10 Job Interview Questions That Seem Meaningless But Serve To “Decipher” Candidates

Many people get nervous just hearing the word “interview”. It is sometimes difficult to get through the selection for a promising high-paying position. Especially since employers are overly strict in hiring staff and use all sorts of tricks to “decipher” a potential employee.

we, from awesome.clubwe decided to share some tips that will help you correctly interpret an interviewer’s questions and avoid any pitfalls.

Most of the time, people don’t hesitate to answer this question by thinking about their favorite hobbies or childhood dreams, but… You don’t have to do it in an interview. The recruiter just wants to find out if the position you apply for is consistent with your career goals.

Maybe you want to be a rock star or a professional football player. However, if the job you’re interviewing for is far from that dream, the potential boss immediately realizes that you’re only there for the money. Therefore, it is unlikely that you actually think about the company.

Let’s be honest, a lot of people have done this at least once in their lives. But in an interview, the question on the topic is a trap. If you say you never “accidentally” took a pen to work, the interviewer will draw absolutely deplorable conclusions about your honesty. He might think that, yes, you’ve stolen, but he doesn’t want to admit it.

So answering in a totally negative way is not a good decision. Answer simply and frankly: “I think, like everyone else, I took a pen with me a few times accidentally, but then I returned it.”

You will probably find this question strange. First of all, it is necessary to understand that it is not being put in order to obtain a correct and definitive answer. With it, the recruiter tests your reaction to strange and unusual logical questions; this is a kind of stressful situation simulation. If you reflect objectively, you will do well on the test.

On the other hand, if this question leads you to an impasse, it stands to reason that unpredictability at work or in communicating with colleagues can also easily leave you disoriented. Of course, the potential boss can ask any other similar question, and it’s important to be psychologically prepared for that. Remember, it is better to try to give some answer than to plead ignorance.

This is a question that refers to the previous one, about dream work. The concept of success is very subjective and interviewers do it for a reason. When a candidate replies, for example, that success is winning a million dollars or running a marathon, he rarely gets the job he wants.

A potential employer is not interested in your individual success, which is completely unrelated to the company. If you want to get the job, the answer must focus on what will bring success not just to you, but to the entire institution. For example, you might say that success, in your view, is, as a general manager, putting together a cohesive team, training them the best you can, and breaking sales records each month.

“I didn’t prepare for this interview!” it’s a pretty bold and arrogant answer that could cost you the spot. In addition, it denotes a hasty and obscure reasoning linked to a lack of professionalism. This question is asked so the recruiter can understand how interested you are in a particular position.

If you really want to work at a company, don’t hesitate to get to know the organization and study their website “back to front” to talk about it in the interview. It’s also worth trying to impress the interviewer by showing your knowledge of the industry in general, commenting on recent events and asking valid questions.

It’s a trick question! Many candidates do not understand that, in this case, their answers are also very important. They end up, unintentionally, thinking that the conversation has slipped into the pleasantries and they are not careful with their language.

So, for example, if you complain about the weather and how difficult it is to get to the office, you can forget about the position. If you respond with a simple “good” or “normal”, then you can come across as a very closed person. It’s best to give a developed answer in a positive way, as if answering a common job question like any other.

If you want to work in a company, don’t expect your entrepreneurial “vein” to be appreciated. There’s no shame in wanting to run your own business, but employers can hardly encourage it. After all, they are often looking for a team member, not a man with an entrepreneur’s ambitions.

After all, money and time will be spent on your education and the potential boss doesn’t want to worry about you quitting once you learn and gain experience. Even if you accepted a position just to gain experience or to “study” the company’s business, it’s best not to share it.

One of the most important tasks of the interviewer is to understand a candidate’s motivation. In this case, the recruiter wants to know if you will continue to work without needing money. If he understands that he is not, this indicates that he is not applying for the position to dedicate himself fully “to the business of his life” and can easily “drop out”.

Also, the employer may want to know what you would spend the money on. The answer to that question will show the level of maturity with finance. So don’t talk about the Maldives or a Lamborghini, even if it’s your dream. It’s better to talk about investments or a family home.

Lately, this question has been frequently asked in interviews. With it, the potential boss tries to test a candidate. When looking for a job, almost no one sends their resume to just one company.

In that case, it’s best to frankly admit that you’ve offered your candidacy to several companies, and then briefly describe your similarities or differences, without engaging in negative comments about the others in an attempt to flatter the future boss. You can be sure it will only hurt you. It’s best to focus on the advantages of the company you’re interviewing for without making offensive comparisons to others.

A big trap for candidates who are already employed. Depending on the answer, the recruiter will understand how responsible you are to your previous position and your (almost) former employer.

If the candidate says he’s willing to start “today,” that might sound unreliable and even irresponsible. Also, it is an indication that you are in dire need of money. The potential boss can then take advantage of this and offer you a much lower salary than they would if they thought you were well employed.

Now it’s your turn: share some of the most curious and memorable questions you’ve been asked in interviews. Did you manage to give an answer that your interviewer liked?