Let’s cut the small talk and get to the point. Interviewing. If you want a job or an internship, you are going to have to do it, and yes its nerve racking and yes it will make McGwoods drop a bead of sweat. You have to know how to dabble with the big boys and mean it. The acclaimed poke check won’t get you out of kickin’ it on the unemployment bench rockin’ a J.V. jersey this time, you have to be prepared for glory. But as always, this is why I am here, to help you sportsfans snipe top shelf and show the ankle tapers out there how to crush the interview.

Superficially (sick word) many interview questions seem stupid and downright silly, but you have to go beneath the surface to really get to the gold. Employers ask certain questions for a reason, no matter how simple. They want to see how you think, if you are passionate about the position, and if you have what it takes to slide to collide and scoop that groundball in the fourth quarter.  Here’s a list of 6 of the “stupidest interview questions” that were passed on to me from a pretty chill site…

1. Can You Tell Me a Little About Yourself?

Why It’s Stupid: The question is entirely too general. There is no way you can cover every facet of your life and personality in the allotted interview time. There is also no way for you to tell what specifically the interviewer wants to know about you without asking them to narrow their focus, which is usually the reason for the follow-up questions.

What It Really Means: The interviewer is testing your ability to interact with others. By putting you on the spot, your answer gives the interviewer an idea of how you present yourself in a social setting and a glimpse of what you think the most important facts about yourself are.

2. What Are Your Greatest Weaknesses?

Why It’s Stupid: No one is going to give an honest answer to this question. Why would you openly talk about your greatest weaknesses in front of the person who is making a hiring decision? The most common answers to this question are filled with fluff and what we think the interviewer wants to hear.

What It Really Means: The interviewer is trying to see how honest you are, as well as trying to determine if you are able to overcome obstacles. If you say that your greatest weakness is ”working too hard,” that’s not an obstacle. If you give a legitimate weakness, such as not being able to multi-task, then you can provide examples of how you have overcome that weakness and are now an expert at multi-tasking.

3. Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

Why It’s Stupid: No one can tell where they are going to be that far into the future. Life happens. Things change. Which is why this question frustrates most job interviewees. But the question also seems to set a trap, making the interviewee answer in terms of where they see themselves within the company, afraid that any other answer will disprove their loyalty.

What It Really Means: No company expects you to swear a lifetime allegiance to the company during your interview. The question is a chance for you to speak to your long-term goals, give the company a better idea of your career development plan and how it could progress with the company. It also gives you a chance to speak to your strengths and highlight the areas where you believe you’ll grow the most.

4. Why Do You Want to Work for This Company?

Why It’s Stupid: Most interviewees get annoyed with this question because it seems redundant. You wouldn’t be interviewing if you weren’t interested in working for the company, right? So it shouldn’t matter why you are interested, only that you fit the job description.

What It Really Means: The interviewer isn’t trying to gauge your interest in the position, but more your motives for applying. If you’re just looking for a paycheck, that makes it easier for the interviewer to go with a more ambitious applicant who is excited about the opportunity. If you’re applying to escape your current job, what’s to say you won’t be miserable with this company? It’s a way for the interviewer to weed out those interviewing for the wrong reasons.

5. What Are Your Hobbies?

Why It’s Stupid: On the surface, it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with a job interview. What does fly fishing have to do with accounting? Or running have to do with being a designer? The question seems to cross a line between work and pleasure that the interviewee doesn’t understand.

What It Really Means: The interviewer isn’t trying to pry into your personal life. They are just trying to get a more complete picture of what kind of person you are. How you spend your free time can speak to what kind of employee you are. People who have more creative outside interests might be better suited for a design position. It also gives them an idea of how you prioritize your life, and where your job will fit in.

6. How Would Your Co-Workers Describe You?

Why It’s Stupid: You’re obviously not privy to your co-workers inner thoughts and feelings. And even if you do know how they feel, of course you’re going to pad the truth to make yourself sound better. In most cases, the interviewer will never speak to most of your co-workers, so what‚s the harm in embellishing?

What It Really Means: The interviewer isn’t interested in your little white lies, they are trying to see how you think others view you. Even if you are stretching the truth, your answer will give the interviewer an idea of how you view yourself and what you believe are your most important attributes. Considering you are discussing how others view you, it can also be a modesty test, separating those who are embarrassed about themselves from those who won’t shut up.

The place where I got the questions from had 7 questions but I didn’t think that one really pertained to internship interviews. But if you like these, check out the site where they came from, I think they did a real good job.

7 Stupidest Interview Questions and What They Really Mean