Interview Questions and Answers: What They're Really Asking

Every one of these interview questions has a hidden question underneath it. Answer the words and you'll sound like everyone else. Answer the hidden question and you'll sound like the person they want to hire.

Watch the 8-minute video above, or read the answers below. For each of the ten questions you'll find what the interviewer is really asking, the answer that falls flat, and a fill-in-the-blank answer you can make your own. The example answers come from a made-up candidate: a project coordinator with seven years in healthcare.

In the video: 0:10 Tell me about yourself · 0:50 Why are you leaving? · 1:33 The gap on your resume · 2:25 Your biggest weakness · 3:12 A time you failed · 3:59 Disagreeing with your manager · 4:50 Five years from now · 5:31 Why should we hire you? · 6:13 What your manager would say · 6:58 Your questions for us

1. "Tell me about yourself"

What they're really asking: give me sixty seconds on why you fit this job.

They're not asking for your life story. "Well, I grew up in Ohio, I have two kids, and I love hiking…" is a lovely start to a conversation, and the wrong start to an interview.

Try this:

I'm a [your current role] with [years] in [your field]. Most recently, I [one result you're proud of]. Now I'm looking for [what this role offers], which is why this job caught my eye.

Example:

I'm a project coordinator with seven years in healthcare. Most recently, I rebuilt our clinic's scheduling process. Now I want to run bigger projects, which is why this job caught my eye.

2. "Why are you leaving your current job?"

What they're really asking: are you running away from something, or toward something? And will you bring that drama here?

"Honestly? My manager's a nightmare and the pay is terrible" may be true. It also tells them you'll talk about them that way one day.

Try this:

I've learned a lot at [your current company], especially [the skill]. I'm ready for [the next step you want], and this role offers exactly that.

Example:

I've learned a lot where I am, especially managing vendors. I'm ready for the next step, leading projects of my own, and this role offers exactly that.

3. "Talk me through this gap on your resume"

What they're really asking: is there anything I should worry about, and are you ready now?

They aren't hunting for a scandal. "It's kind of a long story… I was just, you know, figuring things out" makes them wonder what you're not saying. A short, calm answer closes the topic.

Try this:

I took [the length of time] to [care for family, recover, retrain, or look for the right role after a layoff]. During that time I [kept my skills current: a course, a project, volunteering]. I'm fully ready to get back to [your work], and this role is the right fit because [your reason].

Example:

I took a year out to care for my dad. During that year, I finished a project management course. I came back ready to lead, and this role is the right fit for that.

4. "What would you say is your biggest weakness?"

What they're really asking: are you self-aware, and do you fix your problems?

"I'm a perfectionist. I just care too much." They've heard it many times before, and it answers neither part of the real question.

Try this:

Earlier in my career, I [a real weakness, like: found it hard to delegate]. It meant [the impact]. So I started [the specific thing you did], and now [the result]. I still keep an eye on it, but it's much better.

Example:

Earlier in my career, I found it hard to delegate. I became the bottleneck. I started weekly handoffs with my team, and now projects move faster. I still keep an eye on it.

5. "Tell me about a time you failed"

What they're really asking: can you own a mistake and learn from it?

"Honestly? I can't really think of one." Everyone has failed. Saying you haven't sounds like you either can't see your mistakes or won't admit them.

Try this:

At [your company], I [what went wrong]. That was on me, because [your part in it]. I fixed it by [what you did], and since then I always [the lesson you now practice].

Example:

At my last job, I missed a vendor deadline. That was on me. I didn't flag the risk early. I fixed it by renegotiating the dates, and now I always flag risks in week one.

This is a "tell me about a time" question, so the STAR structure works well here.

6. "Tell me about a time you disagreed with your manager"

What they're really asking: can you push back respectfully, and then commit?

"Oh, I never disagree with my manager. I'm a team player." They're not looking for a yes-person. They want to see how you disagree.

Try this:

My manager wanted to [their plan]. I thought [your idea] would work better, because [your reason]. I asked for ten minutes, showed [your evidence], and we agreed to [the outcome]. And when a decision goes the other way, I commit to it fully.

Example:

My manager wanted to launch at all our clinics at once. I suggested a two-clinic pilot first. I asked for ten minutes, showed her the error rates from testing, and we agreed to pilot first. And when a call goes the other way, I commit to it fully.

7. "Where do you see yourself in five years?"

What they're really asking: will you stay, and does this job fit where you're heading?

"Ha… honestly? Probably sitting in your chair." It gets a laugh in films. In a real interview it answers neither question.

Try this:

In five years, I'd like to be [doing more of something, or leading something], with real depth in [a skill]. This role is the right next step, because [how it builds that].

Example:

In five years, I'd like to be leading bigger projects, with real depth in change management. This role is the right next step, because I'd be running projects end to end.

8. "Why should we hire you?"

What they're really asking: connect your proof to our problem.

"Because I'm hard-working, passionate, and a great team player." Everyone says those words, so they don't separate you from anyone.

Try this:

You need someone who can [their top need from the job ad]. I've [proof one], [proof two], and [proof three]. I'd bring that from day one.

Example:

You need someone who can keep complex projects on schedule. I've rebuilt a clinic's scheduling process, run a two-clinic pilot, and managed six vendors at once. I'd bring that from day one.

9. "What would your current manager say about you?"

What they're really asking: can you back it up, and will your references say the same?

This one sounds easy and isn't. "They'd say I'm hard-working and a great team player" is what everyone says.

Try this:

My manager would say I'm the person who [a specific strength they've actually praised], like when I [a quick example]. She'd probably also say I'm working on [one growth area], and I am.

Example:

My manager would say I'm the one who spots problems early. Like when I flagged a vendor delay before it hit our launch. She'd probably also say I'm working on saying no more often, and I am.

10. "Do you have any questions for us?"

What they're really asking: are you genuinely interested, and have you thought about the job?

"No, I think you've covered everything" throws away your last chance to stand out.

Try this:

What would someone in this role need to achieve in the first ninety days for you to say it was a great hire?

It shows you're already thinking about doing the job well, and the answer tells you exactly what they'll judge you on.

The pattern behind all ten

Read the ten hidden questions together and they come down to the same few things: do you fit, can you prove it, do you own your mistakes, and will you stay and do the work. Every strong answer above has a specific example in it, and those examples usually start from something real on your resume: a process you rebuilt, a pilot you ran, a deadline you missed and fixed.

FAQ

How should I answer "Tell me about yourself"?

Give about sixty seconds on why you fit the job: your current role and years in your field, one result you're proud of, and what you're looking for next that this role offers.

How do I explain a gap in my resume?

Say briefly why you took the time, what you did to keep your skills current, and that you're ready now. The interviewer wants to know two things: is there anything to worry about, and are you ready?

What should I say for my greatest weakness?

Name a real weakness from earlier in your career, what it affected, the specific thing you did about it, and the result. Skip answers like "I'm a perfectionist".

How do I answer "Why should we hire you"?

Connect your proof to their problem: name their top need from the job ad, give three pieces of proof that you've done it, and say you'd bring that from day one.

What question should I ask at the end of an interview?

Try: "What would someone in this role need to achieve in the first ninety days for you to say it was a great hire?"

Getting interviews but not offers?

Most of these answers depend on having a clear result to point to. The Free Career Audit isn't interview coaching, but it works on where those results live. In your Free Career Audit, Max asks what you want next, finds the one vague line on your resume, asks you one sharp question about it, and rewrites that line with you. That line becomes the proof behind your answers.

Take your Free Career Audit

The example candidate and all example answers in this article are made up for illustration.