Your Career: 6 Interview Questions You Can Ace

By Candice Choi, AP Personal Finance Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — When it comes to job interviews, are you the rambler, the bore or the one who sweats nervously?

Knowing how you might come across to a prospective employer could mean the difference between advancing to the next round or losing out to someone who's better prepared. With unemployment at a 26-year high of 9.5 percent and expected to reach 10 percent by the end of the year, there's a growing field of candidates competing for jobs. So, you need to be able to answer questions with confidence and focus.

"The way that you sound spontaneous and conversational is to prepare and practice," said Rachelle Cantor, president of RJC Associates, a career counseling firm based in San Francisco.

That means thinking in advance about what your interviewer might ask — not so you can come up with a scripted answer, but so you won't be caught off guard. Here are six common questions you should be ready to handle.

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QUESTION 1: How would you improve on our company or product?

This is one of the trickiest questions a recruiter can pose. After all, you don't want to criticize an area the hiring manager oversees.

A good rule of thumb is to start by pointing out what you like about the company. Then state your suggestions for improving it in a way that isn't dismissive or judgmental. Engage the interviewer by asking whether your ideas have already been considered, and if so, why the company rejected them.

Although the question might sound like a trap, don't be afraid of volunteering constructive ideas. It will show you did your homework and aren't afraid to state your opinion.

And don't panic if you don't have a good suggestion.

"If you can't think of an answer, don't try to fudge it," said Bobbie Little, an executive coach at PDI Ninth in San Francisco. "It will show that you're trying to pretend you know more than you do."

Be honest and say you'd need to know more about the organization to make such a suggestion. Follow up by asking how the company is trying to be more competitive.

QUESTION 2: What is your greatest weakness and your greatest strength?

One reason hiring managers ask this question is to gauge your self awareness.

"That's one of the most valued qualities in a leader," Little said.

Owning up to a true fault shows you're honest about yourself and know what you need to improve. Give an example of how the weakness played out in the work place and what you learned from the experience.

That said, don't rattle off a list of shortcomings or be overly self-deprecating. And whenever admitting a weakness, be sure to note how you're working to improve it.

And when you name your strengths, be ready to give examples of how they've helped you in your career.