Savvy hiring managers can glean a ton of information about you by asking just a few, well-chosen questions.

But while they may seem simple — that's the signal — some are actually designed to get y'all to reveal information you may have been trying to conceal. In other words: they're trick questions.

"To uncover areas that may reflect inconsistencies, hiring managers sometimes inquire these tricky questions," says Tina Nicolai, executive career jitney and founder of Resume Writers' Ink.

But they're not only well-nigh exposing your flaws, says Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the writer of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Beliefs and Thrive in Your Job." These types of questions tin can aid hiring managers break through the "traditional interview dissonance and ataxia," and become to the "raw y'all."

Hither are 17 common examples, complete with advice on how to ace each i.

How would yous describe yourself in i word?

Why exercise they ask this? The question is likely existence asked to elicit several data points: your personality type, how confident you lot are in your self perception, and whether your work way is a good fit for the task, Taylor explains.

What makes it tricky? This question tin can be a challenge, peculiarly early on in the interview, because you don't really know what personality type the manager is seeking. "There is a fine line between sounding self-congratulatory versus confident, and humble versus timid," Taylor says. "And people are multifaceted, so putting a short label on oneself can seem nearly impossible."

What response are they looking for? Continue cautiously, warns Taylor. "If you know you're reliable and dedicated, but love the fact that your friends praise your clever humor, stick with the bourgeois road." If you're applying for an accounting task, the 1 word descriptor should not be "creative," and if information technology's an fine art director position, you don't want information technology to be, "punctual," for example. "Most employers today are seeking team players that are levelheaded nether pressure level, upbeat, honest, reliable, and dedicated. However, it would be a mistake to rattle off adjectives that you recall will be well received. This is your opportunity to describe how your best attributes are a great match for the job equally you see it."

How does this position compare to others you are applying for?

Why practise they ask this? They're basically asking: "Are yous applying for other jobs?" "The hiring manager is showtime trying to effigy out how active you are in your chore search," Nicolai says. Then, one time you open up, they want to see how to speak about other companies or positions you're interested in — and how honest you are.

What makes it tricky? If you say, "This is the only job I'g applying for," that'll ship up a red flag. Very few chore applicants only apply to the 1 single job — so they may presume y'all're being dishonest. However, if you openly speak about other positions yous're pursuing, and y'all speak favorably almost them, the hiring manager may worry that you'll end upwardly taking another job elsewhere, and they won't want to waste their time. "Speaking negatively about other jobs or employers isn't good either," she says.

What response are they looking for? It is advisable to say, "There are several organizations with whom I am interviewing, nevertheless, I've not yet decided the best fit for my adjacent career move." "This is positive and protects the competitors," says Nicolai. "No reason to pit companies or to brag."

Tin can you proper name 3 of your strengths and weaknesses?

Why practise they ask this? The interviewer is looking for red flags and bargain breakers, such as inability to work well with coworkers and/or an inability to run into deadlines. "Each task has its unique requirements, so your answers should showcase applicable strengths, and your weaknesses should have a silverish lining," Taylor says. "At the very least, y'all should indicate that negative attributes have diminished because of positive actions y'all've taken."

What makes information technology tricky? Y'all tin can sabotage yourself addressing either. Exposing your weaknesses tin can hurt you if not ultimately turned into positives, she says. "Your strengths may not marshal with the skill set or work style required for the task. Information technology'southward best to gear up for this question in advance, or take chances landing in a minefield."

What response are they looking for? Hiring managers want to know that your strengths will be a direct asset to the new position and none of your weaknesses would hurt your power to perform. "They are likewise looking for your ability to self assess with maturity and confidence," says Taylor.

Why do yous desire to work hither?

Why do they ask this? Interviewers ask this because they want to know what drives you the well-nigh, how well you've researched them, and how much you want the job.

What makes information technology tricky? "Clearly y'all want to piece of work for the business firm for several reasons," Taylor says. "Just simply how you prioritize them reveals a lot about what is of import to you." You lot may be thinking to yourself, "I'grand non getting paid what I'yard worth," or, "I accept a terrible dominate," or, "All things beingness equal, this commute is incredibly curt" — none of which endears you lot to the hiring manager. "You're as well beingness tested on your level of interest for the chore," she says.

What response are they looking for? Hiring managers want to see that you've taken the time to research the company and understand the industry.

They also want to know that you lot actually want this job (and not but whatsoever job); that you lot have a can-practise attitude; that you are loftier free energy; that y'all can make a significant contribution; that you empathise their mission and goals; and that you want to exist part of that mission.

Why do you want to exit your current job?

