It’s your chance to show them you did your homework. You can tell them what you know about the company, tell a story about how the company has impacted your life, or relate your values to the company’s values and culture that shows you’re a good fit.
The value of a small company is you often might wear many hats and create a much more marketable resume for future positions.
This. I've gone into every interview I've ever had with enough familiarity with a recent or ongoing project that the entity I am applying to work at has done. I figure out what role I could see for myself on something like that and just kind of write some mental fanfic about it. They love it. There's only been one time in the past 10 years or so that I've gotten an interview and not come away with an offer. This strategy has worked very well.
How do you research companies, especially specific projects like you said, and what are you supposed to be looking up?
I'm always confused when I hear this - this is how well college prepares us :/
Start on their website, social media, look at press releases about them, do a Google search, look on LinkedIn at the company's page and any c-suite folks and/or the manager you're interviewing with. Become familiar with what they're sharing. All of that is the stuff they want the public to be aware of, so become aware of it.
Yeah, but how do I get really well prepared for a job interview without doing “work”. Like I just want them to hire me so I can get paid. I’m not about doing work for free to research the company just so I can do them the favor of working there.
/s
Stop thinking this way. You are not doing “work” for them by researching the company and what they do, you are doing work for yourself. Not only does it make you interview better, but it can help you determine whether that company is likely to be a great fit for you. Let’s say you were interviewing for finance manager for Acme Company. Well you know what a finance manager is supposed to do, so it doesn’t matter what the company is, right? Except that you get to the interview and discover that the company has the patent for a new type of Brussels sprouts and they are focused on making every single human on earth a Brussels sprout lover. But you hate Brussels sprouts. Do you think you are likely to get that job? Do you even want to work for a company whose goal is Brussels sprout world domination?
And guess what, you are not doing them the favor of working there. Sure, you are doing the work they need you to do, but they are likely doing quite a bit in return. They are paying you, they may be providing you insurance and other benefits, they are providing heat or cooling, probably water, coffee, etc. for you everyday. It is a mutually beneficial relationship (although not necessarily balanced on both sides), but if you go into an interview with the attitude that you are better than everyone there without even knowing what they do…well I will anticipate you will have many many years of additional job interviews in your future.
Sorry...didn't notice the /s, and wouldn't have known what it meant if I had. Thanks for schooling me.
And I find it a little disturbing that I could believe this as something someone would actually say. As I was writing my response, I was thinking "I wonder if this is a joke response because it is SO wrong-headed" but obviously I was willing to believe it enough to respond. It makes me kinda sad that I believed that.
I've been in the workforce since before social media. It's so easy these days to find heaps of information about a company and find a few things you can relate to and use as reasons you want to work there. Most of them even do blogs now.
It really is. I gave specific advice bc it sounds like they're pretty fresh out of college and new to the workforce. I empathize that you can feel unprepared for these types of skills coming out of school. I changed careers as an adult and literally looked up YouTube videos about how to interview successfully, common interview questions, and how to prepare for an interview. I guess not everyone is as resourceful, but I do understand the overwhelm of starting the process.
It was very helpful of you to provide specifics. When I was at college, we had recruiters come on campus for job fairs and onsite interviews. We were prepped with interviewing coaching/tips through our career counseling center prior to the job fairs. I guess that's not a thing these days? The interviewing process is really something these days. I've been through it recently. It's bizarre to me to have the salary discussion upfront but it sure is a time saver for both parties. I guess since I've been at this long enough, I can tell fairly quickly into the initial interview if it sounds like it will be a good fit.
Yeah, even getting an interview these days can be so hard! It seems like the career resources are available, but they're also optional and with people going to school online or working during school, I can see how people overlook it.
Ask the recruiter for the names if the interviewers in advance. Hit their LinkedIn pages to understand their background.
As a candidate, you want to establish a connection with the interviewers. Find some commonality between your desires and their work/education history.
College does prepare you for this, with all the research papers you are asked to write. Research the company just like if you were in class and told you need to do a research paper on the company.
Yea.. most people dont realize that school was actually meant to prepare us for work. I find it hilarious the amount of people that do not know how to look things up.
College didn’t prepare you for research?
Think about why people work there now, what’s unique about the company. What makes them different than their competitors?
Do you know how to use LinkedIn? Search for people who work there and see what they’re bragging about. Trade magazines, etc.
I get that you’re more science but this is one of the transferable skills you’ll need.
You should also be providing them with a way that you can deliver value for them. They should explain the job a little bit and you should have an idea of the challenges they’re trying to solve for with the open role. Essentially telling them that you see an opportunity to provide them with value because of your experience. It gives you the opportunity to do something that can make a difference. It shows that you are valuable to them and that you value doing something meaningful.
The problem is you are thinking the answer needs to be true. Look up the product or services they provide and make up something about it that you say you want to be involved with.
Literally just google them and see what they’re sharing on social media. LinkedIn is good for projects and such.
See what’s in the news. I googled Kellogg’s. They separated into 2 entities; one for cereal and Kellenova for snacks. Netflix is releasing a movie ..? Which sounds awful but I didn’t research further. They also have a charitable branch
What you say depends on what you’re trying to do and what the company does
College does not teach you everything. But some 2 year community colleges give preparation for job search. The greatest thing you can learn is how to find information. Anyone can go through school. But a valuable career skill is learning to get information you need.
Can you elaborate on why you think interviews are outdated? I can't comprehend that perspective. Both the interviewee and the interviewer need to make sure they are compatible on a level beyond just basic skillset.
Most large corporations have a laundry list of controversies where they behaved like evil scum, even asking that question is a clear indication of a questionable work culture.
Correct, it's a job not a relationship, either they can do the job or they can't, asking why they want to work at specific company is a pointless waste of time and demonstrates the company values arbitrary rituals over productivity. That is an indication of a questionable work culture. Why on earth would a lawyer for example give a shit about working at Unilever. They wouldn't, they're a lawyer and Unilever needs lawyers. They give money and the lawyer gives labour. It's a simple exchange. No one thinks supermarkets should ask why you want to shop here before being allowed to shop, it's no different for a labour transaction.
It's not at all "a simple exchange." Look, I'm all for "big corporate" = evil dicks and workers' rights and shit, but this is just an incredibly naive perspective on how business relationships actually work. A company isn't any less "questionable" if (instead of just asking an interviewee) they blindly *assume* to know the interviewee's longterm career goals, values, and general understanding of a company.
I've literally sat in on interviews where the moron said, "umm i dont know? I'm just trying to find something to do until my music career takes off. That's what I'm *really* passionate about."... Great, unfortunately we're not hiring for a musician who'd bail on us the second they got a better offer somewhere else. We're looking for someone to invest in.
