Even in the best of times, a job interview can be stressful. But add on the pressure of today’s high unemployment rates and slow job creation, and you’ve got all the makings for a genuine meltdown.

However, fear not – like someone once said, knowledge is power and here are fifteen questions that are fairly standard in job interview situations. In all likelihood, you won’t be asked all of them, but familiarizing yourself with the questions and reviewing some answer dos and don’ts will give you a leg-up. So here goes…

#1 – Q: Why do your want to work here/in this industry?

Don’t fall into the wishy-washy “I just love…” trap – instead, look for something in your personal or professional history that has led you to seek employment in this area.

#2 – Q: What can you tell us about yourself?

Your resume helped land you the interview, so don’t just sit there and regurgitate the details. Use this as an opportunity to communicate how your skills, training and passion have helped you achieve professional or academic goals.

#3 – Q: What do you think of your old boss?

Never, ever trash your old employer – even if he or she was a total nightmare. Instead, find something about them that helped you discover or learn something valuable that you’ve applied to yourself. For instance, a super-demanding boss just might push you to learn better time-management or communications skills.

#4 – Q: Why are you leaving or why did you leave your last job?

See above. Resist any urge to go negative and keep your answer upbeat and positive. Take the “I’ve learned so much at my old job and I really feel it is time for me to take these skills into an arena with more opportunity” route.

#5 – Q: Where do you see yourself in five/ten years?

There are no great answers to this one, but there are some truly bad answers like the “I’d like to have your job” or “living on a tropical island” variety. Instead, focus your answer about how you want to use this job opportunity to learn and advance within the corporation.

#6 – Q: You great weakness is…?

No jokes or clichés, please. Instead, think of real-life examples of how you have taken a personal weakness or a problem and turned it into a positive. The workplace is a terrific learning environment for everything from interpersonal communication to developing leadership and collaborative skills.

#7 – Q: What are your salary requirements?

Before the interview, it is a good idea to research the salary range for comparable jobs in your geographic area. At the interview, don’t feel you have to give a hard number – in fact, it is better to reaffirm your interest in the job and the opportunity it presents.

#8 – Q: Why should I hire you?

Think about your skill set and the job you are applying for – what makes you a stand-out candidate for this position? Are you great at a certain kind of computer program that can increase efficiency? Then say so. Have you enrolled in on-line courses to expand your business knowledge? Talk about it. Just avoid one of those “because-I’m-the-best-person-for-the-job” answers.

#9 – Q: What was your great mistake/failure and what did it teach you?

This is not the time to lament over opportunities lost or choices that have made your life a miserable mess. Focus on a significant but not life-altering misstep and how that experience has helped you improve as a professional.

#10 – Q: Can you explain the gap in your employment record?

It is never easy to explain why you’re unemployed, and the last thing you want to do is give the impression that you either lack ambition or are on some kind of hiring blacklist. Keep your answer upbeat and along the lines of how work is important to you and you want to make sure your next professional move is one that offers real opportunity.

#11 – Q: What gives you the most job satisfaction?

Think about experiences from your previous job experience that had a positive impact on you and your professional performance – now see if you can connect that experience to the job opening.

#12 – Q: What was the worst part of your old job?

Again, going negative will get you nowhere – especially if aspects of the ‘worst’ are part of this new job opportunity. If you’ve done your homework, you’ll be familiar with the job requirements, and you won’t make this faux pas. A good response might be that you felt your old job didn’t allow you to fully use your skills or have the potential for career advancement.

#13 – Q: Describe a conflict you’ve had with a co-worker.

If you try to get by with I-get-along-with-everyone, your interviewer will know you’re trying to duck the issue. A conflict-free workplace is about as likely as a unicorn sighting. Relating a situation where you and a co-worker managed to use your communication skills to resolve differences with a long-term, positive outcome is your best bet.

#14 – Q: What motivates you professionally?

This is a great opportunity to highlight your strengths as a worker. Use the question to give your interviewer a window into your character and what challenges you to do your best. Try to draw on your experiences and don’t give a general “I just like to do a good job” kind of answer.

#15 – Q: How do you think your friends would describe you?

Your interviewer is looking for insight into how you’d do the job, not your skills in the buddy department. So think about the qualities in your character that mesh with skills needed to do the job, like persistence or the ability to adapt to new situations. Don’t be afraid to use an example to illustrate your point, just keep it short and focused.