17 interview questions that are designed to trick you

Why do they ask this? They’re basically asking: “Are you applying for other jobs?” “The hiring manager is first trying to figure out how active you are in your job search,” Nicolai says. Then, once 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’m applying for,” that’ll send up a red flag. Very few job applicants only apply to the one single job — so they may assume you’re being dishonest. However, if you openly speak about other positions you’re pursuing, and you speak favorably about them, the hiring manager may worry that you’ll end up 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 appropriate to say, “There are several organizations with whom I am interviewing, however, I’ve not yet decided the best fit for my next career move.” “This is positive and protects the competitors,” says Nicolai. “No reason to pit companies or to brag.”

Why do they ask this? The interviewer is looking for red flags and deal breakers, such as inability to work well with coworkers and/or an inability to meet deadlines. “Each job has its unique requirements, so your answers should showcase applicable strengths, and your weaknesses should have a silver lining,” Taylor says. “At the very least, you should indicate that negative attributes have diminished because of positive actions you’ve taken.”

What makes it tricky? You can sabotage yourself addressing either. Exposing your weaknesses can hurt you if not ultimately turned into positives, she says. “Your strengths may not align with the skill set or work style required for the job. It’s best to prepare for this question in advance, or risk 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 ability to perform. “They are also looking for your ability to self assess with maturity and confidence,” says Taylor.

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

What makes it tricky? “Clearly you want to work for the firm for several reasons,” Taylor says. “But just how you prioritize them reveals a lot about what is important to you.” You may be thinking to yourself, “I’m not getting paid what I’m worth,” or, “I have a terrible boss,” or, “All things being equal, this commute is incredibly short” — none of which endears you to the hiring manager. “You’re also being tested on your level of interest for the job,” 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 actually want this job (and not just any job); that you have a can-do attitude; that you are high energy; that you can make a significant contribution; that you understand their mission and goals; and that you want to be part of that mission.

Why do they ask this? “Your prospective boss is looking for patterns or anything negative, especially if your positions are many and short-term,” Taylor explains. They may try to determine if you currently have or had issues working with others leading to termination, if you get bored quickly in a job, or other red flags.

What makes it tricky? No one likes talking about a job 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 challenging position that is a better fit for your current skill set. “Know that hiring managers don’t mind hearing that you’re particularly excited about the growth opportunity at their company.”

Why do they ask this? Interviewers ask this because they want to understand what you’re passionate about, what you feel you excel at, and whether you take pride in your work. “How you describe your favorite project, for example, is almost 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 can do the same during important presentations at the new employer.”

What makes it tricky? Managers may assume that this type of work is what you really want to do most or focus on in the future. It can make you sound one-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 see your ability to articulate well, foster enthusiasm in others, and your positive energy. “But one note of caution: In all your zeal to share your successes, remain concise,” Taylor suggests. “You want to showcase your ability to present well once on the job.”

Why do they ask this? Interviewers are trying to ascertain if you generally have conflicts with people and/or personality types. “Secondarily, they want to know how you can work at your best,” says Taylor. 

What makes it tricky? You run the risk of appearing difficult by admitting to unsuccessful interactions with others, unless you keep emotions out of it. You may also inadvertently describe 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 work done,” and your interviewer turns beet red — you might have hit a nerve. 

What response are they looking for? “They want to hear more good than bad news,” Taylor explains. “It’s always best to start out with the positive and downplay the negatives.” You don’t want to be evasive, but this is not the time to outline all your personality shortcomings either. Here you have an opportunity to speak generally about traits that you admire in others, yet appear flexible enough to work with a variety of personality types. For example: “I think I work well with a wide gamut of personalities. Some of my most successful relationships have been where both people communicated very well and set mutual expectations upfront.”

Why do they ask this? The interviewer is testing to see if you still have the hidden desire to run your own company, thus abandoning ship, Taylor says. “No firm wants to sense this, as they will begin to ponder whether their valuable training time and money could vanish.”

What makes it tricky? Most everyone has considered being an entrepreneur at some point in their lives, but to varying degrees. This question is tricky because you can unwittingly be lured into talking about your one-time desire to be your own boss with too much perceived enthusiasm. An employer may fear that you still hope to eventually go 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 manager that you once considered entrepreneurship or have worked as an independent contractor. It can easily be 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 convincing than saying, “No, I’ve never considered that.”

This is an opportunity to discuss why working in a corporate environment as part of a team is most fulfilling to you. You may also enjoy the specialized work in your field more than the operational, financial, or administrative aspects of entrepreneurship. You can further allay their fears by explaining exactly why their company appeals to you.

Why do they ask this? Hiring managers want to ascertain how serious you are about working for them in particular, versus the competition, as well as your level of loyalty, Taylor says. “It also helps them weed out candidates who may veer from the core career. You may have heard that Google is a great place to work, but that off-road strategy would spell doom, as you’re being given the opportunity to theoretically work at your ‘dream job.’ The interviewer isn’t making conversation here, so stay focused on the job at hand.”

What makes it tricky? You might get caught up in the casual flow of the discussion and inadvertently leak out some well-respected firms, but this is counterproductive and only instills some doubt about your objectives.

What are they seeking? “Your interviewer wants to know that you’re interviewing at your first company of choice.” 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 company] is doing XYZ in the industry, for example, and I’d like to contribute my part.”

Why do they ask this? They want to know whether you’d still work if you didn’t need the money. Your response to this question tells the employer about your motivation and work ethic. They may also want to know what you’d spend the money on, or whether you’d invest it. This tells them how responsible you are with your money, and how mature you are as a person. 

