job? WHY: To see if your answers are believable and if conflict is a major theme in your career history. STRATEGY: Stay honest, yet positive. Mention something good you were giving up at the job you left, and support your reasoning for leaving by concentrating on the professional growth and career advancement opportunities that each new position offered.

Q7: How have the people on your team grown? WHY: If you are a good leader, part of your job is to help your team grow professionally. Being able to talk about it shows that you foster advancement and know you are not a one-person show! STRATEGY: Discuss some of the great ideas that were born from your teams' efforts. Talk about promotions and performance improvements of those reporting to you. Let the interviewer know you get excited when you see someone on "the fast track."

Q8: What are your strengths / weaknesses? WHY: Provides you an opportunity to talk about yourself in an introspective manner. STRATEGY: Demonstrate some insights into your own behavior and tendencies. Promote your strengths as they relate to the job; draw parallels between your accomplishments and the requirements of the job at hand. For weaknesses, there is no need to say you are terrible at numbers, especially if you're interviewing for an account management position. Pick a more benign weakness - not an early riser, sometimes have to remind self to ask more questions...that sort of non-job-inhibiting issue!