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Why do interviewers always ask "What are you looking for in a company"!?

D

dderidex

Platinum Member
This boggles my mind.

First-level interviewers ALWAYS ask this when doing a job interview! It's frustrating, how am I *supposed* to answer that?

Umm...'A company that is hiring'?

I really could care LESS what company I'm working for, it's the job description I'm interested in!

It's like they have it all backwards - like I was looking for any position at all at their company, and it was just their company I wanted to work for.

Nononono - I am interested in the POSITION (and being somewhat picky about it matching my skill set), and WHERE the position is is totally irrelevant!

*harrumph*
 
ask it to weed out guys like you...ones that think they are so self-riteuos that they think the company has a privilage interviewing them...not the other way around
 
This is your opportunity to kiss major ass and say you're looking for all the crap they have ...
 
A good answer to that question may raise you above other candidates - that's why it pays to do a little bit of research on each company you apply to.
 
well an interview is also you interviewing them. I always looked at it from a "do you have what it takes for me to want to work here?"

They ask that question to see if their culture would be a good fit for what you want in an employer. One could argue that if you don't know what kind of company you want to work for then you aren't a good fit for the company interviewing because its not what you want.
 
Truth. What I'm looking for in a Company. Good wages, enjoyable work and a relaxed work enviroment with tons of perks and benefits.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
well an interview is also you interviewing them. I always looked at it from a "do you have what it takes for me to want to work here?"

They ask that question to see if their culture would be a good fit for what you want in an employer. One could argue that if you don't know what kind of company you want to work for then you aren't a good and the company interviewing because its not what you want.
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Yeah, but what I'm saying is that 'corporate culture' is irrelevant to the position. I can either do the job the position needs, or I can't.

Why does "what kind of company I'm looking for" matter? I'm looking for a technical position - If I have the technical ability to fill it...

Well, here's an example...

The company has 2 applicants to chose from. One, who has no technical skill what-so-ever, but REALLY wants to work for THIS COMPANY, describes the company perfectly for 'what he wants to work for', etc.

Employee B fits the technical skills for the position perfectly, has 10 years experience in the field, etc, but doesn't really care what company he works for as long as the job description fits his qualifications.

Would the company REALLY prefer hiring the first guy over the second? No? Then, why ask?!
 
I actually blew an interview on this question one time. I was caught off guard with it for some reason, and in my list of things I foolishly mentioned "a company that treats it's employees fairly". The interviewer ran with this, and well... I didn't get the job.
 
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
I actually blew an interview on this question one time. I was caught off guard with it for some reason, and in my list of things I foolishly mentioned "a company that treats it's employees fairly". The interviewer ran with this, and well... I didn't get the job.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's my problem, too. I answered....well, not 'ideal', and the interviewer ran with it.

I half wanted to interrupt her and say "Look, does this REALLY matter? I mean, you are advertising for a high-level technical position that requires a lot of experience and troubleshooting skills. I can either do that or can't do that. Why not discuss my technical qualifications with me instead of my emotional interest in the company!?!?"
 
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
I actually blew an interview on this question one time. I was caught off guard with it for some reason, and in my list of things I foolishly mentioned "a company that treats it's employees fairly". The interviewer ran with this, and well... I didn't get the job.
Click to expand...

How did he 'run with it'? I think your answer was pretty neutral...
 
Say things like, I'm looking for as company
-where I have the opportunity to develop new skills,
-where I have the opportunity to grow my career, apply for promotions
-where I have the opportunity to move into different areas of work
-where I can work with professional people
 
Originally posted by: BCYL
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
I actually blew an interview on this question one time. I was caught off guard with it for some reason, and in my list of things I foolishly mentioned "a company that treats it's employees fairly". The interviewer ran with this, and well... I didn't get the job.
Click to expand...

How did he 'run with it'? I think your answer was pretty neutral...
Click to expand...


His response was "Well, what would you do if your employer wasn't being fair"

I'll be the first to admit, I choked.

Shrug.
 
Originally posted by: aidanjm
Say things like, I'm looking for as company
-where I have the opportunity to develop new skills,
-where I have the opportunity to grow my career, apply for promotions
-where I have the opportunity to move into different areas of work
-where I can work with professional people
Click to expand...

Those would be good answers to that question.
 
Originally posted by: aidanjm
Say things like, I'm looking for as company
-where I have the opportunity to develop new skills,
-where I have the opportunity to grow my career, apply for promotions
-where I have the opportunity to move into different areas of work
-where I can work with professional people
Click to expand...

yep, what he said..
 
Originally posted by: dderidex
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
I actually blew an interview on this question one time. I was caught off guard with it for some reason, and in my list of things I foolishly mentioned "a company that treats it's employees fairly". The interviewer ran with this, and well... I didn't get the job.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's my problem, too. I answered....well, not 'ideal', and the interviewer ran with it.

I half wanted to interrupt her and say "Look, does this REALLY matter? I mean, you are advertising for a high-level technical position that requires a lot of experience and troubleshooting skills. I can either do that or can't do that. Why not discuss my technical qualifications with me instead of my emotional interest in the company!?!?"
Click to expand...

Because your ability to work well and play nice trumps any and all experience or technical ability anyone has.

