Many companies structure their interview questions in the same way, yet many job candidates fail to prepare beforehand. No preparation can mimic the real thing, however if you know enough about the organization and position you are interviewing for, the interview itself shouldn’t be the challenging part. According to TheLadders, here are the best ways to answer some of the most common interview questions.

1. Tell us about yourself?
With this question employers are usually looking for answers that highlight your personality traits and skills. The key here is to directly align your answer with the job description. Make sure your answer in concise and compelling and include your skills and relevant experiences.

2. What are your strengths?
Be prepared to brag a little when this question is asked. When answering it’s best to exude confidence, but only include the strengths that are relevant to the position you are interviewing for. Stick to two or three strengths and elaborate with examples.

3. What are your weaknesses?
This tends to be the most dreaded question for many. The trick is to highlight your “weaknesses” while giving a positive impression. Easier said than done. Think of something that has been your weakness, but you have overcome or are trying to improve on. Try not to include a skill that is necessary for the job when answering this question.

4. Why do you want this job?
This is your opportunity to share something that benefits both you and the company. Try to set aside anything that entirely benefits you, like the compensation package or prestige of the company.

5. Why should we hire you?
The answer to this question will require you to pitch a combination of what your strengths are and what is unique about yourself. Overall you have to convince the interviewer that you have the experience, skills and personality to do the job, you can deliver exceptional work, and you stand out from the crowd.