O/T Job Interview

John B. · Apr 10, 2009

People are asking me when they are on a job interview and they are asked by the HR Dept.;

Why do you want to work for this company?

I thought I would pass this on to you folks because I don't know how to answer this one. I've never been in this situation yet!! Have any of you? If so what was your answer?

Thanks,
John B.

200cs · Apr 10, 2009

(quoted from post at 06:36:33 04/10/09) People are asking me when they are on a job interview and they are asked by the HR Dept.;

Why do you want to work for this company?

I thought I would pass this on to you folks because I don't know how to answer this one. I've never been in this situation yet!! Have any of you? If so what was your answer?

Thanks,
John B.

found this on the web:

http://www.answerstointerviewquestions.org/

hope it helps

dbernie · Apr 10, 2009

Research the company a bit before the interview.
Decide IF and WHY you want to work for the company,
then answer honestly.
There's places I wouldn't work, just because I don't like the way they do business, what they do, etc.
Where I do work, I believe in the main purpose of the place, and I do my little job in support of that larger goal...

ddl · Apr 10, 2009

tell the truth. if your only there for the paycheck then tell them so you can eat. If you've done your research on the company like you should then you will know why you want to work there.

51 VAC · Apr 10, 2009

I had a job interview yesterday, and I answered that I knew this was a stable company, with a very good benefits package, but the bottom line is that I needed to get back to work and have some positive cash flow. Now I've got to sweat it out for a week to see if I get the job. I'm just finishing up 2 years of school for bioprocess technology, so we'll see if this training pays off.

John T · Apr 10, 2009

Years ago when my kids came of age and went on job interviews, the best advice I gave them was to LOOK THE EMPLOYER STRAIGHT IN THE EYE AND GIVE THEM A GOOD FIRM HANDSHAKE not a wet fish wimpy one lol

Maintain eye contact,,,,,,,be confident,,,,,,sell yourself,,,,,,,know the companys history and product and give them reasons to want to hire you. Have a clean neat PROFESSIONAL apperance

best wishes

John T

tjdub · Apr 10, 2009

"Because you pay people money and I need some of that!"

Actually, I've never been asked that question in a job interview. I've been involved in the interview process at my company and don't recall it being asked there either. In my experience, the question that seems to doom candidates more than anything is:

"Why (do you want to / did you) leave your current employment?"

Lets just say that breaking into a rant about how much you hate your current job, co-workers, and boss does not help you out

I'm surprised at how many people do it though.

Mike M · Apr 10, 2009

Yea ; Like your really going to answer trufully !

I just wanted to come work here to see if you really treat your employees as bad as they say. LOL !!!
Alot of these places are only hiring because they have a high turnover rate. Once you get hired in you learn why !

I never liked that question because you really don't know the real story about a company and if they are worth a darn until after you have worked there a few years. The first year or so ? more or less, you usually get treated better so it seems.

Pair-a-dice farm · Apr 10, 2009

I used to be an interviewer for a company. We were trained to look at body language as much as the answers for the questions. Like others have said, be confident in yourself and answer questions honestly. One of the best answers to the question was by a young lady who said she wanted to work for the company because she," could perform the duties as well or better than anyone here." She was hired and she held up to her claim.

Jiles · Apr 10, 2009

Years ago, I was asked that very question. I stated that I had a good job that I was getting somewhat bored with because there was no chance for advancement. I also stated that I was qualified for this job and overqualfied for the job I now have. It must have worked he asked me when I could start to work. I stated it depended on how much notice I had to give my employer.
I retired from this company after 32 years of service.

redtom · Apr 10, 2009

I can't tell you the answer but it can work both ways. Once I said " my current job offers no chance for advancement I would like to work where I can move up/ progress". I was told that " The job is XXX and thats it, there is no 'moving up". It was a fatal answer for me.

Bill Shafer · Apr 10, 2009

Cause I need the job. Never been ask that.

TomH in PA · Apr 10, 2009

HR drones are trained to ask certain questions and expect certain answers, so you need to give them what they expect. If the person who asks the question is from HR you should know the stock answers (company has good reputation, people I've met so far seem like they would be nice to work with, etc). Do a little research on interview questions and answers.

If the person who asks the question is the supervisor you will be working for, answer the question honestly instead of giving a canned answer.

