According to a former Spotify HR professional, asking a popular job interview question is a waste of time.

Before heading for a job interview, ensure you arrive on schedule, dress professionally and prepare some thoughtful questions to ask your interviewer.

Avoid asking about work-life balance when preparing your list of questions for a role, as it may give the impression that you are not fully committed to the position, according to Bert Bean, CEO of staffing firm Insight Global.

Dan Space, who has worked in HR at companies such as Electronic Arts and Spotify, advises against asking the question "What does success look like in 30, 60, 90 days?"

It's going to get 'a very low value canned response'

According to Space, future telling questions are likely to receive a low value, canned response.

The manager interviewing you may provide a high-level overview of the role, but it's unlikely to include specific details that could help you succeed. This is due to the fact that they may not know you or how you work, and they may not be able to share confidential or proprietary information. Many of the details will only become relevant once you're in the role.

Ultimately, attempting to understand the general way to succeed is a futile effort, according to Space.

The person who asks specific questions 'stands out'

The question you're asking won't set you apart, according to Space.

The hiring manager has five excellent candidates, but only four of them asked about success in the first 30 days. However, one candidate asked about a specific task that helped their previous company advance, making them stand out. It's the specific questions that demonstrate your expertise in the field that will help interviewers remember you, not the generic ones.

Not everyone agrees with Space about this question.

Demonstrating proactivity and a desire to excel in a role by asking how success is measured, according to LinkedIn career expert Andrew McCaskill.

Rewritten: By asking about specific systems your potential employer uses and providing examples of how those systems have worked out in the past, you can demonstrate that you have laid some groundwork for the role.

To secure your dream job, enroll in CNBC's online course "How to Ace Your Job Interview," which covers what hiring managers truly value, effective body language, smart responses, and pay negotiation strategies.

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