• Interview questions are often designed to test candidates.
• Some of these questions are obviously difficult, while others are more subtle traps.
• Business Insider spoke to two career experts who listed some especially tricky questions to watch out for and how to answer them.
Savvy hiring managers know exactly what to ask candidates.
Sometimes, that means asking prospective employees seemingly simple questions.
These questions may seem innocuous at first, but they're actually trying to get you to reveal information you may have been trying to conceal.
Hiring managers often love these queries. Used correctly, they break through the traditional interview noise and clutter to get to the raw you.
So it's important to learn how to answer questions designed to trick you.
Here are a few particularly thorny questions — and some suggestions on how to answer them:
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'Can you tell me about yourself?'
"The employer wants to hear that the candidate did their homework," Tina Nicolai, executive career coach and founder of Resume Writers' Ink, told Business Insider. "The interviewer is also listening for a level of confidence in how well the candidate portrays herself through the information that is communicated."
So, how can such a straightforward question be a trap? Nicolai said that it's important not to use this question as an opportunity to chat about your personal life. You need to focus on your potential value to the organization.
"The employer wants to hear about your achievements broken down into two or three succinct bullet answers that will set the tone of the interview," Nicolai said.
Remember, what we tell people about us is what they hear. So stay sharp and convey your top strengths when answering this question.
'How would you describe yourself in one word?'
With this question, interviewers are likely hoping to elicit several data points.
They want to know about your personality type, how confident you are in your self perception, and whether your work style is a good fit for the job, explained Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job
This question can be a challenge, particularly 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 told Business Insider. "And people are multifaceted, so putting a short label on oneself can seem nearly impossible."
When in doubt, opt for the conservative route. For example, if your coworkers find you both hilarious and reliable, Taylor said to stay on the safe side and emphasize the latter trait.
But most of all, try to tailor your response to the role or organization in question.
"Most employers today are seeking team players that are levelheaded under pressure, upbeat, honest, reliable, and dedicated," she added. "However, it would be a mistake to rattle off adjectives that you think will be well received. This is your opportunity to describe how your best attributes are a great match for the job as you see it."
'How does this position compare to others you are applying for?'
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 said. The interviewer wants to see how you speak about other companies or positions that hold your interest — and how honest you are.
If you say, "This is the only job I'm applying for," that'll send up a red flag. Very few job applicants apply to only one job — so they may assume you're being dishonest.
If you openly speak about other positions you're pursuing, however, and you speak favorably about them, the hiring manager may see you as unattainable and pass.
"Speaking negatively about other jobs or employers isn't good either," she said.
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," Nicolai said. "No reason to pit companies or to brag."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider