The mass layoffs the coronavirus pandemic has caused have forced many people into the hunt for a new job. That includes older adults: More than 683,000 people age 55 and older stopped working during the four-week period covered by the March employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Landing a new job often involves an interview, a conversation that can induce anxiety at even the best of times. For older adults, who may not have had a job interview in years or may experience age discrimination in the hiring process, the stakes during a job interview might seem especially high.

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But with preparation and an understanding of why an employer may be asking certain questions, you'll have a better shot at acing your next interview. Here are some strategies for responding to five common job interview questions you can't afford to answer wrong:
1. How do you feel about being laid off from your previous job?
In the past, this question was one way interviewers would probe to figure out whether you had any problems on your previous job. That's less likely to be the case now, because it's widely recognized that millions of workers have lost their jobs through no fault of their own due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Still, even though the interviewer may be trying to be sympathetic, remember that this is a job interview, so put your best foot forward.
"Say that it is never easy when a decision is made for you, but sometimes it is the push you need to take the next step,” says Regina Rear-Connor, founder of Regina Recruits, a consulting firm that helps companies find workers. “Focus on what experience you gained at that last role and talk about what you bring to the table for the future employer."
2. Tell me about yourself.
It may be tempting to treat this question as the usual small talk you might make with someone you've just met. But the interviewer, who has to make the big decision on whom to offer the job, is likely to take everything you say very seriously. Be prepared for this common interview question.