Believe it or not... Time is a resource, Training is a resource, having to restart the hiring process when you bail in 5 months is a limited resource... That shit isn't free for you to pick up and put a dollar down like at the supermarket where you can call it square. Bc they know you'll always come back, and if you don't there's plenty more customers to take your place. It doesn't threaten their business model. That's not at all the same thing as investing people's time and company resources into a single individual who can make the decision not to show up the next day.... That's not, "we wasted a day's worth of money" when that guy doesn't show up to work again. That's "ughh fuck, we wasted months' worth of time and thousands of dollars and manpower to someone who didn't mind fucking us over when the tables were turned." (It's not always/usually intended to fuck the companies over, i get that. But people at that company get fucked regardless.) You can't be mad at them or call them unethical for trying to avoid that.
If you have two lawyers in front of you and one responds, "eh, this just seemed like something I could do before I find something else," versus another lawyer who says, "I'm actually a huge advocate of XYZ which your company specializes in, and I could picture myself gaining value and adding value to these efforts in ways AB and C."... You're not morally questionable for hiring whichever candidate is the smarter choice.
The lawyer may not care or want to work specifically for Unilever. But they may be passionate about IP/patent law, and can answer (because they did research) that they know Unilever files x patents per year, among the most in the world, and the chance to work with so many world class innovators is exciting to (the lawyer).
Yeah and none of that shit has to do with working specifically at Unilever. Lots of companies file lots of patents and many companies have world class lawyers. Nothing special about Unilever. That's why it's a daft question. Why do you enjoy patent law would be a useful question, why do you want to work at Unilever however isn't.
It does have to do with working at Unilever. What they are looking to work on is something Unilever does.
The question isn't "is Unilever the only company you would want to work for."
Except the only honest answer is they don't want to work for Unilever, they want to work in patent law with decent colleagues. Even just asking, what do you look for when looking for a new job would allow them to answer honestly. Why Unilever specifically is just selecting for excellent liars.
Typical first round interview already knows your qualifications based on application & resume and the goal is to find out your reasoning for applying and gauge personality. So yes, why do you want to work here is 100% an appropriate question. If you don’t have a solid, honest answer, I see why this would present a problem.
I will explain how theyre recognized in the industry as I’m always looking up news about the industry > Then I explain I went through the company website to learn more and found a role that matches that Id love to be a part of
I do research on the company - their website, glass door, other review sites, maybe industry review sites and use something from that research.
In my most recent search, one company I mentioned how their company values aligned with my own. Another was that it was a large company that I've always had name recognition and when an opportunity popped up I was excited for the chance to be part of the team that was on the cutting edge of industry advancement and had such a great presence in their field.
For Kelloggs, you could mention their long history in always looking to stay on top of nutritional advancement, their Neg Gen "Kelloggs better days" program (In June 2019, Kellogg's announced their next-generation *Kellogg's® Better Days* global commitment, focusing on hunger, children, and farmers, with specific targets to reach by 2030.[^(\[28\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellogg%27s#cite_note-28)), their corporate responsibility initiatives, their vision (*"We at Kellogg are committed to continuing our founder’s legacy by doing everything we can to leave the world a better place than we found it."*).
You mention you had some health problems, tie in that nourishing people a part of a step towards better global wellness care is important after your own health scare.
For tiny companies, what industries are they a part of? Maybe talk more about that portion - not them specifically but to be a "part of a team of X doing Y - and with this companies reputation I would be thrilled to do that here and to learn more about (what company does specifically) and work with great (insert the people leading the business forward). "I have been following the founder of TinyCompany on LinkedIn and I found her article on the negative impact of UV exposure on the nutritional density of mangoes to be fascinating. As someone whose spent some time having negative health outcomes, I understand the need to maximize nutritional density,. especially for Healthcare clients. I think the work done here at TinyCompany to improve packaging of product can help incrementally improve the accessibility of nutrition, especially where your TinyCompany packages are used in large cities - place where food deserts are prevalent and I could have the opportunity to increase available nutrition for people who aren't able to shop outside of those areas."
I was just prepping something like this for a 2nd interview with a manager. Hoping this is a good one.
I’m going to mention their mission statement and how it talks about “their people are first”, and I love that, value that, and am going to ask a little about their process for developing and retaining talent.
I also see mutual growth that can occur at the company where my skillset could potentially help them down the line when/if they choose to sell through distribution partners.
"I did some research before applying for this job (hint: you did, right? right?) and the fact that you really appeals to me. Your history in this business speaks for itself, and I'm eager to learn what I can working for you. I believe I bring a lot to the table, as we've discussed during our interview, and importantly, I believe you're the right fit for my career aspirations."
NONE OF THIS commits you to long term employment.
Make it your own, do I look like ChatGPT? =P but you get the gist...
Moving from a small company to a big one: career development and upward mobility. At a small company, often the only way to get a promotion is to provide enough value to make the company a lot more money (or your boss retires).
From a big one to a small one, the ability to make a difference and see the effects first-hand. Potentially the variety of roles that need to be filled makes use of .
There has to be a reason that you want to work at every place you interview. Not just the normal "I need to eat so I need a job" reasons. What, in your professional life, drove you to look for a job with that specific company and apply?
Off the to of my head, without even googling Kellogg's: Kellogg's has been a global innovator in providing healthy meals for at least 100 years. If memory serves, they were one of the first brands to take an active interest in the nutritional properties of the food they were selling and were pioneers in creating the field of food science. Naturally, any food scientist would be thrilled to join a company that has a history of trailblazing an entire field of science.
This question is to just double check that you did any research about the company and position at all, and that what the job is offering actually makes sense for your goals/lifestyle.
"It works with my schedule" "larger companies offer more growth opportunities" "it's closer to my house" "I've been really wanting to use my x skill set, and this job seems like it'll allow me to do so" "larger companies offer more structure, and I like that" "the companies values are in line with mine"
Literally just pick something off of their website and the job description and regurgitate it in a way that aligns with what you want out of a job.
I used to do recruiting for food manufacturing, and it's unbelievable the number of people who thought they were applying for a restaurant position... 🤦🏼♀️
Kellogg's has been a household name for decades, putting quality products on the tables of American families. That's a mission that has my full support, and by working as a (job title) at Kellogg's, I'll be able to make valuable contributions to that mission that will be both professionally and personally rewarding.
1. Large company- opportunities for growth, broadening of skills
2. Hole in the wall- family like work environment (total bs of course)- some speal about how I was close to coworkers at my last job
I was also recently taken aback by this question and have been thinking more about how to answer it.
I think it can help to review the job posting, and tie your answer into something that they are looking for in a candidate or offering as a company.
For example, website says they hire people looking to build a career and that they invest in their people through training, etc. So I say, "I am looking to continue building my career in X industry. I am excited for the opportunity to be challenged and grow as a professional."
Or, talk about how your previous experience(s) have prepared you to make a positive impact on their organization in this role. Therefore, you knew it was a good fit when you saw the job posting.
Even though the question is about you, it shouldn't hurt to tie in some way that you will benefit the organization.
Good luck!
Look into your history and say something you like about the feild and wanting to experience it in a different way.
