Describe a situation in which you had to work with a difficult person (another student, co-worker, customer, supervisor, etc.). How did you handle the situation?

Just like any other question, with this one you have to be honest as well. Your competition is going to give the interviewer what they want to hear.

Sample Answer

"There have been many. To teach us how to work with a team, our professors will put us into groups. Since these groups are typically chosen randomly, I have been partnered with some students who don't want to do the work. On occasions, I have tried to get them to complete their share of the work and regardless of the approach I took, some students did not care either about the class or getting a good grade. In the end, and I don't know if this was the right or wrong thing to do, I felt that it was not in anybody's best interest to tell the professor, so the other group members, including myself, carried the weight. In the end, the professors always knew and I handled it patently and felt that things would fall into place and they usually did."

What motivates you to put forth your greatest effort? Describe a situation in which you did so.

This one is quite easy. You could many spins to this question which should catch the interviewer's attention.

"I never want to be average. In 70 years from now, when I am gone, I want people to have something to say about me."

"I know I can't be with everything, though I drive myself to be the best. I have found that when I don't get there, I come close enough."

Describe a situation in which you did so.

Discussing your 30 page paper on the Industrial Revolution is not going to peak anyone's interest. I do agree that it was very interesting, though you're only going to get a 5% hit rate if you discuss academics. Use your career search as an example. Here is a good one to use:

"This interview would be a good example of a relevant situation. I won't ever claim that I know everything, however I've done my homework and I'm doing my best to fight my way into a position which I want. "

In what ways have your college experiences prepared you for a career?

There are many original and unique ways to answer this question. If you go the academic route, you're not going to stand out. Think about what you really in college. It is quite possible that most of the learning took place out of the classrooms.

With some, you are taking risks, however if you look at almost every world leader and corporate executive, they did not get where they are without taking calculated risks. Calculated is the keyword however.

Though, never give an answer that you are not comfortable with, never spit these out verbatim and, if you don't have supporting arguments for your answer, they will have the opposite effect.

If true:

"My school is very diverse. Growing up in a predominately __________ town, I was not exposed to all different types of cultures. Sometimes the best things you learn in college are not in the classroom."

"They taught me about debt and how, after I pay my bills, I will never want to have it again."

"Public speaking and writing. Right now, I am just starting my career and cannot pinpoint the most important aspect my education with regards to my profession. Though, I would venture to guess that it may be the aforementioned two."

Name a hard class you had and that it "taught you that if you work hard enough at anything you can accomplish your goals."