If you own a small company or manage a small department you may only hire one or two people a year. If hiring is something you do infrequently, you’ll probably use the same questions that have worked for you in the past. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

If you’re looking for a new job you should take advantage of the fact that you’ll probably hear the same old interview questions over and over. For the most part you can anticipate what you’ll be asked and come prepared to answer these five questions that have been around forever:

• So where do you see yourself in five years?

This is one question that should be retired, but it’s still on many lists. Every organization tries to prepare for the future, but it’s impossible to predict what’s ahead, so with things changing so quickly, the secret is to adapt.

Here is my suggestion. “I realize the company’s needs can change quickly and my goal is to keep my skills current so I will continue to be a valuable resource to the organization.”

Your goal is to convince the employer that you are committed and willing to adapt and you’ll do whatever it takes to help them get the job done. Give them an example of a time when you took the initiative to acquire new skills and improve your performance in your current job.

• Tell me about a difficult problem you solved.

It’s best if you can think about a problem you solved at work, but don’t be afraid to use examples from your personal life if they demonstrate how you get things done.

Whether it’s at work or at home, describe a problem that required collaboration with other people to find the best solution. Employers are looking for people who are resourceful and will use every resource available to solve problems. If you struggle with this question it suggests you don’t really practice what you preach. Come prepared with real-life examples of how you approach and solve problems.

• If you could change one thing about your current job, what would it be?

Watch out. They’re trying to find out if you’re a whiner. They want to know how you deal with life’s day-to-day problems and whether you done anything to make things better? Did you offer a positive suggestion to your boss or did you simply complain to your co-workers? Attitude is important and this question gives you the opportunity to convince your potential employer that you have earned the reputation of making things better.

• Describe one of your failures.

“The man who makes no mistakes is a man who never does anything,” Theodore Roosevelt said. It’s really important to demonstrate what you learn from your failures and how has this helped you perform better going forward.

Early in my career I conducted a training session and I couldn’t find the documents I needed on my computer. They were lost in cyberspace! The bad news is I didn’t have a backup source for my material. Today, I back up my training material on a thumb drive, I send myself the material in an email and I send a third copy to the cloud. I learned from my mistake and I implemented a solution and reduced my anxiety in the process. What example will you use in your next interview?

• Describe why you’re a good fit for this job.

I don’t know the original source of this quote, but it’s one of my favorites: “Good actor, wrong role.” When the hiring process gets down to the final three or four candidates, they can all perform the job and we’re looking for the individual who is the best fit. This is your opportunity to demonstrate that you understand what’s required to be successful in the job, and this is usually your last opportunity to convince them you’re the best fit for the job.

There are many reasons managers continue to use the same interview questions. What’s most important is that you benefit from their old habits. Prepare for what you know is coming and it could be the small advantage that helps you land the job.

Kaminski is president of Stone Associates Training. He is an HR consultant with 35 years of experience in the employment field, teaching managers the art of hiring great employees. He also is an adjunct instructor at Keuka College. You can contact him with your questions, suggestions and comments at bill@stoneassociatestraining.com.