Why exercise they enquire this? "Your prospective boss is looking for patterns or anything negative, peculiarly if your positions are many and short-term," Taylor explains. They may try to determine if you lot currently accept or had issues working with others leading to termination, if you get bored quickly in a job, or other ruby flags.

What makes it tricky? No one likes talking near a chore they dislike and why. If not answered diplomatically, your answer could raise further questions and doubts, or sink your chances entirely.

What response are they looking for? They are hoping that you're seeking a more than challenging position that is a meliorate fit for your current skill set up. "Know that hiring managers don't mind hearing that yous're particularly excited about the growth opportunity at their visitor."

What are you most proud of in your career?

Why do they ask this? Interviewers inquire this because they want to empathize what you're passionate about, what you experience you excel at, and whether yous take pride in your work. "How you describe your favorite project, for case, is well-nigh as important as the project itself," Taylor says. "It's assumed that if you can speak with conviction and pride about your past work, you tin do the aforementioned during important presentations at the new employer."

What makes it tricky? Managers may presume that this blazon of work is what you really want to practice most or focus on in the future. It can make y'all audio ane-dimensional if you don't put it in the context of a larger range of skills and interests.

What response are they looking for? Hiring managers want to run into your ability to articulate well, foster enthusiasm in others, and your positive energy. "Only one note of caution: In all your zeal to share your successes, remain concise," Taylor suggests. "Yous want to showcase your ability to present well in one case on the job."

What kind of boss and coworkers take you had the most and to the lowest degree success with, and why?

Why do they inquire this? Interviewers are trying to define if you generally have conflicts with people and/or personality types. "Secondarily, they want to know how y'all tin work at your all-time," says Taylor.

What makes it tricky? Y'all run the adventure of actualization hard by albeit to unsuccessful interactions with others, unless you lot keep emotions out of information technology. Y'all may likewise inadvertently depict some of the attributes of your prospective boss. If you say, "I had a boss who held so many meetings that it was hard to get my piece of work done," and your interviewer turns beet red — you might have striking a nerve.

What response are they looking for? "They want to hear more practiced than bad news," Taylor explains. "It'southward always all-time to start out with the positive and downplay the negatives." Y'all don't desire to exist evasive, but this is not the time to outline all your personality shortcomings either. Here y'all have an opportunity to speak generally nigh traits that you admire in others, nonetheless appear flexible enough to piece of work with a variety of personality types. For example: "I call back I work well with a wide gamut of personalities. Some of my nigh successful relationships have been where both people communicated very well and set up common expectations upfront."

Take you lot ever considered beingness an entrepreneur?

Why do they inquire this? The interviewer is testing to encounter if you still take the hidden desire to run your own visitor, thus abandoning ship, Taylor says. "No firm wants to sense this, every bit they will begin to ponder whether their valuable grooming time and money could vanish."

What makes it tricky? Most anybody has considered being an entrepreneur at some point in their lives, but to varying degrees. This question is catchy because you can unwittingly be lured into talking almost your one-time desire to be your own boss with besides much perceived enthusiasm. An employer may fear that you notwithstanding promise to eventually get out on your own, and they'll consider you a flight risk.

What response are they looking for? It's okay to tell a prospective director that you in one case considered entrepreneurship or take worked as an contained contractor. It tin can easily exist turned into a positive by stating that you've already experienced it or thought about it, and it's not for you. That might be more than convincing than proverb, "No, I've never considered that."

This is an opportunity to discuss why working in a corporate surround as function of a team is most fulfilling to you. You may also savour the specialized piece of work in your field more than than the operational, financial, or authoritative aspects of entrepreneurship. You can further allay their fears by explaining exactly why their company appeals to y'all.

If y'all could work for any company, where would yous work?

Why practise they enquire this? Hiring managers want to ascertain how serious you lot are about working for them in particular, versus the competition, every bit well as your level of loyalty, Taylor says. "Information technology also helps them weed out candidates who may veer from the core career. You may have heard that Google is a great place to piece of work, only that off-route strategy would spell doom, as you're being given the opportunity to theoretically piece of work at your 'dream job.' The interviewer isn't making conversation here, so stay focused on the job at paw."

What makes it tricky? You might go defenseless up in the casual period of the give-and-take and inadvertently leak out some well-respected firms, but this is counterproductive and simply instills some incertitude most your objectives.

What are they seeking? "Your interviewer wants to know that yous're interviewing at your first company of selection." A response to this might be, "Actually, I've been heavily researching target firms, and [your company] seems like the ideal fit for my credentials. It's exciting to me that [your visitor] is doing XYZ in the industry, for example, and I'd similar to contribute my role."

What would you do if yous won $five one thousand thousand tomorrow?

