Q:   What should I ask when the interviewer asks me if I have any questions?
 
A: A really good question to ask near the end of the interview that helps you take a temperature reading of the interviewer's interest in you is: Based on this interview, how closely would you say I match the qualifications you are looking for in the ultimate candidate for this position?
It is also good to ask whether the interviewer has any concerns about you that would prevent him/her to consider you seriously for the position. Both of these questions elicit a response that gets the interviewer to admit how strong a contender you are. If there are issues, it also gives them time to surface so that you can address them -- especially if they are "misconceptions."
Aside from these, consider what you really want to know about the job or the context of the job that would help you decide whether this is the position for you!

Q:   What if the company you are applying with asks you your salary history? Also, if they do ask what kind of salary you are looking for, how should you answer without giving them numbers?
A: You can say that you have been steadily earning increases commensurate with your responsibilities. When asked about your salary goals, ask first what is the salary range for this position? Talk in terms of ranges only and say that you are expecting a salary commensurate with the responsibilities of the job and competitive with salaries in your field.
Do your homework prior to the interview to gauge the salary range for a job like this in your industry. A good place to start this research is at the Web site http://www.jobsmart.org. There's some helpful salary report information here. I would also highly recommend your reading the book by salary guru, Jack Chapman - Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a minute.

Q:   The last job interview I went to was awful. Both the company representatives were completely "closed" in their body language (arms AND legs crossed all the time) and there was no way I could make them open up. What could I have done?
A: Good question! Sometimes you can set the stage by commenting on objects in the room (if this is the interviewer's office). If you could personalize the exchange, you could have a shot. On the other hand, these interviewers could have been testing you to see how you would react to their closed body language. Hopefully, you stayed cool and calm and didn't let this throw you. On the other hand, maybe this is an indication of the culture. Maybe you don't want to work in such an environment. Aside from the body language, look for indications about how your answers landed with the interviewers. There might have been other indications to look for. Another way to open the dialogue up is by tacking on questions at the end of the answers you give to their questions. ex: How does what I just said relate to the goals you have for this position?

Q:   How should I prepare for a scholarship interview?
A: A good way to prepare for any interview is to anticipate what questions you will be asked and prepare the best possible answers to those questions! This is a lot like preparing for an exam in a class you are taking. You excel in classes by anticipating the questions that will be on the exam, studying those questions, refining your answers and taking the exam. Haven't you found that the very same questions you came up with appeared on the exam? So ask yourself, "What is the purpose of this interview? What do they want to determine?" They want to pick the most outstanding people to bestow scholarships on! So start by answering these questions:
What do you have going for you that would make you the right candidate for this scholarship?

What contribution do you intend to make to the world as a result of receiving an education?

What qualities do you possess that would give us confidence that you would follow through on your commitments?

What is your track record?
What successes have you accomplished to date?
Speak to other recipients of this scholarship in past years and ask if you can what questions were asked.
Now it's your turn. What questions do you anticipate you'll be asked? How will you answer them as well as the ones posed above?
 

Q:   I have never quite known how to answer the following question: "What are your faults?" What is an appropriate response?
A: This is a very common question. If you say you have no faults, you come off looking arrogant. If you use humor here, you may appear too flippant. This is a difficult question and the interviewer wants to see how you handle it.
Use a fault that can otherwise be seen as a strength. Never fall into the trap of seeing the interviewer as mother/father confessor and offering up something that is important to the job! A good example could be:
"I have difficulty working with people who don't pull their weight. I have high standards for my work and I expect others to have high standards too. I'm learning to speak up and request that others contribute more completely long before I start getting angry about a situation that is unequal."
Also supply a solution or a way in which you are dealing with your fault.

Q:   What is the appropriate time to wait for the call if you got the job or not? Do you call them and ask them?
A: It is good practice when interviewing to ask near the end of the interview: "What is your timetable for making your hiring decision? If I haven't heard from you in that time period, is it all right for me to call you?" That way you leave the meeting with a clear idea of time and have gotten their ok to call. Interviewing may take longer than previously intended. So no news may not be bad news. After all, hiring is always done in ADDITION to all other job duties. I would give them a week or two and follow up asking to "touch base to see where you are in your hiring decision making process and to see if there is anything additional you'd like from me." I would reiterate your enthusiasm for the job.

Q:   I am hearing "where would you like to be X years from now" and have tried to handle it with humor (which is the truth, i.e. "ideally living in a tropical climate on lottery winnings..." but I would be interested to know how a professional would broach this question.
A: Your instincts are right! Always think of the question behind the question. What do they really want to know? "Five years from now I see myself continuing to work hard and doing the best possible job I can." This answer tells the interviewer that you are a hard worker and that you have high standards. You might also offer a caveat that you intend to continue learning, growing and adding value in your field.