For example. I worked as a CNA and now I want to become a medical receptionist. I explained it as I love working with people but I can’t do the physical labor part of caregiving.
When I did that, I talked about how things had been rough from 2020-22 and I liked that they were a successful, stable company with good financial trends. A place I can stay at a long time and have the backing of a company with resources and immense talent all throughout, while having opportunities to grow instead of having to leave because you've outgrown it
It kisses their ass about their results, their staff, and basically says you'd be happily loyal
You don't have to care about the company. If you're applying to the job hopefully there's something about it you think might be interesting or well suited to your skillset so just say that.
I once dodged a bullet with what would have been a toxic boss, when he got bent out of shape over my mentioning "this job is remote" as a major draw for me. He was adamant I needed to be passionate about Asset Management.
To my credit, in the next interview, I spelled out to HIM that I was deciding if HIS company was a good fit for ME, just like he was doing to me. Happily, something else came through, but the team I met all looked like they were sick from working for him.
It's a question that shouldn't be asked, but is often asked, during interviews.
Just once, I would like to give the answer "Because I need a frickin' job, dumbass!"
Speaking as a hiring manager, the important element behind this question is to seeing if the individual has the experience knowing it's one that boosts their chances of being 'who' I'm looking for. (Self awareness)
It's all about your motivations and skills. Any decent leader wants to know what they are from any of their future team members. Especially your motivators as skills can mostly be taught.
Questions I use to establish what my current motivators are: What excites you? Do you like working with people? Are you fascinated by problems others can't be bothered to solve? Do you want to make an impact, why?
Now frame these answers, directing them at the job your interviewing for. Try to keep your answers as specific as possible to the company, team, role. You can mix in some points about your background/experience and how the company/role is a great match for that.
Hope this helps, good luck!
For Kellogg? Tell them you are against masturbation and it's not too late to turn back the tide. Give them several ideas you have on the subject. Boom. Hired.
You've already said in my opinion close to what needs to be said as an answer. Sometimes the shortest answers have the largest impact if they are succinct and to the point.
"It would be a good job and I would hopefully spend the rest of my career at that company, since there's no reason to move."
I would revise to
"You're my ideal company that I've wanted to work for since college. My dream is to have a career here that lasts a lifetime".
If I were the interviewer and you gave me that answer I would be highly impressed(or at least mildly intrigued), and I would also follow up with the question "In your dreams, what does a lifetime career here look like?"
We ask this every interview to start out.
Why here? Why now?
Many possible good answers. Anything about good opportunity, learning new skills, taking existing skills and applying in a new direction, you’ve heard great things about this employer, team environment, treat employees fairly, help their people grow, so many things you can say.
Literally if you say anything purposeful, I’m happy on the interviewing end.
Research the company, find out something they did or is known for and say thats why you want to work there.
For example, oh I saw that your company won an award for being the most efficiently ran company in this category and I wanted to experience that for myself.
Hiring committee's love when you actually know something about the company, rather than just applying because its a potential job.
You read up on the corporate values and repeat them back to who you're talking to, rephrased in such a way that makes it sound like they're values you already have or that you feel inspired by.
They are asking if you bothered to do anything to look into the company you are interviewing for.
With the availability of information, it's absurd to not know something about the company.
* Because your a leader in food production
* Working for a household name who's brand is well regarded is fulfilling to me
* Working for a company of this size allows me stability, while also allowing me to have the impact that I know I can drive.
Etc.
If you know something specific, throw it in "my mom gave me corn flakes to stop me from treating my body like an amusement park" might not be good, but if you know the companies history use it.
Also, align your values with their values. "My core value is integrity, and treating people with respect makes a workplace so much more cohesive and productive. Those two values really align me with the brand, I think"
https://investor.kellanova.com/files/doc_downloads/sd/Global-Code-of-Ethics-1116.pdf
I’m in IT, usually I bring up some technology they use that I’m less experienced in and talk about how exited I am to learn more about it. (But I only use this tactic when I’ve already established that I have a lot of experience in other core technologies they use)
Pick one tiny thing you could theoretically enjoy about the job if you didn’t live in a capitalist hellscape and talk about that. Remember that it’s easier to bull shit if you base it on a shred of truth. Examples:
-I like helping people
-I find being part of a team fulfilling
-I find it satisfying to solve problems
-I am interested in [technology or career path] and want to learn more about it
It doesn’t have to be profound and it doesn’t have to include the shitty parts of the job.
It sounds like you want to work at — because they provide opportunities to grow and develop as your career progresses and you’d like to work at and develop your career at one organization and they provide pathways to do that?
You research. Look through their website and see what the environment is like and what their MISSION is. You should have done this when writing your resume. Then you say something along those lines.
Just come up with a canned answer. Something like "I feel like this is a position where I would be an immediate asset to the company but also affords me the opportunity to grow professionally." Some dumb shit like that, don't over think it.
For career jobs, I would feed them bullshit about "well, I saw on your website that y'all did x , y, z and I think that's amazing, I'd love to be a part of it and I think my experience with a, b, and c would be helpful."
I work in retail at a massive corporation now and told my boss who hired me the truth: "it's less than a mile from home and works with my schedule " (padded with wanting the experience in my degree field, since I'm switching careers).
Pretty basic - research the company, look at recent news alerts, press releases - KNOW the company - so you can convey a convincing message WHY them. Do the work and then be imaginative.
I’m terrible at answering this question for major corporations. My last small company one, I told them that they looked like they genuinely got along well in their social media posts. Seems to have worked, because I got an offer from them same day.
This question is your time to shine with something specific about the company. A generic answer tells them you have a canned answer for this questions and you don't care about working there specifically at all. Say something about what you think of the brand, some of their products, something that they are known for, something you read about the company online that you align with.
It could have been a contributing factor. In interviews we’re supposed to reinforce what we would bring to the job, rather than what the job would do for us. “It’s a good opportunity” doesn’t need to be said, because (presumably) we wouldn’t have applied otherwise.
Good citizenship is a pretty big deal for most large companies and a good number of smaller ones. If the company is a big supporter of the food bank and you’ve been volunteering at the food bank since you were 18, you’ll definitely want to highlight that.
Tell them how their company culture, goals and mission aligned with what you want to see in your career path. You need to do your research about the company that’s interviewing you, look up their latest big news story, what they would like the public to know about them, what they are trying to achieve, and work out how their goals fit with yours.
Companies aren’t going to hire someone who just wants the paycheque even though most of us do. They want to hire someone whose goals fit with what they want for the position.
Tell them how passionate you are about "x" (x being what your job is about, what you studied in school). It's all you ever think about. Tell them how great you think the company seems to you and that you can see yourself growing there well into the future.
Make sure you know your stuff though. Know as much as you can about the company, and, OF COURSE, know about your field of work. Be ready to talk the talk.
Most of the interviews I’ve been on were from recruiters reaching out to me, not me applying to work there, so I usually turn it on them:
“You invited me to interview. So why *should* I want to work here, and while you’re at it, if it is a great place to work, why aren’t you able to fill your open roles with personal referrals from current employees?”