Why practice they ask this? They want to know whether y'all'd still work if you lot didn't need the money. Your response to this question tells the employer about your motivation and work ethic. They may too want to know what you'd spend the money on, or whether you lot'd invest information technology. This tells them how responsible you are with your coin, and how mature yous are as a person.

What makes it tricky? Questions that are out of left field tin can ambush you, causing y'all to lose composure. "They have nada to exercise with the job at paw, and you may wonder if there is any significance to them," Taylor says. "Whether there is or not, the fact remains that you tin can easily lose your absurd if you don't pause and get together your thoughts before you respond to a question similar this."

What response are they looking for?They want to hear that you'd continue working because y'all're passionate about what you practice — and they want to know yous'd make smart financial decisions. If you'd practise something irresponsible with your ain money, they'll worry you'll exist careless with theirs.

Have you ever been asked to compromise your integrity by your supervisor or colleague? Tell us about it.

Why do they ask this? Your prospective boss is evaluating your moral compass. They want to know how y'all handled a frail situation that put your integrity to the test, Taylor explains. "They may also dig too deeply to test your level of discretion." Essentially they want to know: Did you use affairs? Did y'all publicly accident the whistle? Did a backfire ensue? What was your thought process?

What makes it tricky? Interviewers want to know how you manage sensitive matters, and are also wary of those who badmouth former employers, no matter how serious the misdeed. "They volition be concerned if yous share too much proprietary information with the interviewer," she says. "So it is catchy because y'all must carefully choose your words, using the utmost diplomacy."

What response are they looking for? It's wise to exist articulate, concise, and professional in your answer, without revealing any internal practices of prior employers. "You have nothing to gain by divulging private corporation information."

Something like this might work: "There was one fourth dimension where a fellow worker asked me to get involved in a project that seemed unethical, but the problem resolved itself. I try to be equally honest as possible early on if a project creates concern for me nearly the company, every bit I'chiliad very dedicated to its success."

Tin can you requite us a reason someone may not like working with you?

Why do they enquire this? Prospective bosses want to know if at that place are any glaring personality issues, and what improve way that to go straight to the source? "They figure that the worst that can happen is you will lie, and they may experience they're notwithstanding adept at detecting mistruths," Taylor explains. "The negative tone of the question is bound to test the mettle of even the most seasoned business professionals."

What makes it tricky? Yous can easily shoot yourself in the foot with this question. If you're flip and say, "I can't recall of a reason anyone wouldn't similar working with me," you're subtly insulting the interviewer by trivializing the question. So you have to frame the question in a mode that gets at the intent without existence self-effacing. "Hiring managers are not seeking job candidates who take self-compassion," she says.

What response are they looking for? Y'all don't want to say, "Well I'm non always the easiest person to exist around, particularly when nether deadlines. I sometimes lose my temper besides hands." Yous might equally well pack upward and look for the nearest go out. "Conversely, yous can pb with the positive and go from there: 'Generally I've been fortunate to have great relationships at all my jobs. The only times I have been disliked — and it was temporary — was when I needed to challenge my staff to perform amend. Sometimes I feel we must make unpopular decisions that are for the larger good of the visitor,'" Taylor suggests.

Why take you been out of work for so long?

Why do they ask this? "Interviewers are skeptical past design," Taylor says. "Sometimes you're guilty until proven innocent — until all the perceived skeletons in the closet accept been removed." This is a daunting question in particular because information technology tin can seem offensive. The implication is that you might not be motivated enough to secure a job; yous are existence distracted past other pursuits; your skills set may not be upwardly to appointment; at that place is an issue with your past employers, or a host of other concerns.

What makes information technology catchy? The fashion it'due south worded is naturally designed to test your resilience.  The key is not to take the bait and but answer the intent of the question in a at-home, factual manner.

What response are they looking for? The hiring manager wants be bodacious that you lot possess initiative even when unemployed, as this drive and tenacity will translate well in a corporate setting. Sample responses: "I take been interviewing steadily, just want to detect the platonic fit earlier I leap in and give my typical 110%," or, "I'1000 agile in my job search, and I keep my skills current through [courses, volunteering, social media, business networking groups]." "If y'all took off time to have intendance of a personal matter, you can certainly state that without giving a lot of detail," Taylor says.

Brand certain you lot're accountable. Don't arraign the unemployment rate, your market, industry, or annihilation else. This is near how active and excited you are to exist making a contribution to the employer.

How did you make time for this interview? Where does your boss call up you are right now?

