These personal questions can blindside candidates (particularly those at the mid-management level), Bare says. But they're fair game because they can reveal how a prospective employee will handle surprises, as well as her ability to think on her feet.

Employers and recruiters are also taking out executive-level candidates and their spouses to dinner. While this isn't new, employers are footing the dinner bill more often as a way to size up a candidate's character: how the candidate treats wait staff, interacts with his spouse, and handles a social situation. Employers want to see a candidate who treats people with respect, says Bare, and to get a feel for his or her ability to work a room at a corporate event.

"In many organizations, entertaining at the top level is a critical part of the job," he says. "If a CEO wants to see how a potential SVP will conduct himself in a social setting, one of the best ways to do that is to invite him or her along and see what happens."

Spouses, too, will often need to accompany their executive husband or wife at fancy dinners and events. And so employers want to see a happy, healthy relationship, Bare says. (This may be difficult for .)

Even a candidate's eating habits can reveal aspects of their personality and approach to problem solving, Bare says. Salting your food before tasting it, for instance, can indicate impulsiveness or programmed mannerisms. Bare says a candidate will not get tossed out of contention simply because she seasons a meal before tasting it. "Small things like that by themselves are not a reason to dismiss a candidate," Bare says, "but if 10 of those things pop up, it adds an area of concern."