Conducting a job interview can be a fun experience, as you'll get to meet new candidates who can take your company to new heights. However, too many interviewers don't know the right questions to ask, which wastes time and can end up dissuading the candidate from accepting an offer. Here are eight job interview questions to avoid.

1- What is Your Biggest Weakness?

There's no good answer to this question because you're just asking for them to humblebrag. "I'm too dedicated. I spend too much time at work." You won't get a truthful response like "I stop working hard after lunch" because the candidate knows it would be disqualifying.

2- Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?

This question seems good on the surface but it doesn't give insight into the candidate's abilities. Again, you'll probably get a stock response like "I'll still be at this franchise, probably somewhere in management" that tells you their goals and ambitions but nothing about whether or not they're good at their jobs.

3- How Would Your Former Bosses Describe You?

Whether they're telling the truth or not, you'll almost always get a variation on "They'd say I'm a hard worker who does a good job." No candidate, truthful or not, is going to say, "They'd say I'm a lazy jerk who has a bad attitude."

4- Why Should I Hire You?

The question seems hostile and immediately puts the candidate on the defensive. At best, you'll get a prepared response of "I'm a solid candidate for the job and willing to do whatever it takes". At worst, they'll stammer for a few seconds and then mumble the same response as above.

5- What Are You Looking to Get Out of This Job?

For most candidates, the truthful response is "money and healthcare." Unfortunately, anyone who responds with those words is probably not going to be a good employee willing to go the extra mile to get a job done right. You can expect stock responses that won't give you insight into their personality or work ethic.

6- Which Animal Are You Most Like?

Some interviewers like to do this style of wacky, non-traditional question to better gauge a candidate's personality. The only problem is that they're so common now that everyone expects them and has a stock answer ready to go.

7- How Long Do You Plan on Working With Us?

Again, no truthful answer will be given. If it's too short, the candidate won't be hired. No one plans this far ahead and even if they do, plans change.

8- Can You Tell Me About Yourself?

This is the king of questions that will only get rehearsed answers filled with half-truths and exaggerations. Avoid at all costs. Instead of asking a general question like this, consider asking scenario-based questions or ask the candidates to tell you about specifics.

By avoiding these eight questions, you can make sure that the next job interview you conduct will provide you with enough information to make the right decision about which candidate to choose.

By Adam Torkildson

Keywords: Business Strategy