Why do they inquire this? Hiring managers want to discover out if your priorities are in the right place: current job kickoff, interviews 2d. "They know that the habits you follow now speak to your integrity and how you will care for your task at their visitor should yous undertake a hereafter job search," says Taylor. "They also want to know how you handle awkward situations where you cannot exist true to your boss. Ideally your interview is during a break that is your time, which is important to point out."

What makes it tricky? The implication is, "How is it searching for a job behind your boss'due south back?" For most employed chore seekers, information technology's uncomfortable to lie about their whereabouts. So they're vague and treat it like any other personal matter they handle on their time.

What response are they looking for? It's wise to explain that you always put your job outset, and schedule interviews before or afterwards work, at lunchtime, during weekends if appropriate, and during personal time off. If asked pointedly, "Where does your boss think you are correct now?" exist vague. Don't say: "I took a sick day." Instead, Taylor suggests you effort something like: "My boss understands that I have certain break periods and personal time — he doesn't ask for details. He'due south virtually interested in my results."

What'due south a difficult situation that you turned effectually? Describe information technology to united states.

What exercise they ask this? This gives hiring managers a lot of information in one vicious swoop, explains Taylor. They want to know "non only know how you lot handle stressful situations, but also how you think through problems, how you define 'difficult,' and what courses of activeness you lot accept when faced with any form of adversity."

What makes information technology tricky? It's easy to interpret this as an invitation to brag nigh the success of your turnaround. Don't fall for information technology. "The emphasis is really on how you generally problem-solve under pressure," Taylor explains. "Practice you illustrate any signs of stress as you describe the event? Were yous creative, resourceful and prompt in its resolution? Did y'all follow a logical path in doing so?" Choose your examples extremely carefully, since they'll give employers a glimpse at what you consider to exist "hard."

What response are they looking for? Interviewers want to run across that you're a good trouble solver, Taylor says. "They identify a premium on those who tin can think clearly, remain professional when nether the gun — and those who can recover quickly from setbacks." To ace the question, be sure you go into the meeting with a prepared with a few examples of times you successfully overcame significant professional challenges.

You've worked for yourself for a number of years. How do yous plan on acclimating to our company culture vs. being your own boss?

Why do they enquire this?  If yous've spent time every bit your own boss, you've nearly certainly picked up skills that would brand you an asset to the organization. But Nicolai says that your entrepreneurial past can brand y'all intimidating to some hiring managers, who may question your commitment to their cause. "Many employers, particularly those who have never been their own dominate, tend to shy abroad from individuals who take worked for themselves," she observes.

What makes this catchy?  To show that you lot're non "intimidating" or "threatening," you can be tempted to h2o down your achievements — just underplaying your skills is generally not the best way to bear witness you're the best for the task.

What response are they looking for? "The employer is looking for the candidate to talk about commitment to the company and expressing a want to become part of a larger team where the candidate tin can make a contribution," Nicolai advises. If even any part of you misses being part of a larger organization, now'due south the time to stress it. "The employer wants to be needed past the candidate," she says. Accordingly, this is an opening to limited how much you lot want the gig.

How do you ascertain success?

What practise they ask this?"Interviewers ask this to see what makes yous tick, but to some caste, besides to exam your mettle," Taylor says. Your answer gives them insight into your priorities: are you motivated by large paychecks? Being challenged? Learning new skills? "Or," she asks, "do you accept a more personal, individualistic arroyo to success?"

What makes it tricky?  This one is a minefield, since "success" is highly subjective, and even a perfectly reasonable response can exist hands misinterpreted, Taylor says. "There's a fine line between sounding aggressive and actualization every bit if y'all're eyeing the pinnacle spot in the office —  because you 'really want to accelerate and make a difference.'"

What response are they looking for?When questions are broad and leave a lot of room for "a virtual inquisition," Taylor advises keeping your answers relatively unobjectionable. "Try to define success in a style that relates to the prospective employer, based on what you know from the chore description and conversation," she says. A good response? "Applying my make expertise to the strategic marketing goals you've established for XYZ visitor, edifice on your existing success."

"That's in contrast to a thinly veiled: 'Being in your amazing position, thus freeing you lot upward to do manner more than important things,'" says Taylor. Stay specific, and stay job-related.

This commodity is published in collaboration with Business Insider. Publication does non imply endorsement of views by the Earth Economic Forum.

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Author: Jacquelyn Smith joined Business concern Insider as the careers editor in February 2014. Rachel is a careers reporter for Business Insider.

Paradigm: A Japanese new graduate, who wishes to be called Shinji (R), speaks with a counsellor inside a compartment at Tokyo Metropolitan Regime Labor Consultation Eye in Tokyo in this April viii, 2010 file photograph. JAPAN-GENERATION/ REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao