Ask HN: What do you answer to “Why do you want to work here?” questions

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25813722

by orakem • 6 years ago

11 14 6 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Sometimes, you can really like a company for a variety of things: culture, product, not to mention pay.

But most of the time, when you are actively job hunting, chances are that you haven't heard of the company you are applying to. I don't think that most engineers are attached to a particular profile (maybe that changes at senior levels?). In those cases, what do you answer? And how do you come up with that answer? I am not talking about generic silicon valley answers like "making the world a better place", but actual targeted answers.

LatteLazy• 6 years ago

Confirm you want the job. Confirm you want to work at this company. Confirm you expect to work in this role for at least 2 years. That's what they want to hear.

Wrap all that up in specifics about the job it's self and compliments and small requests:

"In my first year, I want to learn Low Latency C# and this is the number 1 HFT shop. I also really like how I can gain business experience as your tech teams work so closely with traders. I'd be really happy if I can be the go to person for quick turnaround work within 18m"

eecks2• 6 years ago

Job hunting is so stressful. That questions along with "what's your greatest achievement" are hard to answer for me.

Another stress I have is that the required qualifications are normally so broad for every position I look at.

frompdx• 6 years ago

"what's your greatest achievement"

Do you take the time to consider this while you write your résumé? Your achievements at each job should find their way into your résumé.

eecks2• 6 years ago

I do my job to the required standard and exceeding it and I also often help others do theirs and exceed at theirs. I don't consider these achievements though - I consider that the job.

joshxyz• 6 years ago

in my experience this is a formal version of "why the fuck should we pick you among the other people out there"

possibly because..

- your skills are fit for the job and you got the track record to prove it

- the role you're applying is aligned with your intended career trajectory

- you're aware of their problems in xyz areas and you're looking to actively contribute

- you're aware of their competitor's edge in xyz areas, how much this company you're applying for is lagging, what steps could get you guys from point A to B, what metrics and time-frames you guys should be focusing on, etc etc

you wanna be conveying trust, intelligence, reliability and consistency [0]

while this is you qualifying yourself to them, keep in mind that you should also be pre-qualifying them e.g. is the offer / location / hours good, is the role restricting or expanding your skillset, etc

[0] https://wallstreetplayboys.com/you-dont-want-to-sell-too-bad...

kevas• 6 years ago

- The stuff that you do is rad AF and I like working on technologies/problems that have the potential to challenge me.

- in my own time, I’ve been working on projects with a similar scope, yet much simpler. I find these sort of projects truly fascinating and would love to be able to help the company achieve their objectives.

Jugurtha2• 6 years ago

In those cases, what do you answer? And how do you come up with that answer? I am not talking about generic silicon valley answers like "making the world a better place", but actual targeted answers.

The answer is in your question, in my opinion. Targeted answer. The underlying assumption is that you are asked this during an interview after your "job hunting", which means that you have applied to that company, which should mean that you have read about it, looked at what they're doing, and was interested in joining them.

You can reply with the reasons that made you consider that company. Explain how you may help. Ask questions about what they're having trouble with, what they're using, why they made certain decisions, what they have considered, options they may have overlooked, aspects you could help with right away, adjacent or support skills, code you wrote to solve that problem or expertise you have on that topic. This is, after all, what you will be doing once you're hired and you might as well do it during the interview.

One more thing: doing this upstream helps tremendously. Finding a way to communicate your value and the reasons you want to join the company before the interview increases your chance to get an interview and puts you in a different queue. It can be a short email. Saying what you liked, why you want to join, which ways you may be useful, which aspects you may need to improve to be useful.

orakem2• 6 years ago

The answer is in your question, in my opinion. Targeted answer. The underlying assumption is that you are asked this during an interview after your "job hunting", which means that you have applied to that company, which should mean that you have read about it, looked at what they're doing, and was interested in joining them.

I have seen many companies ask this question when you are submitting a written application as well.

Jugurtha2• 6 years ago

Yes, but even with those that don't, doing it upstream with a "motivation letter" works if hiring is done by humans.

DrJones1098• 6 years ago

"Give me money and I'll do things for you"

Kidding. Just say you like the tech stack and the problems the company is working on. Hopefully you're only applying to those kinds of companies anyway

orakem2• 6 years ago

I wish I could be selective enough to only apply to such companies, but it's not always the case.

softwaredoug• 6 years ago

I always give an honest answer. Often I am also learning about them from the interview. Because, after all you are interviewing them as well. You’re NOT sure you want to work there yet :)

My first job I was curious because they were located in a college town, not a big city, and lots of friends worked there. The company had a long history > 100 years (which I was learning about on the interview). That long engineering legacy was another reason I appreciated before accepting the offer.

My last job, while I was more senior, I reached out to them and said in my email why I might want to work there. But that was just my initial sense. I also spent time learning about the people and the company and my role. I was asking them “why do you want me” in the same way I was asking “why do I want them”.

andix• 6 years ago

Think about what they would like to hear. And then pick something from that, that you agree with and could identify with.

If they don't tell you what's important for them, ask them during the interview.

PEOPLEgetoff• 6 years ago

I think you can focus your answers to specifics like the company’s overall core values and reputation. These can also include non-position related things like the company’s community involvement, outreach programs, marketing campaigns, training programs…anything.. anything that you may find about the company that intrigues you and draws you in.

Ask HN: What do you answer to “Why do you want to work here?” questions

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