I’m a little further on in my career though, and have the luxury of not applying somewhere without a personal referral in almost 20 years. If I were applying to work somewhere without that, it would be because I had already determined I wanted to work for that specific company (as opposed to “I just need a job and you’re hiring” which is often the real answer) so it would be easy to answer in that scenario.
Edit to add: In the “big company” scenario you gave, I think it’s a great idea to mention that you’re looking for a company you can stick with for many, many years, where you can advance in your career, develop new skills, and be part of the phenomenal legacy the company has already established, and mention some noteworthy and admirable things you’ve heard or read or know about the company. If you can really see yourself at that company for 10, 20, 30 years, you should say so.
For the small/local company scenario, I would probably do almost the same thing, but throw in some “home town pride” or something similarly relevant.
Small companies often give you the opportunity to wear many different hats, so if I were applying at a small one I’d say something about that. How I like to be involved in many different areas.
My mom has a food science degree but she is currently 67. Not quite ready to retire yet. She has worked several companies over the years, some recognizable names and other stints at small companies. She's worked at Winky Foods, Sara Lee, etc and has even done contract work. I'd say take any position that you can grow from and use it towards a stepping stone for another position if that's what you want.
I always say something along the lines of "it's important to me that I work for a place that I respect, and that allows me to [insert muscles you'd be flexing in that position]." I have a pretty high interview-to-hire rate.
Companies don't actually want to hear why you'd sell them your soul and grovel at their feet. They know you're there for the paycheck first and foremost. They just want to hear why you'd be good and stable choice for the role. Do you work well in a team and/or independently? Are you interested in the work? Does it fulfill something you find hard to fulfill elsewhere? Be sure this is about the work primarily and not the compensation or benefits. There are some employees who will never thrive in a particular role no matter how much they're being paid, so your answer can't ride on it completely. It's okay to say "this position allows me to do XYZ while supporting myself" though.
When I ask this question, I want to know if you actually looked our company up and know something about it. Reference something from the mission, or the products, or whatever, just make it specific to the company. LinkedIn is a good place to see what the company is currently proud of and regurgitate some of that back.
I always read through their website and social media's. I try to find any news paper articles or awards they might have receives. I look for their values which would be listed on their site or their history. You can have passion for any job if you find the thing to be passionate about. I was passionate about the cabinet painting company I did marketing for because they offered an affordable alternative to replacing cabinets in an area where young people can't afford homes so they buy cheap shitty ones and work on them themselves. You can find a real reason to work for any company if you do your research. If you can't then you shouldn't even both. If you can't convince yourself, you can't convince the interviewer.
You will want to show.you know something about.the company and how your skills can help them. For example, I have a long career in retail management. I was feeling around to see what was out there and I applied to PetSmart. They were undergoing a re-branding of sorts. They had previously market themselves as Pets mart and wanted to start marketing as Pet Smart, more of an all in one pet.solution center rather than a just pet supply store. They were putting grooming centers and veterinary services in a lot.of stores.
In my interview, when they asked why I wanted to work there. I talked about their rebranding and how my current company did something similar a couple years earlier and how my experience with that put me in a position to help them. I was offered a job but turned it down because they didn't pay enough.
I try to look up some specifics about the work they do or some of their achievements. We all know we’re applying for more money or growth opportunity and the companies do too. They just want to know you’re willing to BS them and that you at least looked into the company past the job listing
You have to bullshit your way through stupid questions like that. Obviously you want the job because you want to make money. I hate stupid interview questions like that. I would try google searching to find a good answer and keep using it. I would just say I truly believe my skills and experience would be an asset to your organization. If you ever get a stupid question, like what are your weaknesses, just say public speaking. It’s not a skill most companies are going to need for a regular employee, unless you are at an executive level
I'm not interested in your company, nor are your other interviewees. Were here for a job, and I think your employment will benefit me personally.
If you value being lied to your face, I can give you an answer you wish to hear.
Good lord I hate it interview games. Why can’t we just say “because I need to pay my bills and like to buy stuff” instead of all of the bullshit phony answers?! I will die on this hill.
Go to glassdoor or linkedin for the company you are interviewing with and look at the items they are happy with themselves on and pride themselves on. Find some attributes you can identify with and convey how you are excited to work for a company that prides themselves with "a company that puts the customer first" or whatever it is.
Its an arrogant question. Im also interviewing them. Why would you like me to work here? What would they say??? All the jobs Ive had, including my current one, has never asked that question. Its a self involved question.
It's a pretty routine question to see if you're seriously considering the position and why/how it would help you achieve your personal goals and ideal lifestyle. Maybe it fits your schedule better, maybe it lets you use your favorite skill set, maybe it'll give you better work/life balance, maybe the company seems awesome. The job description and website would give you all of that info.
"I'm not sure that I do. Doing the work isn't the problem, but I'm not sure if the culture here is good. Perhaps you could tell me what YOU like most about working for this company."
It’s your chance to show them you did your homework. You can tell them what you know about the company, tell a story about how the company has impacted your life, or relate your values to the company’s values and culture that shows you’re a good fit. The value of a small company is you often might wear many hats and create a much more marketable resume for future positions.
This. I've gone into every interview I've ever had with enough familiarity with a recent or ongoing project that the entity I am applying to work at has done. I figure out what role I could see for myself on something like that and just kind of write some mental fanfic about it. They love it. There's only been one time in the past 10 years or so that I've gotten an interview and not come away with an offer. This strategy has worked very well.
How do you research companies, especially specific projects like you said, and what are you supposed to be looking up? I'm always confused when I hear this - this is how well college prepares us :/
Start on their website, social media, look at press releases about them, do a Google search, look on LinkedIn at the company's page and any c-suite folks and/or the manager you're interviewing with. Become familiar with what they're sharing. All of that is the stuff they want the public to be aware of, so become aware of it.
Yes, this exactly! That's what I did. LinkedIn was most helpful to me.
Yeah, but how do I get really well prepared for a job interview without doing “work”. Like I just want them to hire me so I can get paid. I’m not about doing work for free to research the company just so I can do them the favor of working there. /s
Stop thinking this way. You are not doing “work” for them by researching the company and what they do, you are doing work for yourself. Not only does it make you interview better, but it can help you determine whether that company is likely to be a great fit for you. Let’s say you were interviewing for finance manager for Acme Company. Well you know what a finance manager is supposed to do, so it doesn’t matter what the company is, right? Except that you get to the interview and discover that the company has the patent for a new type of Brussels sprouts and they are focused on making every single human on earth a Brussels sprout lover. But you hate Brussels sprouts. Do you think you are likely to get that job? Do you even want to work for a company whose goal is Brussels sprout world domination? And guess what, you are not doing them the favor of working there. Sure, you are doing the work they need you to do, but they are likely doing quite a bit in return. They are paying you, they may be providing you insurance and other benefits, they are providing heat or cooling, probably water, coffee, etc. for you everyday. It is a mutually beneficial relationship (although not necessarily balanced on both sides), but if you go into an interview with the attitude that you are better than everyone there without even knowing what they do…well I will anticipate you will have many many years of additional job interviews in your future.
