Why do you want to work here?

[LottyD32]

AIBU to detest this question and find it completely pointless?

Why do they still ask it?
What do they hope to glean from your answer?

We all know the answer mostly is 'I couldn't care less, just give me the job and pay me' so why do they insist on making people jump through these ridiculous hoops?

It's a fucking stupid question but it's a bit of a test

Of course no one is going to say it's closer to home, better pay and better holidays (even though that's the truth)

@Hawkins001

Plus from a corporate perspectives, why spend time, effort, resources training and investing in people, if the person wants to jump ship as soon as possible just because they get a bit more £ ?

Well, that's the risk you take, isn't it?

But if you pay well and treat people like human beings you will retain skilled staff. That's really what it comes down to.

@catinboots123

It's a fucking stupid question but it's a bit of a test

Of course no one is going to say it's closer to home, better pay and better holidays (even though that's the truth)

One of the main reasons I took my current job was because my old role involved having to travel, and I hate travelling for work. I was completely open about that when interviewing because I wanted to set expectations right from the start, and it didn't do me any harm.

I honestly think that if people were open in interviews about this sort of thing recruitment would work better.

Hate this question and never asked it when conducting interviews.

For when humans enter space and depending on what's out there, we need earth to have the best defensive and offensive capabilities as best as possible, don't forget everyone, we are just a drop in the ocean, when it comes to the vastness of the galaxies.

Ooo, I wonder how that would go over?

But if you pay well and treat people like human beings you will retain skilled staff. That's really what it comes down to.

Yeah. Corporate values being in alignment is always going to be secondary to don't be a dick.

@DimebagDarrell

I agree OP. It’s particularly ridiculous in smaller industries where there’s only a few organisations. I work in a niche area connected to academia and there’s maybe 6 or so organisations in the UK where I can do my job.

But in an interview it would come across badly if I replied to that question with the honest “because you’re advertising the job role that I’m interested in and have years of experience doing”. Instead I have to come up with some waffle about loving their new flagship initiative or EDI strategy or whatever. (And which is most likely near identical to the other competitor organisations anyway.)

But it wouldn't come across badly if your answer was like that - you don't have to gush about the company - it would sound totally fine if you answered that by saying “because you’re advertising the job role that I’m interested in and have years of experience doing”

It's a bit short though and I imagine the other candidates you are competing against are also being interviewed because they are interested in the role and have years of experience too.

So you flesh it out a bit to say why this is a job role you are interested in and remind them of the experience by connecting some of the details of that experience.

How you answer questions like this is just as important as what you say. Your tone, expression, enthusiasm.

If there's one role and 12 candidates and the top six have fairly identical levels of experience, skill and great references/reputations then all the interviewers have to go on is the impression you make when you are talking to them.

Questions like this one are a gift for making a good impression.

And @ChocolateDigestivesMmmm

Perhaps it should be re worded...you could ask something specific like "Which aspects of the job description appeal you?" or "Which project of ours interests you the most?"

Of course you can word it differently and sometimes it will be but it's exactly the same question. So if you practice an answer to "Why do you want to work here" you'll be ready for the same question worded slightly differently throughout the whole interview. 'Why is this a good fit for you? Why are you a good fit for us?' All the interview questions are getting to the same point.

And for the people who keep saying no one would work if they didn't need the money - again that's the whole point - if we have to work then it makes sense to aim to work at places your are interested in, where you'll enjoy the culture, fit in with your colleagues. As an interviewer I do want to know why you've chosen my company, my specific team etc rather than the one down the road.

As an interviewer I do want to know why you've chosen my company, my specific team etc rather than the one down the road.

1. Your company might be the only one currently looking for staff.

2. Your company might have the reputation of being a poor employer, with a high staff turnover and difficulty in attracting and retaining staff - but my two best mates work for you, you're desperate for staff and the pay is not bad so for the next 12 months or so, I'll put up with that.

3. You don't know that I might also have sent a speculative application to the company down the road and I'm just hedging my bets

My current.place always asks why are you leaving current role. I always thought this was a really stupid question until the last time I was recruiting and a candidate basically told me because they were unmanageable. So maybe there is more to these weeding out questions than I thought.

My favourite question is what motivates you?

Spite

😂

It's an utterly pointless question! I always think the company and people interviewing want to be flattered and told how amazing g they are.
In reality, most of us work because we need to pay the bills!

A few examples of bullshittery recently. Nephew who is a student went for two p/t super.markets jobs. It was two of the 'big four' He was asked this question, and answered it exactly the same way for both, just obviously tweaking very minor details.
Got offered both jobs!