Keep in mind that that you will be be working with them all day every day. Bottom line, as others have said, is to look energetic and be friendly. They're not going to hire a grouch.

MarkB_MI · Apr 10, 2009

The actual answer probably doesn't matter much. That is, as long as you avoid the more obvious faux paxs, such as "I heard that this is a place where everybody smokes weed out by the loading dock during breaks."

The interviewer is usually more interested in HOW you answer the question. And he may throw you a curve ball just to see how you respond.

I liked John T's answer. Just remember that you're selling yourself, not the other way around.

RN · Apr 10, 2009

Reason left previous employer? As in shift eliminated when depts moved to Mexico? Jeep dealer went bankrupt, Shifts eliminated and bumped by senior operator 1981 Carter admin after half factory lines dropped for lack of orders,, computer operation outsourced after fancy order processing project failed, company moved out of town. Various reasons left previous company in job history. RN

Goose · Apr 10, 2009

RESEARCH THE COMPANY IN ADVANCE!!!!!!!!!

Then, if they ask that question, focus on THEIR needs instead or your own needs. Obviously you need a job or you wouldn't be there in the first place.

You need to research the company so that you are conversant with the company's operation and goals, then be able to explain in detail to the interviewer how your unique experience and ability will complement their operation in terms of the position you're interviewing for. Focus on the one job, and DO NOT act like you'll take anything they have to offer. If the interviewer sees you as a fit for another opening, let him/her bring it up.

As an aside, I once interviewed a young man for a job opening I had for driving a delivery van. The fellow had played semi-pro football and was an absolute animal physically. He didn't even ask about pay, all he was interested in was how hard the work was. Him I didn't hire.

John B. · Apr 10, 2009

Yes they do that, I think it's a way of unloading and hoping someone understands why they left a job.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 10, 2009

Hilarious post! Best joke on yt mag yet!

Anonymous-0 · Apr 10, 2009

If they ask about job experiance, JUST SAY --- YES I SURE DO!, I'VE HAD FIFTEEN JOBS IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.

I once asked a guy who was needing a job, what he did at his previous job? He told me he had a goof off job plumbing in a local trailer factory. He said it only took a little time to make his plumbing in the bathroom. But he would sleep with his feet against the bathroom door, and ride it through the line as if he was having troubles with the cheap connections. If anyone was to check on him, they would push the door against his feet, and wake him up. I then asked him---DID YOU JUST ASK ME FOR A JOB? He admited he goofed his interview up pretty bad.

I run a one horse construction company, and every interview is made after work while I unload a pickup load of wood. I could get up in the back and throw the wood back in one trip. I instead jump up and throw a few chunks back, jump down and throw them in the basment. After he observes me jumping back and forth, he could jump in and help, or WATCH ME WORK. That is a real good way to see if they can grasp the next move without being told to do so.

Kruse · Apr 10, 2009

I once interviewed for a high tech company that had 35,000 employees. My resume was quite good, at least in my mind, and way at the end I noted that my past time was enjoyed by playing softball.
During my interview, the HR man looked at it like it was another ho-hum resume until at the end he saw my love for softball. Suddenly he asked me about a dozen questions about softball: the position I played, my hitting average, how far I could smack the ball and how good of an arm I had. He quickly told me that there were several company teams and that his team needed a good outfielder. I was hired on the spot with the condition that I play softball for his team.
In reality, something like this is not wanted on a resume. They want it short, concise and to the point.
I put in 10 wonderful years at this company. Go figure.

Hoofer B · Apr 10, 2009

...because I heard you do not press charges.

Spook · Apr 10, 2009

I had a supervisor that was hired into GM in the early 60's because he was an outstanding pitcher.

kyplowboy · Apr 10, 2009

I had a boss at a factory one time who was kinda an outcast among all the other line leads. He was a nice guy, been there 20+ years, couldn't figure it out so I ask'm. He said he liked to bowl and hated golf. When the plant supervisor came here from Arizona 25 years before he loved to bowl. Got to be friends with my boss and few others from the factory at the bowling ally. 15 years later Chuck got tired of bowling and started play'n golf. All the other line foremen quit too and took up golf. From then on they just did not have any time for my boss, kinda funny.

Dave

Mike (WA) · Apr 11, 2009

Did you actually have job applicants who just stood there and watched? That's inconceivable to me. Were they just doing their obligatory 3 applications a week to maintain their unemployment payments?

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