No matter how good you look on paper, it’s the real you that lands you that job.

An interview is a two-way conversation intended to help the candidate and the employer assess mutual fit. Below are the Seven of the most common interview questions—and the right way to answer them. [via Men’sHealth]

QUESTION #1:

“Why did you leave your last job?”

Wrong answer: “My boss was a jerk.”
Right answer: “The company was restructuring, and out entire department was eliminated. Many of the company’s top employees were affected.”

“Go for the truth,” says Jeremy Rodriguez, a human resources professional  with over 10 years of experience. “Whatever reason you have, stick to it and be able to defend it. There are many reasons that a person could give but if you pretend, a good interviewer would be able to validate your responses through a series of questions. The truth is always easier to remember and be consistent with.”

QUESTION #2:

“Tell me about yourself?”

Wrong answer: “I was born at St. Luke’s Hospital in 1979, weighing in at 7.2 pounds.”
Right answer: “Would you like to know more about my personal life or my professional life?”

Many recruiters and writers concede that this is perhaps one of the vaguest, most difficult interview questions. ”You may have to ask for a clarifying question to make sure that you talk about the angle they’re looking for.”

If the interviewer says it’s up to you, then it’s safer to keep the focus professional. Start off by saying how you first get interested in this career, and go from there. Use the KISS guideline (Keep It Short, Stupid) when answering.

QUESTION #3:

“What are your strengths?”

Wrong answer: “Friendly says I make a mean paella.”
Right answer: “In my performance evaluations, my resourcefulness and problem solving skill have often been cited.”

Now is not the time to be humble—pick positive traits that correspond to the needs of the company. “Any time you can sell yourself unabashedly, do it,” “Be confident, concise, and support your statements with personal examples.”

QUESTION #4:

“What are your weaknesses?”

Wrong answer: “I’m too lazy to double-check sales figures that come my way.”
Right answer: “As much as I would like to say that I’m a perfect manager, there is always room for improvement. I am currently working on my public-speaking skill by attending workshops on weekends.”

You shouldn’t disclose weaknesses that could dam you to a life of unemployment. Instead, determine your areas for improvement and what you’ve been doing—or are willing to do—to make it happen. “Provide evidence that you have worked on the areas you identified. If you haven’t already done so, make a commitment to improve yourself both personally and professionally.”

QUESTION #5:

“In your resume, you mentioned that you increased your department’s productivity by 25 percent. Can you tell me more about that?”

Wrong answer: “Er, Where exactly did I say that?”
Right answer: “I analyzed our processes and work output over the span of three months and determined that there were redundant steps. After eliminating those steps, we streamlined the workflow, thereby increasing productivity.”

Know the contents of your resume by heart and be sure that  you know how to explain in detail if asked to elaborate.

QUESTION #6:

“Why do you want to work for this company?”

Wrong answer: “It’s conveniently located near my apartment. Plus, I hear the pay is pretty good?”
Right answer: “I’ve heard and read so many good things about this company. I am eager to be part of an organization that has consistently come in number one in its industry in the last five years…”

This is the time to flex your research muscle. The underlying question here is “What do you know about the company?”

“Use this opportunity to show that  you’ve done your homework”. Talk about the company’s performance and employee morale; you can easily obtain information about the company beforehand through their website, newspaper articles, and brochures that the company gives out.

QUESTION #7:

“Do you have any questions?”

Wrong answer: “Nope.”
Right answer: “What do you wish all applicants knew about this company?”

Even if you have no questions at the end of the interview, ask something. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve already had 100 interviews at the company, ask questions. Even if you asked the  same question you asked everyone else, ask it anyway. Otherwise, you risk looking disinterested.” It could also give the impression that you came unprepared.