Why should we employ you for this job?

This question allows you to highlight your key skills and show the interviewer how they relate to the job.

What are your two greatest weaknesses?

Illustrate your self-awareness and be honest but show yourself in positive light. For example, you get frustrated when others don't pull their weight or you used to have problems with paperwork or time management. Give a real example that isn't essential to the role and show how you are taking steps to work on your weaknesses.

For more advice on answering this question, including what is your greatest strength, visit CareerMatch.

What is your greatest achievement?

Give an example of where you have overcome obstacles to achieve something you are proud of.

Don't worry if you don't have a lot of work experience, you can talk about achievements outside of work. Make sure you can relate them where possible to the job that you are applying for.

You could also be asked 'What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction? Why?'

In what kind of work environment are you most comfortable?

This is an opportunity to show your awareness of the organisation's working culture. Make sure that matches the environment that company has.

What is the biggest mistake you have made and what have you learnt from it?

Don’t spend too long talking about the mistake itself. Focus on the steps you took to rectify it and what you learned from it.

How would you describe yourself?

You may also be asked how you think a friend or lecturer who knows you well would describe you or what words your friends would use to describe you.

This is an opportunity to sell yourself and highlight the relevant skills you have. However, this also opens up the interview to other questions so be prepared to elaborate on what you say.

You may want to ask where you should start, eg with your personal life, academic life or work experience. The examples you give should stand out, be memorable, whilst also relating to the requirements for the job.

What makes you different from the other candidates I am interviewing today?

Show confidence in yourself (but not arrogance) and show how suitable you are to the job, for example:

'I am a team player, I take direction and have a desire to succeed. I like a challenge, my background demonstrates excellent problem-solving abilities and I always see a project through to the finish'.