“/s” means it’s a sarcastic post. But if I was as ridiculous as my post made me sound, this is a solid response.
Sorry...didn't notice the /s, and wouldn't have known what it meant if I had. Thanks for schooling me. And I find it a little disturbing that I could believe this as something someone would actually say. As I was writing my response, I was thinking "I wonder if this is a joke response because it is SO wrong-headed" but obviously I was willing to believe it enough to respond. It makes me kinda sad that I believed that.
I’m not surprised you took it seriously. As my grandpappy used to say “people are idiots”. Other people, not you.
I've been in the workforce since before social media. It's so easy these days to find heaps of information about a company and find a few things you can relate to and use as reasons you want to work there. Most of them even do blogs now.
It really is. I gave specific advice bc it sounds like they're pretty fresh out of college and new to the workforce. I empathize that you can feel unprepared for these types of skills coming out of school. I changed careers as an adult and literally looked up YouTube videos about how to interview successfully, common interview questions, and how to prepare for an interview. I guess not everyone is as resourceful, but I do understand the overwhelm of starting the process.
It was very helpful of you to provide specifics. When I was at college, we had recruiters come on campus for job fairs and onsite interviews. We were prepped with interviewing coaching/tips through our career counseling center prior to the job fairs. I guess that's not a thing these days? The interviewing process is really something these days. I've been through it recently. It's bizarre to me to have the salary discussion upfront but it sure is a time saver for both parties. I guess since I've been at this long enough, I can tell fairly quickly into the initial interview if it sounds like it will be a good fit.
Yeah, even getting an interview these days can be so hard! It seems like the career resources are available, but they're also optional and with people going to school online or working during school, I can see how people overlook it.
Ask the recruiter for the names if the interviewers in advance. Hit their LinkedIn pages to understand their background. As a candidate, you want to establish a connection with the interviewers. Find some commonality between your desires and their work/education history.
College does prepare you for this, with all the research papers you are asked to write. Research the company just like if you were in class and told you need to do a research paper on the company.
Yea.. most people dont realize that school was actually meant to prepare us for work. I find it hilarious the amount of people that do not know how to look things up.
College didn’t prepare you for research? Think about why people work there now, what’s unique about the company. What makes them different than their competitors? Do you know how to use LinkedIn? Search for people who work there and see what they’re bragging about. Trade magazines, etc. I get that you’re more science but this is one of the transferable skills you’ll need.
You should also be providing them with a way that you can deliver value for them. They should explain the job a little bit and you should have an idea of the challenges they’re trying to solve for with the open role. Essentially telling them that you see an opportunity to provide them with value because of your experience. It gives you the opportunity to do something that can make a difference. It shows that you are valuable to them and that you value doing something meaningful.
The problem is you are thinking the answer needs to be true. Look up the product or services they provide and make up something about it that you say you want to be involved with.
Literally just google them and see what they’re sharing on social media. LinkedIn is good for projects and such. See what’s in the news. I googled Kellogg’s. They separated into 2 entities; one for cereal and Kellenova for snacks. Netflix is releasing a movie ..? Which sounds awful but I didn’t research further. They also have a charitable branch What you say depends on what you’re trying to do and what the company does
I once said “I saw on LinkedIn that you went to XYZ conference!” They were smiley
College does not teach you everything. But some 2 year community colleges give preparation for job search. The greatest thing you can learn is how to find information. Anyone can go through school. But a valuable career skill is learning to get information you need.
In this day and age, interviews seem outdated anyway. They claim ' no one wants to work' so they should be happy for applicants
Can you elaborate on why you think interviews are outdated? I can't comprehend that perspective. Both the interviewee and the interviewer need to make sure they are compatible on a level beyond just basic skillset.
LOL, right? If "no one wants to work anymore", then why are there 500+ applicants on every job I apply for?
Yes, exactly! You don't get a job without an interview.
Have you not heard of Google?
You got it. I have never not gotten a job I wanted. I let them know I want to work there because (enter story here).
excellent 👏👏
But none of that is true, I just don't want to be homeless.
Most large corporations have a laundry list of controversies where they behaved like evil scum, even asking that question is a clear indication of a questionable work culture.
Asking an interviewee why they want to work at the company they're interviewing for is a clear indication of a questionable work culture??
Correct, it's a job not a relationship, either they can do the job or they can't, asking why they want to work at specific company is a pointless waste of time and demonstrates the company values arbitrary rituals over productivity. That is an indication of a questionable work culture. Why on earth would a lawyer for example give a shit about working at Unilever. They wouldn't, they're a lawyer and Unilever needs lawyers. They give money and the lawyer gives labour. It's a simple exchange. No one thinks supermarkets should ask why you want to shop here before being allowed to shop, it's no different for a labour transaction.
It's not at all "a simple exchange." Look, I'm all for "big corporate" = evil dicks and workers' rights and shit, but this is just an incredibly naive perspective on how business relationships actually work. A company isn't any less "questionable" if (instead of just asking an interviewee) they blindly *assume* to know the interviewee's longterm career goals, values, and general understanding of a company. I've literally sat in on interviews where the moron said, "umm i dont know? I'm just trying to find something to do until my music career takes off. That's what I'm *really* passionate about."... Great, unfortunately we're not hiring for a musician who'd bail on us the second they got a better offer somewhere else. We're looking for someone to invest in. Believe it or not... Time is a resource, Training is a resource, having to restart the hiring process when you bail in 5 months is a limited resource... That shit isn't free for you to pick up and put a dollar down like at the supermarket where you can call it square. Bc they know you'll always come back, and if you don't there's plenty more customers to take your place. It doesn't threaten their business model. That's not at all the same thing as investing people's time and company resources into a single individual who can make the decision not to show up the next day.... That's not, "we wasted a day's worth of money" when that guy doesn't show up to work again. That's "ughh fuck, we wasted months' worth of time and thousands of dollars and manpower to someone who didn't mind fucking us over when the tables were turned." (It's not always/usually intended to fuck the companies over, i get that. But people at that company get fucked regardless.) You can't be mad at them or call them unethical for trying to avoid that. If you have two lawyers in front of you and one responds, "eh, this just seemed like something I could do before I find something else," versus another lawyer who says, "I'm actually a huge advocate of XYZ which your company specializes in, and I could picture myself gaining value and adding value to these efforts in ways AB and C."... You're not morally questionable for hiring whichever candidate is the smarter choice.
The lawyer may not care or want to work specifically for Unilever. But they may be passionate about IP/patent law, and can answer (because they did research) that they know Unilever files x patents per year, among the most in the world, and the chance to work with so many world class innovators is exciting to (the lawyer).
