Did you know that hiring managers can glean a ton of information about you by asking just a few, well-chosen questions. These questions may seem simple questions, but these are questions that get you to reveal information you may have been trying to conceal.

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

These questions help hiring managers to break through the traditional interview noise and clutter, and get to the raw you.

So in other words: these are the questions that tricks you!

1.Tell me about yourself

"The employer wants to hear that the candidate did their homework," says Tina Nicolai, executive career coach and founder of Resume Writers' Ink. "The interviewer is also listening for a level of confidence in how well the candidate portrays herself through the information that is communicated. Additionally, the interviewer is listening for strong behavioral competencies which help determine a right fit with the job. If this opening answer is weak, it can send the remainder of the interview into a tailspin or cut the interview short."

This kind of a question can tempt you to talk about your personal life, which you shouldn't! Most candidates may not see it as a tricky question and may start answering from a personal perspective: “I have 2 daughters and 3 sons”, etc. Most candidates fall for this especially when prompted by the interviewer to elaborate.

What the hiring manager expects is a focused, laser-sharp answer conveying your value to the organisation and department. You need to speak about your achievements broken down into two or three concise bullet answers that will set the tone of the interview. Remember, what we tell people about us is what they hear. So, stay sharp and convey your top strengths when answering this question.

2.Describe yourself in a single word

The question is likely being asked to provoke several points such as your personality type, how confident you are in your self-perception, and whether your work style is a good fit for the job.

This can be a very challenging question, because you do not really know what personality type the manager is seeking. There is a fine line between sounding self-congratulatory vs confident, and humble vs timid. People are multifaceted, so putting a short label on oneself can seem nearly impossible.

You must proceed cautiously. Most employers today are seeking team players that are levelheaded under pressure, upbeat, honest, reliable, and dedicated so you know if you are reliable and dedicated. Do not rattle off adjectives, this is the opportunity for you to describe how your best attributes are a great match for the job as you see it.

3.Any particular reason why you want to work here?

This is how they find out what drives you the most, how well you have researched them, and how much you want the job.

There might be plenty of reasons why you want to work for the firm but how you prioritise your reasons reveals a lot about what is important to you. Your reasons may be “I am not being paid well” or “I have a bad boss” none of which endears you to the employer.

This is how they test your level of interest for the job. Hiring managers want to see that you have taken time to research the company and understand the industry. They need to find out if you have a can-do attitude; if you are high energy; if you can make a significant contribution; if you understand their mission and goals; and if you want to be part of that mission.

4.Why are you leaving your current job?

Here is where your prospective boss is looking for patterns or anything negative, especially if your positions are many and short-term. The employer may try to determine whether you have had issues working with others leading to termination, if you get bored quickly in a job, or other red flags.

You need to be smart and answer these diplomatically, or else your answer could raise further questions and doubts or sink your chances entirely.

What they really hope is if you are seeking a more challenging position that is a better fit for your skill set. It is okay if you speak about the about the growth opportunity at their company.

Why do they ask this? The interviewer is looking for red flags and deal-breakers, such as an inability to work well with coworkers or an inability to meet deadlines.

5.Name three of your strengths and weaknesses

Remember, each job has its unique requirements, so your answers should showcase applicable strengths, and your weaknesses should have a silver lining. At the very least, you should indicate that negative attributes have shrunk because of positive actions you have taken.

You can sabotage yourself by addressing either. Your strengths may not align with the skill set or work style required for the job. It is best to prepare for this question in advance, or risk landing in a minefield.

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.

Yes the above questions may have seemed really simple and you might have been answering them all wrong. So prepare yourself smartly for the interview.