First rule is the job goes to the candidate that wants it the most - ie, the guy that really wants to work there. When a company hires somebody there is significant time and money invested in the employee just to get them started.


So I guess I'll reiterate - it doesn't matter much what you know, it matters how well you will get along with others.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: dderidex
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
I actually blew an interview on this question one time. I was caught off guard with it for some reason, and in my list of things I foolishly mentioned "a company that treats it's employees fairly". The interviewer ran with this, and well... I didn't get the job.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's my problem, too. I answered....well, not 'ideal', and the interviewer ran with it.

I half wanted to interrupt her and say "Look, does this REALLY matter? I mean, you are advertising for a high-level technical position that requires a lot of experience and troubleshooting skills. I can either do that or can't do that. Why not discuss my technical qualifications with me instead of my emotional interest in the company!?!?"
Click to expand...

Because your ability to work well and play nice trumps any and all experience or technical ability anyone has.

First rule is the job goes to the candidate that wants it the most - ie, the guy that really wants to work there. When a company hires somebody there is significant time and money invested in the employee just to get them started.


So I guess I'll reiterate - it doesn't matter much what you know, it matters how well you will get along with others.
Click to expand...

indeed. if i were a manager who had to decide between a candidate who didn't have much experience but was very eager or a candidate who knew everything but was difficult to get along with, i'd hire the former.

inevitably, managing the latter would take much more time than it was worth.
 
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Originally posted by: aidanjm
Say things like, I'm looking for as company
-where I have the opportunity to develop new skills,
-where I have the opportunity to grow my career, apply for promotions
-where I have the opportunity to move into different areas of work
-where I can work with professional people
Click to expand...

Those would be good answers to that question.
Click to expand...

I got them out of the "Interviews: questions & answers" book I just bought at Borders 🙂
 
Originally posted by: aidanjm
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Originally posted by: aidanjm
Say things like, I'm looking for as company
-where I have the opportunity to develop new skills,
-where I have the opportunity to grow my career, apply for promotions
-where I have the opportunity to move into different areas of work
-where I can work with professional people
Click to expand...

Those would be good answers to that question.
Click to expand...

I got them out of the "Interviews: questions & answers" book I just bought at Borders 🙂
Click to expand...

Thanks for the answers! I'll need to get my hands on that book!
Originally posted by: spidey07
Originally posted by: dderidex
Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
I actually blew an interview on this question one time. I was caught off guard with it for some reason, and in my list of things I foolishly mentioned "a company that treats it's employees fairly". The interviewer ran with this, and well... I didn't get the job.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's my problem, too. I answered....well, not 'ideal', and the interviewer ran with it.

I half wanted to interrupt her and say "Look, does this REALLY matter? I mean, you are advertising for a high-level technical position that requires a lot of experience and troubleshooting skills. I can either do that or can't do that. Why not discuss my technical qualifications with me instead of my emotional interest in the company!?!?"
Click to expand...

Because your ability to work well and play nice trumps any and all experience or technical ability anyone has.

First rule is the job goes to the candidate that wants it the most - ie, the guy that really wants to work there. When a company hires somebody there is significant time and money invested in the employee just to get them started.


So I guess I'll reiterate - it doesn't matter much what you know, it matters how well you will get along with others.
Click to expand...

I guess I consider that statement too ridiculous to have been a correct assessment of the situation.

If the position requires someone with 10+ years experience, are you REALLY going to hire someone for the position just because they are enthusiastic, and you'll then need to provide them 10+ years of training before they are ready for it?

I've just worked in IT my whole life, and I simply don't consider (with anybody - employee, coworker, or boss) 'interest in the company' relevant at all. You are sitting these guys in front of a computer for 10 hours a day, technical skill is the only relevant factor.

At least, I would have thought! Guess I need to learn 'the right answers' better.
 
dderidex,

I'm only giving my impression from a hiring manager's perspective. Many times people think they will get by on their technical skills alone, much to the detriment of their careers. Enthusism is contagous and goes a long way to having a good team. So yes, I'll take the green guy who really wants to work here - you can always train people technical skills but you can't make somebody want to work in your environment.
 
Originally posted by: spidey07
dderidex,

I'm only giving my impression from a hiring manager's perspective. Many times people think they will get by on their technical skills alone, much to the detriment of their careers. Enthusism is contagous and goes a long way to having a good team. So yes, I'll take the green guy who really wants to work here - you can always train people technical skills but you can't make somebody want to work in your environment.
Click to expand...

Just how 'enthusiastic' do people have to be, tho? What about people like me, who have a quiet, somewhat introverted personality? I am not bubbly and enthusiastic by nature. But I do get along well with people at work. How does the interviewer assess my personaity during the interview?
 
Originally posted by: aidanjm


Just how 'enthusiastic' do people have to be, tho? What about people like me, who have a quiet, somewhat introverted personality? I am not bubbly and enthusiastic by nature. But I do get along well with people at work. How does the interviewer assess my personaity during the interview?
Click to expand...

don't really know. I'm sure one can be enthusiastic without bubbly. shamefully study after study have shown that extroverts earn more and are promoted more.

some places even go so far as giving written psych/personality profiles.
 
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