<human>: Can you give me the gist of the text in a nutshell?

This topic has been beaten to death here, with an overwhelming response of "Just do it, just because it shows you're interested". But ultimately, applicants have to play along because it means (probably) getting the job.

But what if you weren't threatened with a promise of a steady paycheck and valuable contribution to your field? What if you had the chance to have a real heart-to-heart with the interviewer, like so many of them claim an interview supposedly is?

For example, I would ask:

* Why did YOU ask the strength/weakness question? I know why it's a common interview strategy, but I'm interested to see why YOU decided to use it.

* What is your credential? (I personally know/can tell for the most part because of my field.) Did you design this hiring system? If not, who did? What are THEIR credentials? (Call it due diligence - we as for this from every other professionals out there.)

* (If they use a structured interview/personality assessments.) May I have the literature that support these tools? I don't want the responses, but the theoretical origin of these methods. (Red flag if they can't, btw.)

* Is hiring a part of your job function? If (when) not, what do you primary do here? How did you get to be in that seat today?
<bot>: I would ask the type of questions that I would usually direct at people whom I would establish any other professional relationship with.