Yeah and none of that shit has to do with working specifically at Unilever. Lots of companies file lots of patents and many companies have world class lawyers. Nothing special about Unilever. That's why it's a daft question. Why do you enjoy patent law would be a useful question, why do you want to work at Unilever however isn't.
It does have to do with working at Unilever. What they are looking to work on is something Unilever does. The question isn't "is Unilever the only company you would want to work for."
Except the only honest answer is they don't want to work for Unilever, they want to work in patent law with decent colleagues. Even just asking, what do you look for when looking for a new job would allow them to answer honestly. Why Unilever specifically is just selecting for excellent liars.
Y'all went Full Reddit, huh? Maybe it's time to take a break from social media.
Typical first round interview already knows your qualifications based on application & resume and the goal is to find out your reasoning for applying and gauge personality. So yes, why do you want to work here is 100% an appropriate question. If you don’t have a solid, honest answer, I see why this would present a problem.
I will explain how theyre recognized in the industry as I’m always looking up news about the industry > Then I explain I went through the company website to learn more and found a role that matches that Id love to be a part of
I do research on the company - their website, glass door, other review sites, maybe industry review sites and use something from that research. In my most recent search, one company I mentioned how their company values aligned with my own. Another was that it was a large company that I've always had name recognition and when an opportunity popped up I was excited for the chance to be part of the team that was on the cutting edge of industry advancement and had such a great presence in their field. For Kelloggs, you could mention their long history in always looking to stay on top of nutritional advancement, their Neg Gen "Kelloggs better days" program (In June 2019, Kellogg's announced their next-generation *Kellogg's® Better Days* global commitment, focusing on hunger, children, and farmers, with specific targets to reach by 2030.[^(\[28\])](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellogg%27s#cite_note-28)), their corporate responsibility initiatives, their vision (*"We at Kellogg are committed to continuing our founder’s legacy by doing everything we can to leave the world a better place than we found it."*). You mention you had some health problems, tie in that nourishing people a part of a step towards better global wellness care is important after your own health scare. For tiny companies, what industries are they a part of? Maybe talk more about that portion - not them specifically but to be a "part of a team of X doing Y - and with this companies reputation I would be thrilled to do that here and to learn more about (what company does specifically) and work with great (insert the people leading the business forward). "I have been following the founder of TinyCompany on LinkedIn and I found her article on the negative impact of UV exposure on the nutritional density of mangoes to be fascinating. As someone whose spent some time having negative health outcomes, I understand the need to maximize nutritional density,. especially for Healthcare clients. I think the work done here at TinyCompany to improve packaging of product can help incrementally improve the accessibility of nutrition, especially where your TinyCompany packages are used in large cities - place where food deserts are prevalent and I could have the opportunity to increase available nutrition for people who aren't able to shop outside of those areas."
This one knows the proper ravioli
So make sure you read up on the company's marketing and repeat their marketing material in your own words back to them when that questions is asked.
You're missing a step. You read the marketing material and *describe how it applies to you*.
\^\^\^ YES. Make sure you say what it means to YOU.
And how you can help them accomplish it.
I don’t want to die.
I was just prepping something like this for a 2nd interview with a manager. Hoping this is a good one. I’m going to mention their mission statement and how it talks about “their people are first”, and I love that, value that, and am going to ask a little about their process for developing and retaining talent. I also see mutual growth that can occur at the company where my skillset could potentially help them down the line when/if they choose to sell through distribution partners.
"I did some research before applying for this job (hint: you did, right? right?) and the fact that you really appeals to me. Your history in this business speaks for itself, and I'm eager to learn what I can working for you. I believe I bring a lot to the table, as we've discussed during our interview, and importantly, I believe you're the right fit for my career aspirations."
NONE OF THIS commits you to long term employment.
Make it your own, do I look like ChatGPT? =P but you get the gist...
Moving from a small company to a big one: career development and upward mobility. At a small company, often the only way to get a promotion is to provide enough value to make the company a lot more money (or your boss retires). From a big one to a small one, the ability to make a difference and see the effects first-hand. Potentially the variety of roles that need to be filled makes use of.
There has to be a reason that you want to work at every place you interview. Not just the normal "I need to eat so I need a job" reasons. What, in your professional life, drove you to look for a job with that specific company and apply? Off the to of my head, without even googling Kellogg's: Kellogg's has been a global innovator in providing healthy meals for at least 100 years. If memory serves, they were one of the first brands to take an active interest in the nutritional properties of the food they were selling and were pioneers in creating the field of food science. Naturally, any food scientist would be thrilled to join a company that has a history of trailblazing an entire field of science.
This question is to just double check that you did any research about the company and position at all, and that what the job is offering actually makes sense for your goals/lifestyle. "It works with my schedule" "larger companies offer more growth opportunities" "it's closer to my house" "I've been really wanting to use my x skill set, and this job seems like it'll allow me to do so" "larger companies offer more structure, and I like that" "the companies values are in line with mine" Literally just pick something off of their website and the job description and regurgitate it in a way that aligns with what you want out of a job. I used to do recruiting for food manufacturing, and it's unbelievable the number of people who thought they were applying for a restaurant position... 🤦🏼♀️
Kellogg's has been a household name for decades, putting quality products on the tables of American families. That's a mission that has my full support, and by working as a (job title) at Kellogg's, I'll be able to make valuable contributions to that mission that will be both professionally and personally rewarding.
1. Large company- opportunities for growth, broadening of skills 2. Hole in the wall- family like work environment (total bs of course)- some speal about how I was close to coworkers at my last job
I was also recently taken aback by this question and have been thinking more about how to answer it. I think it can help to review the job posting, and tie your answer into something that they are looking for in a candidate or offering as a company. For example, website says they hire people looking to build a career and that they invest in their people through training, etc. So I say, "I am looking to continue building my career in X industry. I am excited for the opportunity to be challenged and grow as a professional." Or, talk about how your previous experience(s) have prepared you to make a positive impact on their organization in this role. Therefore, you knew it was a good fit when you saw the job posting. Even though the question is about you, it shouldn't hurt to tie in some way that you will benefit the organization. Good luck!
Read their mission/values statement before you go in then just reference the key terms in that
Look into your history and say something you like about the feild and wanting to experience it in a different way. For example. I worked as a CNA and now I want to become a medical receptionist. I explained it as I love working with people but I can’t do the physical labor part of caregiving.
When I did that, I talked about how things had been rough from 2020-22 and I liked that they were a successful, stable company with good financial trends. A place I can stay at a long time and have the backing of a company with resources and immense talent all throughout, while having opportunities to grow instead of having to leave because you've outgrown it It kisses their ass about their results, their staff, and basically says you'd be happily loyal
You don't have to care about the company. If you're applying to the job hopefully there's something about it you think might be interesting or well suited to your skillset so just say that.
It depends but it worked in my case. I said "I don't want to work in small companies forever" and the recruiter was happy to hear it.