In reality, his mate works in one of the jobs , and told him it's not a great place to work, and he is only there because he's a penniless student! My dn is in exactly the same position and will take pretty much anything for six months, so he can save for a massive holiday he has planned in September.

My friend went for two interviews on the same day to rival insurance companies. She parrotted the same bullshit answers to this question. Got offered both jobs. She took the one with the slightly better annual leave allowance.

I've been for a few interviews recently. My main criteria is that it's a job I can do on set days ( so that I can bugger off for long weekends in our campervan) and go home and not think about it. Should I tell the interview that? Well of course I wont. just like my dn and df I will make up some bullying and tell them what they want to hear. The whole interviewing process needs to get fucking real!!

'

[quote ChocolateDigestivesMmmm]@KleineDracheKokosnuss Haha yeah sure they do. If you're the boss they're simply boot licking in the hope of a promotion/pay rise. I see this in my work and it's so transparent. No sane person truly cares about vague corporate bullshit.
You can definitely see the divide between employers and employees on this thread though, and how deluded/up their own arse employers are.[/quote]
Not necessarily, I've been an employer and never gone in for this bollocks. I don't see the point and I don't want to work with corporate waffle bullshitters that live outside the box while aiming for the sky 🙄 or whatever the latest buzz speak nonsense is.

My niece told me about an interview she had for a fixed term teaching assistant role recently. She wants to earn some money to fund further study. She has worked in the school on a supply basis occasionally and knows some of the staff. It has a toxic culture and a bad reputation for dealing with bullying.

It has a big turnover of staff , especially non teaching.
She said the interview was pure fantasy land and if she didn't already know different, she would have thought it was the best school ever to work in and she should feel humbled for the opportunity.

If I won money tomorrow I would never work again. Work is completely overrated, particularly the older you get, and no matter what you do! I would spend my time travelling. I can dream grin]

I also find the hoops are more ridiculous the lower down the payscale you go.

For my last 46k job, it was basically 'we like your cv, start on monday'. In my industry, and level, that's what I'm used to. Or people calling me asking if I want to move, they have such and such available.

Now I'm applying for anything and everything admin based, that is remote, and the hoop jumping and box ticking is ridiculous.

Some even want references and your NI number on the application form, which I think is far more than a bit of a pisstake.

I turn it round and ask the panel why they work for the organisation and what makes it a good place to work. It's fascinating to hear the responses.

Lotty too right. I applied for the role I “got” mid-December, I’m still waiting for HR to sort their shit out. Lowest paying job I’ve had since the 90s…

I also told one to fuck off when they wanted 3 months of bank statements and to speak to my accountant for an EIGHT hours a month job!

@EdgeOfSeventeenAndThreeQuarter

Lotty too right. I applied for the role I “got” mid-December, I’m still waiting for HR to sort their shit out. Lowest paying job I’ve had since the 90s…

I also told one to fuck off when they wanted 3 months of bank statements and to speak to my accountant for an EIGHT hours a month job!

That's ridiculous. So invasive.

@EdgeOfSeventeenAndThreeQuarter

Lotty too right. I applied for the role I “got” mid-December, I’m still waiting for HR to sort their shit out. Lowest paying job I’ve had since the 90s…

I also told one to fuck off when they wanted 3 months of bank statements and to speak to my accountant for an EIGHT hours a month job!

What the actual fuck. 😲😲😲

That's insane.

There's always a reason why you applied to that job or spoke to that recruiter over the other possible available jobs.
The misconception is that you need to say "I've dreamed about this since I was a child" or something. I often say something along the lines of I have the skills to do it and I can see it leading to me being paid more in the future (worded more nicely). If there is something beyond that I'll say that too but it works fine for the most part.

@OneGoodTurn

Maybe to weed out the people who couldn’t care less about the job or the organisation and just want to get paid?

Erm, don't we all work to get paid? I agree OP it's a complete nonsense, like so many ridiculous application form questions.

Employers need workers, they are not doing you a favour by employing you.

Exactly. You are there to make them money. Why they think you care any more than them continuing to do so, so you continue to be employed and paid, is beyond me.

I'm HR and always ask this question (or a variation of it). I want to employ someone who has bothered researching the company and wants to work for us. Team culture and fit is important.

@Tink626

I'm HR and always ask this question (or a variation of it). I want to employ someone who has bothered researching the company and wants to work for us. Team culture and fit is important.

'team culture and fit' jesus, do you really believe this bullshit?😀