6 Dumb Things Employers Ask During Job Interviews

6 Dumb Things Employers Ask During Job Interviews6 Dumb Things Employers Ask During Job Interviews4Yure smart. Theyre smart (or at least you hope so). Yet, the interview dance the two of you are compelled to perform is a pas de deux of sometimes stupid questions that employers ask during job interviews. In a typical scenario, the interviewer runs through a pre-determined list of questions that seem designed to totally put you on the spot.Are dumbthings that employers askduring job interviews annoying? We should say so Do strange interview questions have a point? Sometimes. Is it worthwhile to be prepared with smart answers? Absolutely Even if the question throws you a little off-kilter, be ready with nimble-footed answers that may turn the tables and leave potential employers thinking what a great candidate you are for the jobCheck out these six dumb things employers ask during job interviewsWhat dont you like about your work?This falls into the same category as the question, Whats y our greatest weakness? In other words, its a fairly transparent attempt to get you to spill the beans about your possible shortcomings and insecurities, or to bring up past failures. Dont offer up reasonsnotto hire youInstead, frame your answer in the context of a somewhat minor challenge youve faced in the past, describe how you overcame it, and tell them what you learned from the experience.Are you any good at what you do?First off, keep a straight face. This is essentially a sales question, and the product on the market is you. If youve reached the interview stage, theres obviously been a decision made that you have something to offer. Be forthright in your response and and sell your brand, providing an accurate, concise, and glowing assessment of your skills that gives you a gunst der stunde to elaborate on your resume and ideally go beyond it.Where do you see yourself in five years?Ah, the time-worn classic interview question A good strategy here is to provide an honest but car efully crafted answer detailing your career passions and what excites you about your work. Avoid being highly specific by naming exact job titles to which you might aspire, and instead paint a bigger picture that focuses on your capabilities and your fantastic potential.Are you planning to have children?This question is smack in the middle of legal no-mans (or womans) land, violating federal laws designed to prevent employers from making hiring decisions based on criteria like race, sex, religion- and parental status. Most employers know better than to pose illegal interview questions. However, if this one comes up, switch things up a bit, perhaps saying that, at the moment, youre focused on your career, and more interested in your potential for growth within their organization.How do you feel about working 50-plus hours a week?Here, the interviewer is trying to ferret out your capacity for taking on a significant workload, and to figure out if youd fit into a company culture that m ay be super-intense or super-competitive. If youre really interested in healthy work-life balance, this question could be a big red flag. Would you really want to work for a boss who considers you a slacker if you worka mere 40-hour week? A good response might be to describe yourself as a diligent, focused worker who also enjoys the rewards that come with a job well done.Cake or pie?One of our subscribers told us she was asked this question during a job interview. Hmmm. In this case, it might not be a bad idea to take things literally for a split-second, and check to see if youre actually being offered a tasty dessert If not, its tough to divine a larger meaning here- or, you could read way too much into it. It could just be a sense of humor check Laugh, and consider this possible answer Its all goodReaders, have you been asked dumb questions during a job interview? What was the dumbest, and how did you respond? Tell us in the comments section below