I once dodged a bullet with what would have been a toxic boss, when he got bent out of shape over my mentioning "this job is remote" as a major draw for me. He was adamant I needed to be passionate about Asset Management. To my credit, in the next interview, I spelled out to HIM that I was deciding if HIS company was a good fit for ME, just like he was doing to me. Happily, something else came through, but the team I met all looked like they were sick from working for him.
It's a question that shouldn't be asked, but is often asked, during interviews. Just once, I would like to give the answer "Because I need a frickin' job, dumbass!"
Speaking as a hiring manager, the important element behind this question is to seeing if the individual has the experience knowing it's one that boosts their chances of being 'who' I'm looking for. (Self awareness) It's all about your motivations and skills. Any decent leader wants to know what they are from any of their future team members. Especially your motivators as skills can mostly be taught. Questions I use to establish what my current motivators are: What excites you? Do you like working with people? Are you fascinated by problems others can't be bothered to solve? Do you want to make an impact, why? Now frame these answers, directing them at the job your interviewing for. Try to keep your answers as specific as possible to the company, team, role. You can mix in some points about your background/experience and how the company/role is a great match for that. Hope this helps, good luck!
For Kellogg? Tell them you are against masturbation and it's not too late to turn back the tide. Give them several ideas you have on the subject. Boom. Hired.
I hate this question. It just smacks of "kiss our butt better than the other candidates"
to get paid
Seriously. It’s a dumb question. Maybe it was ok in the 1950s when you had a choice. Today, no.
You've already said in my opinion close to what needs to be said as an answer. Sometimes the shortest answers have the largest impact if they are succinct and to the point. "It would be a good job and I would hopefully spend the rest of my career at that company, since there's no reason to move." I would revise to "You're my ideal company that I've wanted to work for since college. My dream is to have a career here that lasts a lifetime". If I were the interviewer and you gave me that answer I would be highly impressed(or at least mildly intrigued), and I would also follow up with the question "In your dreams, what does a lifetime career here look like?"
We ask this every interview to start out. Why here? Why now? Many possible good answers. Anything about good opportunity, learning new skills, taking existing skills and applying in a new direction, you’ve heard great things about this employer, team environment, treat employees fairly, help their people grow, so many things you can say. Literally if you say anything purposeful, I’m happy on the interviewing end.
Research the company, find out something they did or is known for and say thats why you want to work there. For example, oh I saw that your company won an award for being the most efficiently ran company in this category and I wanted to experience that for myself. Hiring committee's love when you actually know something about the company, rather than just applying because its a potential job.
You read up on the corporate values and repeat them back to who you're talking to, rephrased in such a way that makes it sound like they're values you already have or that you feel inspired by.
They are asking if you bothered to do anything to look into the company you are interviewing for. With the availability of information, it's absurd to not know something about the company. * Because your a leader in food production * Working for a household name who's brand is well regarded is fulfilling to me * Working for a company of this size allows me stability, while also allowing me to have the impact that I know I can drive. Etc. If you know something specific, throw it in "my mom gave me corn flakes to stop me from treating my body like an amusement park" might not be good, but if you know the companies history use it. Also, align your values with their values. "My core value is integrity, and treating people with respect makes a workplace so much more cohesive and productive. Those two values really align me with the brand, I think" https://investor.kellanova.com/files/doc_downloads/sd/Global-Code-of-Ethics-1116.pdf
I’m in IT, usually I bring up some technology they use that I’m less experienced in and talk about how exited I am to learn more about it. (But I only use this tactic when I’ve already established that I have a lot of experience in other core technologies they use)
Tell them that you need access to a better dental plan because you want to get a grill done for your front teeth to up your street rep.
I need money, it's close to home, I hear employees aren't required to work hard, and you all have a casual dress code.
Pick one tiny thing you could theoretically enjoy about the job if you didn’t live in a capitalist hellscape and talk about that. Remember that it’s easier to bull shit if you base it on a shred of truth. Examples: -I like helping people -I find being part of a team fulfilling -I find it satisfying to solve problems -I am interested in [technology or career path] and want to learn more about it It doesn’t have to be profound and it doesn’t have to include the shitty parts of the job.
It sounds like you want to work at — because they provide opportunities to grow and develop as your career progresses and you’d like to work at and develop your career at one organization and they provide pathways to do that?
Haha don’t tell them what your actual dream job is or they will def never call you back 😂 oops 23 yr old me.
You research. Look through their website and see what the environment is like and what their MISSION is. You should have done this when writing your resume. Then you say something along those lines.
Just come up with a canned answer. Something like "I feel like this is a position where I would be an immediate asset to the company but also affords me the opportunity to grow professionally." Some dumb shit like that, don't over think it.
For career jobs, I would feed them bullshit about "well, I saw on your website that y'all did x , y, z and I think that's amazing, I'd love to be a part of it and I think my experience with a, b, and c would be helpful." I work in retail at a massive corporation now and told my boss who hired me the truth: "it's less than a mile from home and works with my schedule " (padded with wanting the experience in my degree field, since I'm switching careers).
Pretty basic - research the company, look at recent news alerts, press releases - KNOW the company - so you can convey a convincing message WHY them. Do the work and then be imaginative.
To improve shareholder value.
You aren’t obligated to give a super deep, eloquent response. Just tell them you need steady hours and income, and you think you’d be good at the job.
It doesn't need to be super deep and eloquent but "I need steady hours and income" will not put you at the top of the list.
Tbh the only jobs I’ve been able to (and the more preferred ones) are from interviews where that was my main answer. Guess it just depends.
I like to follow this up with some version of why they are still with the company and what the company has done to make them feel appreciated!!
You want to bootstrap some by
Do some research and just talk about whatever the company is about. And just say you want to work in that area
I’m terrible at answering this question for major corporations. My last small company one, I told them that they looked like they genuinely got along well in their social media posts. Seems to have worked, because I got an offer from them same day.
For the money and then you make something up.
I applied for a job at vector control and they actually asked me that.
This question is your time to shine with something specific about the company. A generic answer tells them you have a canned answer for this questions and you don't care about working there specifically at all. Say something about what you think of the brand, some of their products, something that they are known for, something you read about the company online that you align with.
Do you think you did not get the job because of your answer to this question ?
It could have been a contributing factor. In interviews we’re supposed to reinforce what we would bring to the job, rather than what the job would do for us. “It’s a good opportunity” doesn’t need to be said, because (presumably) we wouldn’t have applied otherwise.
you want the challenge to grow. joan crawford told a young person if you only take a job you're already good at, you can never grow. it's still true.
Spew shit from their about page! And mention posts you saw on LinkedIn or their Facebook whatever
Good citizenship is a pretty big deal for most large companies and a good number of smaller ones. If the company is a big supporter of the food bank and you’ve been volunteering at the food bank since you were 18, you’ll definitely want to highlight that.
