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?

@wordler Ok, but the truth for most people is that they chose your company for one, or a combination of, several reasons:

1. Pay
2. Location
3. Other benefits like longer annual leave, enhanced maternity pay, health insurance etc
4. They've applied to multiple jobs in their field, including your competitors, you happened to be hiring at that particular time and you happened to offer them an interview.

But none of these are considered a acceptable answers. You can see that from the outrage of some recruiters on here, when a candidate has naively answered the question truthfully. So really, it's a test of how well a candidate can say what the interviewer wants to hear.

I was, admittedly, being a bit flippant.

Culture is important of course, but I think that is more something for the company to present to the interviewee rather than the other way round. You can't really research what a company is like to work for on a day to day basis.

I think the question is basically a trap. The honest answer is, in most cases "for the money", but interviewers don't like that. So the interviewee is basically forced into inventing some nonsense, and the interviewer has to pretend to buy it. And then the interview will ask a technical question that does demand the candidate not bullshit their way though it, having been asked to do just that. I just feel it leads to an interview process that doesn't really benefit anyone.

[quote ChocolateDigestivesMmm]@wordler Ok, but the truth for most people is that they chose your company for one, or a combination of, several reasons:

1. Pay
2. Location
3. Other benefits like longer annual leave, enhanced maternity pay, health insurance etc
4. They've applied to multiple jobs in their field, including your competitors, you happened to be hiring at that particular time and you happened to offer them an interview.

But none of these are considered a acceptable answers. You can see that from the outrage of some recruiters on here, when a candidate has naively answered the question truthfully. So really, it's a test of how well a candidate can say what the interviewer wants to hear.
[/quote]
The interview is a conversation which boils down to "are you a fit for us? Are we a fit for you?"

If HR do their part properly the candidate shouldn't get to the interview stage without the required skills and experience.

The candidates need for pay and a suitable location are a given too - as people have pointed out they wouldn't be applying without the job meeting those two needs. And extra benefits are nice but they are the icing.

The cake is the job itself because we spend such a significant part of our week dedicated to it.

The 'fluffy' questions some people seem to hate are just vehicles for chatting which allow both sides to get a measure of the candidates' attitude and on the other side of the table the attitude of the company and the team culture.

I've been most successful as a candidate when I've stopped thinking about it being a 'test' I have to bluff through and practice talking about my real interests and motivations (beyond pay etc - my feelings about my career path etc) When you approach the interview and a 2-way thing it can help you make better decisions about whether to accept or turn down the job when it's offered to you.

I've been most successful as a recruiter / interviewer when I've considered the team and where this person in front of me will fit, and how they will enhance the whole rather than just fill a gap.

It is a test of how well you communicate but if you're only aiming for bluffing the interviewer you may be missing the point that it's not the right fit for you.

I really started enjoying being interviewed when I shifted my perspective from it being a 'test' to a conversation.

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.

Wrote no HR professional ever - or certainly not in the 21st century - unless they wanted to open up a can of worms around discrimination based on race, gender, disability, nationality, sexual orientation, age, religion etc. and leave the company open to legal action.

Quite apart from that there is also the issue of replacing a member of staff who has left with a clone - which can result in a team of people all with the same skills and attitudes ("team culture and fit") but also with the same weaknesses and possibly the same unwanted traits and attitudes.

@wordler It is literally a test though, your answers are being scored. For my last job, it was made clear that you needed a certain score to "pass" the interview. The person with the highest score gets the job.
It's not a real conversation, because neither side are being entirely truthful. The candidate gives whatever spiel is needed to get the job, because they need to earn a living.
And the interviewer is hardly going to say "our culture is a toxic one of pettiness, passive aggression and management bullying", which is true for probably 90% of the type of corporate jobs that ask these types of questions. I've never got an accurate feel for the real culture of a place from an interview or a company website, because these only showcase the best bits and embellish the truth.

My most recent interview, which led to an offer, was a breath of fresh air because they didn't ask pointless questions or try to psychoanalyse me to see if I'd be a "good fit for the team" (which is really subjective and often disadvantages minority groups), instead they focused on objective metrics like the results I achieved at my previous job, my skills and qualifications.

I think if many job seekers are saying they're put off by certain questions or hiring practices, recruiters need to take note, not get defensive. No wonder many places are struggling to recruit.

I’m starting to agree with you @CapMarvel if the person has no job at present it’s probably a shit question. In that scenario it’s definitely a ‘well I need to eat..’.

@CapMarvel

I think you are, if you are asking the question "why do you want to work here" and expecting an honest answer, or would judge someone who does answer honestly in a negative way.

There are better ways to find out whether a person is a good fit without basically asking them to lie.

Are you always such a literal person, @CapMarvel?

No-one's asking anyone to lie. Is it so difficult to answer a potentially useful question with a relevant answer?

