Here are the 5 most common interview questions and the perfect way to answer them.

Looking for a new job? The key to success in your job search is preparing perfect responses to common interview questions.

Once you start interviewing, you’ll find the same questions pop up again and again, so it pays to do some prep work beforehand.

Here are five of the most common interview questions and simple tips you can follow to nail your answers:

Tell me about yourself.

This question seems really simple but many people fail to prepare for it. You don’t need to give the job interviewer your complete history when they ask you this. Instead, prepare a short pitch that sums you up and demonstrates why you’re the right fit for the job.

Talk about 2-3 specific accomplishments that you most want the interviewer to know about and wrap it up with how that experience makes you perfect candidate for the role.

Why do you want to work here?

By asking you, "Why do you want to work here?" the interviewer is looking for an answer that indicates you've given this some thought and are not just applying for every job opening you can find. You need to tailor your answer to the company and demonstrate why you'd be perfect for the role.

What is your biggest weakness?

What the interviewer is really trying to do with this question (apart from identifying any major red flags) is to get a sense of your self-awareness and honesty. So you need to use this opportunity to minimise your weaknesses and maximise your strengths.

A great example is something that you struggle with but that you're actively working on, like becoming a better public speaker.

Mamamia Out Loud on what not to do in a job interview. 

What are your strengths?

This question presents a great opportunity for you to align your strengths with the values and goals of the company. To prepare for this question scan the job advertisement and company's website and pick out some key words.

In the interview talk about how your key strengths line up with these key words. For example, if it's a team environment, you need to talk about how you're a team player and love to collaborate with people.

Tell me about a challenge or conflict you've faced at work, and how you dealt with it.

You need to answer this question using a specific example from your past experience. Use the STAR method (Situation. Task. Action. Response) and talk about how you handled the situation in a productive and professional manner. And make sure your story has a happy ending!