We can’t quell the anxiety entirely, but a little preparation, you’ll find, can go a long way.

Tell me about yourself

It may seem simple, but our experts tell us that many people have a great deal of anxiety about this question. While most interviewers use it as an attempt to break the ice, interviewees often have the opposite reaction. After all, you’re sitting with a stranger who just asked you to open up. Should you use this time to tell her about your husband, or your two dogs? Or is she asking you to tell her about where you’ve worked, your skills and qualifications?

The truth is, it varies. Most interviewers don’t think much about this question, using it solely as a tool to get you talking. And while some may be trying to gain information, it’s not really about what you say, it’s how you say it. They might be looking at your communication skills, for example. This is a golden opportunity to see if you ramble, or jump back and forth between stories. Or maybe the interviewer is gauging your ability to frame key details of a story that’s understandable for those who don’t know you.

But, chances are, it’s just an icebreaker. Don’t sweat it.

If you find that it’s a question you need to prepare for, try to focus mainly on career-oriented answers: your past experiences, your qualifications and your ability to solve big problems. For example, maybe you instituted a weekly work-at-home day in your department, a move that didn’t significantly raise costs while drastically lowering employee turnover. This is a win that’s worth mentioning in this situation.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Ms. Sailing believes this is another question that should be retired. The average person now transitions between jobs every four years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And while it’s an antiquated notion, employers still tend to respond negatively to “the idea that an employee wants to spend two to three years on a project and then move on to something new,” she said.

“Who can really tell what the world will look like in five years,” said Chuck Edward, head of Global Talent Acquisition for Microsoft. “I would be looking for a candidate to demonstrate how they are lifelong learners who embrace the future, whether that be for the specific role they are applying to or for future opportunities.” He said that Microsoft was always looking for “curiosity and a willingness” to learn, but also valued “resiliency and ambiguity.”