@ChocolateDigestivesMmmm

Okay, fair enough, maybe my experience is unique to my main career industry (which is a creative one but fairly broad in scope) - although I've found the techniques I've described above have worked for me and others in other fields too.

Also, I've never turned up to an interview only having read the company website - I assumed most people would do a lot more research - including if possible a informational pre-interview chat, visiting the company and talking to other employees, reading reviews on glassdoor, researching the background and resumes of the interview panel etc. If you've been in a particular field for a few years you can usually find someone in your network who used to work with the place and find out the insider info.

Your application and any tests your do before the interview showcase your skills and experience. So by the time you get to the interview both sides are simply confirming what they already know about a candidate. In your last interview I suspect they knew they already wanted you based on your application.

DS was asked this question when bring interviewed for a supermarket job. He replied that he didn't necessarily want to work there, he had applications in with all the other local supermarkets too. At the time, supermarkets were crying out for staff. They offered him the job on the spot!

@wordler Yes it sounds like we're in very different industries, I've never heard of anyone doing these things for an interview, except maybe reading the Glassdoor reviews.
For the job I mentioned I wasn't even told who would be interviewing me and it's a secure building with lots of confidential work being done...it would have been a bit odd if I turned up asking to look around when I wasn't actually an employee yet. I don't know if they necessarily knew who they wanted to hire already...the ethos behind their hiring process is that they wanted to make it as fair and objective as possible, and to eliminate unconscious bias which inevitably creeps in when people start talking about "fitting into the team".

@MasterBeth

How is it literal to just want an interview to be based on honesty and openness?

The simple truth of the matter is that for the vast, vast, vast majority of people the answer to the question "why do you want to work here" is "for the money".

If you don't like that answer you need to ask better questions.

The simple truth of the matter is that for the vast, vast, vast majority of people the answer to the question "why do you want to work here" is "for the money".

Of course, the pay is sometimes a huge motivator. But it always translates well into "I like the value which [company] places on their employees."

And the interviewer is hardly going to say "our culture is a toxic one of pettiness, passive aggression and management bullying", which is true for probably 90% of the type of corporate jobs that ask these types of questions.

I've always asked questions when the interviewer opens up the chance -- what do you like about working here, etc. I find that you can sometimes accurately get a feel for a company this way. It works best if you are interviewing with a potential direct team member, but it can also provide worlds of information into how connected HR is with the actual employees, something that speaks volumes about an employer.

For most people pay is the only motivator, let's be honest.

How many people would continue to work if they didn't need to?

I just lie. The business doesn't actually care, they just want someone doing the job. Dunno why they bother.

@CapMarvel

For most people pay is the only motivator, let's be honest.

How many people would continue to work if they didn't need to?

People who suffer with a lack of imagination, and have all their self worth attached to their job.

Also, all the arse kissing and slavish devotion to the company, keeps most HR people in jobs😀

@gwenneh

The simple truth of the matter is that for the vast, vast, vast majority of people the answer to the question "why do you want to work here" is "for the money".

Of course, the pay is sometimes a huge motivator. But it always translates well into "I like the value which [company] places on their employees."

And the interviewer is hardly going to say "our culture is a toxic one of pettiness, passive aggression and management bullying", which is true for probably 90% of the type of corporate jobs that ask these types of questions.

I've always asked questions when the interviewer opens up the chance -- what do you like about working here, etc. I find that you can sometimes accurately get a feel for a company this way. It works best if you are interviewing with a potential direct team member, but it can also provide worlds of information into how connected HR is with the actual employees, something that speaks volumes about an employer.

"I like the value the company put on their employees" is a bit of a reach.

Are you HR? Do you come up with bollocks mission statements and values and all the rest of it?

But who cares how connected HR are? At the end of the day, you go there, do your work, get paid 🤷‍♀️

[quote CapMarvel]@MasterBeth

How is it literal to just want an interview to be based on honesty and openness?

The simple truth of the matter is that for the vast, vast, vast majority of people the answer to the question "why do you want to work here" is "for the money".

If you don't like that answer you need to ask better questions.[/quote]
But if all jobs are about the money (and you're applying for different jobs where the money is fairly similar) then the question "why here in particular" is important (to both you and the recruiter).

Like a PP said if it's a job in a supermarket stacking shelves you absolutely can be honest and say something simple like "it feels like a good fit for me because of location, I'm also applying to similar jobs elsewhere"

If you're an admin assistant applying for two different companies - for the same pay and benefits, then you're going to look past the money aspect and start thinking about other things which will make you happy at work.

If one is a construction company and the other one is a big hotel chain - you might prefer the hotel chain as there are lots of chances for promotion. The smart answer to "why do you want to work here?" explains what you would get out of the role + what they get from you.

