What hiring managers really want to know when they ask these 15 common interview questions

Job interviews can be scary. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of possible questions an interviewer can throw at you. 

How can one possibly prepare for this?

James Reed, author of "101 Job Interview Questions You'll Never Fear Again," and chairman of Reed, a top job site in the UK and Europe, has some good news for overwhelmed job seekers.

He says it's actually much easier to prepare for a job interview than you think.

Why?

He believes that there are really only 15 questions a job interviewer can ask you ... and that these are the only queries you need to be ready for.

"Sure, there are hundreds of interview questions you might be asked, but every interview question out there is just a variation of one of fifteen themes," he explains.

Reed calls these the "Fateful 15."

In his book, Reed shares the 15 'classic' questions you're most likely to be asked — in one form or another — along with what the hiring manager is really asking when they pose each of these questions, and some advice on how to answer them.

Here's an overview of the Fateful 15: 

1. Tell me about yourself.

The real question: Who do you think you are? And will you know what to leave in and what to leave out?

Reed says this open-ended question has no obvious answer. "It's all on you to choose what to say and when to stop saying it," he explains in the book.

"Break it down, rehearse it, breeze it," he suggests.

2. Why are you applying?

The real question: What can you do that we need you to do? Do you even know what we need you to do?

He says the only thing the hiring manager really wants to hear is essentially this: "I'm applying because my skills, experience, and motivation are the best fit for the job."

Reed adds: "Reflect on the job spec in every line of your answer. Talk about their needs before you mention your own."

3. What are your greatest strengths?

The real question: Do you really know yourself — and do you know what our problem is here?

When answering this one, keep the job description in mind. "Go easy on the adjectives and heavy on the hard data," Reed suggests.