Having the date of an interview set can be really nerve racking. You start asking yourself questions like "Will I make a good impression?" "What kind of things will they be looking for - I’ve never applied for a position like this before."

But don’t panic. With some preparation, a good attitude and a good idea of what to be expect, you should be OK. Here’s a set of questions interviewers often ask and some good ways to answer them.

Tell me about yourself, or its variant, What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Anyone who’s ever had an interview has come across one or the other of these incredibly vague questions and has asked him- or herself: "Just how on Earth am I supposed to answer this?" Never fear: the prospective employer doesn’t want to hear about your pet dog or the story of your first love. What he or she is really after is finding out what your personality is like and whether or not you’d be a good match for the company. Play up those aspects of your personality that would help you in the job. If you’re applying for a position as a PR representative, say you’re social. If the job is in accounting, talk about how organized you are. Working your resume into it might not be a bad idea either.

What experience have you had that qualifies you for this position?

Mention any experience that would translate easily into the new position (you’ve researched a bit about what exactly it is the new company does, right?), but also don’t be afraid to play up unrelated work experience as being positive as well. For instance, say the new position is as an office manager. All right, so maybe you’ve never done office management, but do you remember the time you helped organize that day camp for kids back in college? That certainly gave you some sort of managerial ability. Mention that.

Why did you decide to apply for this position?

Maybe you’re just desperate for work and don’t want to spend the winter in a snowdrift down on Arbat. That’s always possible. However, let’s assume for purposes of the present discussion that there is something in particular about the job that grabbed your attention. Play up your interest in the work itself, not just what they might be paying you, and be sure to talk about your high opinion of your potential new employers and the work they’re doing.

Do you have any questions for us?

This is your opportunity to show how much you know about the company and the sort of work they do. Get detailed if you can; they want to be hiring someone who’s knowledgeable in the relevant field. Also, show that you have initiative. Ask about particular projects that might be underway or coming up that you could throw yourself into.

Tell me about a time when you (solved a problem, showed initiative, brought in a client, etc.).

Here, the interviewer is trying to find out how you go about performing tasks and how independent you are. He or she isn’t so much interested in just how you went about solving a given problem as in whether or not you know how to do it in general. Make a point of detailing how what you did showed independence and commitment to the task (without, of course, violating protocol or overstepping your authority) and how this says good things about the way you go about dealing with work-related situations in general.

What kind of salary are you looking for?

It is at this question that many an intrepid interviewee has missed the boat to fame and fortune. While you don’t want to sell yourself short, you don’t want to look greedy either. Presumably you know something about what pay scales are like in the relevant field. Suggest what you think a highly qualified person would be earning in the position. This way, you kill two birds with one stone: not only do you automatically put yourself in the high end of a reasonable pay scale, you also create the impression that you’re a highly qualified person and know it, which is what employers want. Also, never, ever discuss salary until near the end of the interview when you’re already pretty sure whether you’re in or out.