"I'm interested in starting my career here in xyc hotels because I know you deal with a lot of corporate business from France and I recently passed an advanced French language course and this seems like a good opportunity to put that skill to you [what they are getting from you] and I'm interested in pursuing a career in corporate hospitality and I know from research I've done about your company that there are lots of opportunities here [what's in it for you]"

I said it before every question in an interview is a vehicle for the three main questions in the interviewer's mind.

1. Can you do the job - skills
2. Will you do the job - commitment and reliability
3. Will you be someone that works well in our team - likability/easy to work with

Number 3 mainly comes into play if there are loads of great candidates who are all very similar in skills and (apparent) commitment and reliability. Everyone is working for money but why wouldn't an employer want to choose the candidate who brings something extra to work everyday whether that's enthusisam for the core work, to a five-year career plan which means they are going to work their socks off for you so that you get them to the next place they want to go.

But also, sometimes they ask that question early on to put people at their ease a little because it's the one question that should be easy to practice before hand and helps get people over their nerves and get into the conversation. Similar to "tell me a little about yourself' - which is the one I personally hate because it's so open ended it's hard to not waffle.

I interviewed someone a few years ago and had to ask that ( half the questions were pre set by HR) and the man said "because I've been made redundant, have a mortgage and a family to support and I really need a job!" He did go on to say why he felt he would be a good fit for the role. I appreciated his honesty and he was the best candidate by far and is still with us 😀

I dont't think I've ever said 'its my dream job'

but even when I had the most pressing financial reasons for applying for a particular role there was always other job related things I could refer to - even if was I wanted to return to the sector and the role was a good for my skills/experience and I could see potential for future development

@CapMarvel but what about the career moves you make which are about making the daily work more interesting for yourself, or are part of a larger long-term strategy for moving up within your particular field?

I've done three or four interviews for jobs where the money is not going to be any different but the job content was going to be very different - or I wanted to work for a particular organisation for a couple of years for the experience and benefit it would bring for future career moves.

So to turn it around to the people who really hate this question - and are only doing the job for the money - no personal fulfillment, no future career strategy for the application.

What question would you like to be asked that would give you a chance to show the interviewer what sets you above the other candidates? Assuming your fellow candidates have similar levels of skill and job experience.

@OneGoodTurn

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

I.e Most reasonable people

@wordler

So to turn it around to the people who really hate this question - and are only doing the job for the money - no personal fulfillment, no future career strategy for the application.

What question would you like to be asked that would give you a chance to show the interviewer what sets you above the other candidates? Assuming your fellow candidates have similar levels of skill and job experience.

Don't assume that because people are honest enough to say that their primary motivation to work is money that such people don't enjoy their jobs or have no career plan.

I like my job, I'm good at it and I've progressed up the ladder, but I'm still in it primarily for the money - if I wasn't being paid or I won the lottery I would be out of the door like a shot - just like about 99% of people who ever turned up for an interview.

And to answer @wordler the answer to "why this company" is pretty obvious as well - because your company is recruiting and the person has responded to the ad. Your competitor might not be recruiting or if they are it's likely that person has applied to them as well. It's very rare for anyone to specifically want to work for one company beyond the reason of "because they have jobs going".

My problem with the question "why do you want to work here" is that the honest answer is frowned upon, so you are encouraging the interviewee to lie straight off the bat. You'll then go on and ask them an actual relevant question and you expect an honest answer. It's not consistent and it just results in an interview the end result of which you have no idea what was bullshit and what was the truth.

@CapMarvel It's very rare for anyone to specifically want to work for one company beyond the reason of "because they have jobs going".

While not many would work without being paid I can't believe that the majority of people have no preferences when choosing where they work.

Teachers - no preference at all for a type of school, a specialism, a school with a specific ethos, small class sizes, a specific school within several in an area

Office Managers - can transfer those skill to numerous industries - no preference at all to type of company, size of office?

Copywriters - can write well across a variety of genres - no preference at all to the content they are creating?

Sous Chefs - no preference to food type, size of restaurant, who their boss is going to be

Civil Servant - no preference to type of office, local benefits agency to city tax office?

Police officer - no preference for specific police force, department, future career advancement,

Climate change non-profit - no preference for location, size of non-profit, success of team projects

Flight attendant - no preference for route opportunities, shift options?

Executive assistant - no preference to the type of boss you'll be working with or the field of work they work within?

Massage therapist - no preference to the type of salon, the type of client?

Engineer - no preference to the size of company, the types of projects?

Charity fundraiser - no preference for the type of charity you are working for?

Veterinary nurse - no preference for the size of practice, small animal vs large animal, vs exotic animal?

Hair stylist - no preference for size of salon, shift times, autonomy of own client management, prestige of salon name?

Marketing assistant - no preference for the type of marketing you are going, the type of company you work for, the products you are selling

Hotel manager - no preference for size of hotel, options for being located to somewhere exciting within a chain