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Absolutely! Cite specific examples using your current job as a reference point.

This breaks the ice, shows the ability to think on their feet and if they can enjoy working together. Whatever joke is told, it almost always leads to a story.

Start by explaining what you'd need to do to get ramped up. What information would you need? What parts of the company would you need to familiarize yourself with? What other employees would you want to sit down with? Next, choose a couple of areas where you think you can make meaningful contributions right away. (e.g., “I think a great starter project would be diving into your email marketing campaigns and setting up a tracking system for them.”) Sure, if you get the job, you (or your new employer) might decide there’s a better starting place, but having an answer prepared will show the interviewer where you can add immediate impact—and that you’re excited to get started.

This is another incredibly common question and it gives you a great opportunity to stand out from the crowd and really show the hiring manager how you can help the company.

The key thing to remember here is: be specific.

Leverage your company research and the job description to find exactly why the company is hiring someone for this position. What problem/pain points does the new hire have to solve? You need to show that you are the perfect candidate that can solve those problems/pain points.

Coaching and mentoring team members will be a crucial aspect of serving as a general manager. Highlight a situation where you successfully led and influenced someone to make positive changes in their life.

"Through the 'Big Brothers Big Sisters' organization, I mentored a girl in middle school for several years. Before we formed a relationship, she struggled with her grades and making time to study, but over the course of our time together, I was able to help her make better choices in her life."

To be completely effective in any company, the candidate needs to feel passionate about what they are doing. Employees that settle eventually cost a company far more lost revenue than the hour wasted on interviewing the wrong person.

The key is to focus on your achievable objectives and what you are doing to reach those objectives.

For example: "Within five years, I would like to become the very best accountant your company has on staff. I want to work toward becoming the expert that others rely upon. And in doing so, I feel I'll be fully prepared to take on any greater responsibilities which might be presented in the long term. For example, here is what I'm presently doing to prepare myself…"

How you explain your biggest weakness is one of the most telling interview questions of all. "Interviewees show up thinking they should just be talking about what they're great at, but I'm more interested in where the gaps are and if they are self-critical,"

Yes. Give examples that relate to your current job.

With this question alone, I am able to discern what is most important to the candidate, what their hobbies and interests are, their communication skills, their sense (or lack of) humor, their presentation comfort level, their educational background, their grasp of what the position entails, and their work style.

Balanced is a good word to use, but remember the type of company you are interviewing at. Some companies may want someone who is aggressive and a go-getter.

It is a situation, wherein the total expenditure of the government exceeds its total income. This cannot be compared to debts as these are nothing, but the collection of yearly deficits.

Being able to effectively work on a team is essential to landing a general manager position. Employers want to know that you can not only work well with others but that you can also step up within a group by taking initiative.

"At a previous job, there was one night where the manager had to leave early for a family emergency. Since the store was new and most of us hadn't closed up alone, no one felt sure what to do. Instead of waiting for someone else to step up, I embraced the role of leader and organized the other employees into teams and then delegated the closing chores to the different groups."

Avoid, "I would like the job you advertised." Instead, give long-range goals.

The hiring manager is trying to get at your underlying motivations for wanting this job. Are you here just for a paycheck or do you see yourself becoming an integral part of the company and growing along with it? You need to show them that you want to become “part of the family”.

At the same time however, show how your “wants” coincide with their “needs”.

For a more thorough look at this question, read our “why do you want to work for us” blog post.

Talk about books, sports or films to show that you have balance in your life.

First of all, be honest (remember, if you get this job, the hiring manager will be calling your former bosses and co-workers!). Then, try to pull out strengths and traits you haven't discussed in other aspects of the interview, such as your strong work ethic or your willingness to pitch in on other projects when needed.