What makes it tricky? Questions that are out of left field can ambush you, causing you to lose composure. “They have nothing to do with the job at hand, and you may wonder if there is any significance to them,” Taylor says. “Whether there is or not, the fact remains that you can easily lose your cool if you don’t pause and gather your thoughts before you respond to a question like this.”

What response are they looking for? They want to hear that you’d continue working because you’re passionate about what you do — and they want to know you’d make smart financial decisions. If you’d do something irresponsible with your own money, they’ll worry you’ll be careless with theirs.

Why do they ask this? Your prospective boss is evaluating your moral compass. They want to know how you handled a delicate 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 diplomacy? Did you publicly blow the whistle? Did a backlash 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 will be concerned if you share too much proprietary information with the interviewer,” she says. “So it is tricky because you must carefully choose your words, using the utmost diplomacy.”

What response are they looking for? It’s wise to be clear, 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 time where a fellow worker asked me to get involved in a project that seemed unethical, but the problem resolved itself. I try to be as honest as possible early on if a project creates concern for me about the company, as I’m very dedicated to its success.”

Why do they ask this? Prospective bosses want to know if there are any glaring personality issues, and what better way that to go direct to the source? “They figure that the worst that can happen is you will lie, and they may feel they’re still 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? You can easily shoot yourself in the foot with this question. If you’re flip and say, “I can’t think of a reason anyone wouldn’t like working with me,” you’re subtly insulting the interviewer by trivializing the question. So you have to frame the question in a way that gets at the intent without being self-effacing. “Hiring managers are not seeking job candidates who have self-pity,” she says.

What response are they looking for? You don’t want to say, “Well I’m not always the easiest person to be around, particularly when under deadlines. I sometimes lose my temper too easily.” You might as well pack up and look for the nearest exit. “Conversely, you can lead 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 better. Sometimes I feel we must make unpopular decisions that are for the larger good of the company,'” Taylor suggests.

Why do they ask this? “Interviewers are skeptical by design,” Taylor says. “Sometimes you’re guilty until proven innocent — until all the perceived skeletons in the closet have been removed.” This is a daunting question in particular because it can seem offensive. The implication is that you might not be motivated enough to secure a job; you are being distracted by other pursuits; your skills set may not be up to date; there is an issue with your past employers, or a host of other concerns.

What makes it tricky? The way it’s worded is naturally designed to test your resilience.  The key is not to take the bait and just answer the intent of the question in a calm, factual manner.

What response are they looking for? The hiring manager wants be assured that you possess initiative even when unemployed, as this drive and tenacity will translate well in a corporate setting. Sample responses: “I have been interviewing steadily, but want to find the ideal fit before I jump in and give my typical 110%,” or, “I’m active in my job search, and I keep my skills current through [courses, volunteering, social media, business networking groups].” “If you took off time to take care of a personal matter, you can certainly state that without giving a lot of detail,” Taylor says.

Make sure you’re accountable. Don’t blame the unemployment rate, your market, industry, or anything else. This is about how active and excited you are to be making a contribution to the employer.

Why do they ask this? Hiring managers want to find out if your priorities are in the right place: current job first, interviews second. “They know that the habits you follow now speak to your integrity and how you will treat your job at their company should you undertake a future job search,” says Taylor. “They also want to know how you handle awkward situations where you cannot be truthful 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’s back?” For most employed job seekers, it’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 first, and schedule interviews before or after work, at lunchtime, during weekends if appropriate, and during personal time off. If asked pointedly, “Where does your boss think you are right now?” be vague. Don’t say: “I took a sick day.” Instead, Taylor suggests you try something like: “My boss understands that I have certain break periods and personal time — he doesn’t ask for details. He’s most interested in my results.”

Why do they ask this?  If you’ve spent time as your own boss, you’ve almost certainly picked up skills that would make you an asset to the organization. But Nicolai says that your entrepreneurial past can make you intimidating to some hiring managers, who may question your commitment to their cause. “Many employers, particularly those who have never been their own boss, tend to shy away from individuals who have worked for themselves,” she observes.

What makes this tricky?  To prove that you’re not “intimidating” or “threatening,” you can be tempted to water down your achievements — but underplaying your skills is generally not the best way to prove you’re the best for the job.

What response are they looking for? “The employer is looking for the candidate to talk about commitment to the company and expressing a desire to become part of a larger team where the candidate can make a contribution,” Nicolai advises. If even any part of you misses being part of a larger organization, now’s the time to stress it. “The employer wants to be needed by the candidate,” she says. Accordingly, this is an opening to express how much you want the gig.

What do they ask this? “Interviewers ask this to see what makes you tick, but to some degree, also to test your mettle,” Taylor says. Your answer gives them insight into your priorities: are you motivated by big paychecks? Being challenged? Learning new skills? “Or,” she asks, “do you take a more personal, individualistic approach to success?”

What makes it tricky?  This one is a minefield, since “success” is highly subjective, and even a perfectly reasonable response can be easily misinterpreted, Taylor says. “There’s a fine line between sounding ambitious and appearing as if you’re eyeing the top spot in the office —  because you ‘really want to advance 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 way that relates to the prospective employer, based on what you know from the job description and conversation,” she says. A good response? “Applying my brand expertise to the strategic marketing goals you’ve established for XYZ company, building on your existing success.”

“That’s in contrast to a thinly veiled: ‘Being in your amazing position, thus freeing you up to do way more important things,'” says Taylor. Stay specific, and stay job-related.