Everyone knows it’s important to have confidence and essentially ‘sell yourself’ in a job interview. But does that mean acting as though we’re perfect and have no flaws?

Sometimes the best way to highlight all the great things about you is to be able to understand and own your weaknesses. In turn you can show these as your development points to a prospective employer.

Here are some of our top interview questions that can be difficult to answer and how to ace them:

What is your greatest weakness?

It’s important that we can recognise our own weaknesses in order to give an answer that is truthful, however, illustrate ways in which you have addressed this weakness and how you are working on it. Employers value humility! On the flip side, however try to avoid sharing something that may show you as unsuitable for the role you have applied for. Use it as an opportunity to showcase you’re ability for self-reflection and how you respond to areas of weakness.

Why should we hire you?

The key thing to address when answering this question is how your skills and experience match the requirements of the role. For example, if you are applying for a sales role, you could discuss how the numbers you are achieving in your current position show the results that could be achieved by you in this role.

What’s something you didn’t like about your last job?

Even if you really disliked your last job or the management it is important to never talk badly about a former employer. Maintain a constructive, professional tone when acknowledging a negative aspect, without being overly critical or disrespectful.

How do you deal with conflict at work?

When answering how you deal with conflict at work, ensure you demonstrate your ability to handle disagreements and challenging situations in a professional and constructive manner. Problem solving and a collaborative approach are key things to address, to resolve and move on from the conflict and encourage teamwork. This helps to show you are a team player.

Why do you want this job?

Whilst the majority of us work to support our lifestyles, employers want to hear why you are applying for their job over other companies that have a similar offering. Be specific about how your skills match the position, what you like about the company and culture and what you think you could bring to the table.

The biggest thing to remember when heading in to your next interview is the more prepared you are the better the interview will go. Use our tips above to prepare answers to these questions, so you are ready when they ask.