While it’s helpful to ask a job candidate to elaborate on his or her skills and attributes, and to share past challenges as well as successes, there is one question that will provide special insight—and you want to make sure you ask it.
The question is actually an obvious one, and yet many employers overlook it.
When Interviewing
The question is, “Why do you want to work here?”
As might be expected, there are variations of this question. These include:
- “Why do you want to work for ABC Company?”
- “What about our company led you to apply for this position?”
- “Of all the companies in the [fill in the blank] industry, why did you apply to ABC Company?
No matter how you decide to word the question, keep it simple. You don’t want to lose sight of the information you’re seeking.
What You Want to Know
And what exactly do you want to uncover/discover?
You’re looking for:
- Confirmation that the candidate understands your company and what it does.
- Assurance that he or she knows your company’s products or services.
- Indication that he or she knows something about your standing in the industry.
- Knowledge of your corporate culture.
- Interest in making a contribution, based on all of the above.
For Almost Any Job
The “why do you want to work here” question provides insight when interviewing candidates for nearly every job, from entry-level to executive.
The question is effective for a number of reasons:
- It shifts the focus of the interview from the candidate’s experience and skills to the hiring company.
- It forces both the candidate and the company to carefully consider fit.
- It allows for a closer look at a candidate’s motivation and goals.
- It identifies any misperceptions about the company, its products and services, and its employer brand.
- It invariably leads to an unscripted conversation where both parties learn more about one another.
Arguably, no other interview question provides as much insight and so readily facilitates a hiring decision.
“Why do you want to work here” … so simple, so to the point, and yours to use, when you interview your next job candidate.
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Paula Santonocito, Contributing Editor for Recruiting Daily Advisor, is a business journalist specializing in employment issues. She is the author of more than 1,000 articles on a wide range of human resource and career topics, with an emphasis on recruiting and hiring. Her articles have been featured in many global and domestic publications and information outlets, referenced in academic and legal publications as well as books, and translated into several languages. |