Here’s a great resource for anybody who’s ever interviewed for a job anywhere.

Recruiting firm Robert Half International has decoded some of the most common questions in a post named, What Do Common Interview Questions Really Mean?

For example, a very common question:

“Why do you want to work here?”

Most people say: Many people talk in vague terms about how they think they could excel in the role, why the job sounds appealing or what they admire most about the company. But hiring managers want you to cover more than the basics in your response.

What recruiters really want to hear: They want you to show how much you know about the company, and why you want to work for it instead of its rivals. Get specific when answering this question, suggests Robert Half.

For example, they’re looking for signs that you’ve read about the ”Firm’s cutting-edge research, a recent merger or the company’s corporate social-responsibility programs.”

Showing that you’ve done your research lets the hiring manager know that you came prepared and are serious about the opportunity, say Robert Half’s experts.

Our advice on how to answer the real interview questions.

In other words, it pays to do your research before the interview. If you are a busy mom like me, with no time to spare, save time by automating this research so it is delivered to your inbox by using:

• RSS feeds. Sign up for that company’s feeds of their press releases, news, etc. For example, if you were applying for a job with GolfCircuit.com, you could sign up to make sure you know about every new product.
• Google Alerts. Set them up to track mentions of the company or issues affecting it.
• Twitter. Use Search Twitter to watch what people are saying. You can see the treasure trove of info I got when I picked a company at random, Genentech.
• Salary.com, Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com provide salary details and often have insider info on what the company’s like.

Never underestimate the power of using Google to search for answers to long questions like “What is Genentech like to work for?”

Robert Half’s experts also decoded these questions:

• Question: “What are your strengths?”
• Question: “What are your weaknesses?”
• Question: “Would you rather work alone or in a team?”

Related Posts:

• Job Interviews: Wait To Discuss Salary, Benefits
• Is This Prospective Employer Friendly To Working Moms?
• Ask Aunt Jobby: When Job Interviews Get Hot And Sweaty
• Ace Tough Interview Questions And Evade Tricky Ones
• Why You Didn’t Get That Job