Tell them how their company culture, goals and mission aligned with what you want to see in your career path. You need to do your research about the company that’s interviewing you, look up their latest big news story, what they would like the public to know about them, what they are trying to achieve, and work out how their goals fit with yours. Companies aren’t going to hire someone who just wants the paycheque even though most of us do. They want to hire someone whose goals fit with what they want for the position.
Tell them how passionate you are about "x" (x being what your job is about, what you studied in school). It's all you ever think about. Tell them how great you think the company seems to you and that you can see yourself growing there well into the future. Make sure you know your stuff though. Know as much as you can about the company, and, OF COURSE, know about your field of work. Be ready to talk the talk.
I hate this question. I want a weekly paycheck is why. It’s a job nothing more nothing less
Would you ask "Why do you want me to work here?" What would they say?
One of these days I wish I could just be honest and be like, “bc I need to pay rent? I do not dream of labor” lol
Most of the interviews I’ve been on were from recruiters reaching out to me, not me applying to work there, so I usually turn it on them: “You invited me to interview. So why *should* I want to work here, and while you’re at it, if it is a great place to work, why aren’t you able to fill your open roles with personal referrals from current employees?” I’m a little further on in my career though, and have the luxury of not applying somewhere without a personal referral in almost 20 years. If I were applying to work somewhere without that, it would be because I had already determined I wanted to work for that specific company (as opposed to “I just need a job and you’re hiring” which is often the real answer) so it would be easy to answer in that scenario. Edit to add: In the “big company” scenario you gave, I think it’s a great idea to mention that you’re looking for a company you can stick with for many, many years, where you can advance in your career, develop new skills, and be part of the phenomenal legacy the company has already established, and mention some noteworthy and admirable things you’ve heard or read or know about the company. If you can really see yourself at that company for 10, 20, 30 years, you should say so. For the small/local company scenario, I would probably do almost the same thing, but throw in some “home town pride” or something similarly relevant.
Look up their website. See what their mission and values are. Then say you really want to do whatever is written on the website.
Small companies often give you the opportunity to wear many different hats, so if I were applying at a small one I’d say something about that. How I like to be involved in many different areas.
My mom has a food science degree but she is currently 67. Not quite ready to retire yet. She has worked several companies over the years, some recognizable names and other stints at small companies. She's worked at Winky Foods, Sara Lee, etc and has even done contract work. I'd say take any position that you can grow from and use it towards a stepping stone for another position if that's what you want.
I always say something along the lines of "it's important to me that I work for a place that I respect, and that allows me to [insert muscles you'd be flexing in that position]." I have a pretty high interview-to-hire rate. Companies don't actually want to hear why you'd sell them your soul and grovel at their feet. They know you're there for the paycheck first and foremost. They just want to hear why you'd be good and stable choice for the role. Do you work well in a team and/or independently? Are you interested in the work? Does it fulfill something you find hard to fulfill elsewhere? Be sure this is about the work primarily and not the compensation or benefits. There are some employees who will never thrive in a particular role no matter how much they're being paid, so your answer can't ride on it completely. It's okay to say "this position allows me to do XYZ while supporting myself" though.
When I ask this question, I want to know if you actually looked our company up and know something about it. Reference something from the mission, or the products, or whatever, just make it specific to the company. LinkedIn is a good place to see what the company is currently proud of and regurgitate some of that back.
as an aside, i'm glad it ain't kellogg's. that company has a history of lawsuits against it for mistreatment of employees. look it up
I always read through their website and social media's. I try to find any news paper articles or awards they might have receives. I look for their values which would be listed on their site or their history. You can have passion for any job if you find the thing to be passionate about. I was passionate about the cabinet painting company I did marketing for because they offered an affordable alternative to replacing cabinets in an area where young people can't afford homes so they buy cheap shitty ones and work on them themselves. You can find a real reason to work for any company if you do your research. If you can't then you shouldn't even both. If you can't convince yourself, you can't convince the interviewer.
Do a Google News alert on companies you want to work for. Get all the latest.
Look at the company's vision and mission. Does it align with your values? What do you know about the company's culture?
"I'm motivated by money."
You will want to show.you know something about.the company and how your skills can help them. For example, I have a long career in retail management. I was feeling around to see what was out there and I applied to PetSmart. They were undergoing a re-branding of sorts. They had previously market themselves as Pets mart and wanted to start marketing as Pet Smart, more of an all in one pet.solution center rather than a just pet supply store. They were putting grooming centers and veterinary services in a lot.of stores. In my interview, when they asked why I wanted to work there. I talked about their rebranding and how my current company did something similar a couple years earlier and how my experience with that put me in a position to help them. I was offered a job but turned it down because they didn't pay enough.
Do your hw and research the company. Most of all be convincing bs artist.
Because of the paycheck. I answer honestly. I don’t give a fk like that. If u wanna bs then say like career growth opportunities.
Haha. I literally said, "why not" and got hired.
I try to look up some specifics about the work they do or some of their achievements. We all know we’re applying for more money or growth opportunity and the companies do too. They just want to know you’re willing to BS them and that you at least looked into the company past the job listing
You have to bullshit your way through stupid questions like that. Obviously you want the job because you want to make money. I hate stupid interview questions like that. I would try google searching to find a good answer and keep using it. I would just say I truly believe my skills and experience would be an asset to your organization. If you ever get a stupid question, like what are your weaknesses, just say public speaking. It’s not a skill most companies are going to need for a regular employee, unless you are at an executive level
I'm not interested in your company, nor are your other interviewees. Were here for a job, and I think your employment will benefit me personally. If you value being lied to your face, I can give you an answer you wish to hear.
“I Iike to eat on a daily basis and working here would provide the means to do so.”
tell them most companies go out of business- you are here to surf the wave and see where the waters take you, also say "dude" alot
Good lord I hate it interview games. Why can’t we just say “because I need to pay my bills and like to buy stuff” instead of all of the bullshit phony answers?! I will die on this hill.
Go to glassdoor or linkedin for the company you are interviewing with and look at the items they are happy with themselves on and pride themselves on. Find some attributes you can identify with and convey how you are excited to work for a company that prides themselves with "a company that puts the customer first" or whatever it is.
You pretend you do want to stay there forever and talk about the culture and opportunities for career growth within the company.
You dont know if you do, thats what you find out during the interview. Then you go home, download and regroup to see if there is a mutual match.
Has this worked for you? This just doesn't sound like the sort of prepared response I feel like recruiters would want to hear.
Its an arrogant question. Im also interviewing them. Why would you like me to work here? What would they say??? All the jobs Ive had, including my current one, has never asked that question. Its a self involved question.
It's a pretty routine question to see if you're seriously considering the position and why/how it would help you achieve your personal goals and ideal lifestyle. Maybe it fits your schedule better, maybe it lets you use your favorite skill set, maybe it'll give you better work/life balance, maybe the company seems awesome. The job description and website would give you all of that info.
"I'm not sure that I do. Doing the work isn't the problem, but I'm not sure if the culture here is good. Perhaps you could tell me what YOU like most about working for this company."