Why are you leaving (or did you leave) this position?
(If you have a job presently)
If you have not decided to leave your present job for the one applied for, don’t be afraid to say so. Since you’re already working, you’re in a position of strength as compared to someone who’s not. Don’t be shy, state honestly what you expect to find in the new job. Again, if you have begun the interview on a strong note and are aware of the needs and wants before you answer this, you will not have a problem with this answer.
(If you do not presently have a job)
Don’t lie about the reason you lost your job. Not only is it unethical, but it will easily be discovered. Do try to deflect the reason from you personally as far as possible. If the reason for you losing your job was due to a merger, takeover, layoff etc all the better. If you are questioned further, show professionalism by describing your firing frankly & briefly, without any personal affectation. Also if you can adopt the company’s point of view of why they needed to let you go and that you would have made the same decision yourself, much better. This will portray you in a better light and as future management material.
For all prior positions: Be prepared with a list of reasons of why you left previous employments. You could be asked about any of the positions randomly or in chorological order, better to be prepared. Ideal reasons would be; more money, better opportunity, growth or just a change of profile.
The “Silent Treatment”
To ensure that the interviewer gets maximum information from you there are various techniques used. One of the most common is the silent treatment. After you are asked a question and have completed answering, the interviewer will stay silent or pretend to do something, read your resume etc. It is important not to be intimated. If you have prepared for the interview, don’t offer more information that needed, unless so prompted. Wait for the interviewer to continue the conversation, or/and pause for an appropriate amount of time and ask him/her if there is something else you can add on the point. Whatever you do don’t start rambling on or you could easily talk yourself out of the job.