Identifying your primary reason for wanting the job
Discussion
I've been involved in some senior recruitment recently and amongst a number of other issues, one that has stood out that I thought may be of interest to others is avoiding reasons why you want the role in a CV or at interview that focus on you. Even if it's true, do not mention salary, hours, or commute as the primary reasons you want the job. You really should focus on how you can benefit the company, not how the company or job can benefit you, not as a primary reason anyway.
It may seem obvious, but it can sometimes slip out by accident and I can report that in one case it made the difference between two closely matched candidates. From an interviewer's perspective, it just doesn't come across well when you read it or hear it.
Thought that may be of interest; double check your CV before you submit!
Good luck!
It may seem obvious, but it can sometimes slip out by accident and I can report that in one case it made the difference between two closely matched candidates. From an interviewer's perspective, it just doesn't come across well when you read it or hear it.
Thought that may be of interest; double check your CV before you submit!
Good luck!
That's good advice. I have a lot of interview situations, I'm a contractor. The things I've learned recently are
1 - try to sort out what they want, have examples of when you've done it before.
2 - have some questions to fire back, relevant to the role.
You can still drop the ball, I can at least. I recently answered some questions from the POV of a factory-dwelling hands on technical manager, having spent the last 18 months in factory facing roles where the task is to kick arse in the factory and make things happen. They wanted a smoothie in a suit to schmooze the customers. I can do that too, but had I known or taken the time to think I would have modified my replies. Less talk of arse kicking, laying down the law and growling at shift managers, more "working with and influencing my senior operations colleagues to improve our performance ".
I also use 4 words when 2 will do. I have to work at this.
You can still get blindsided by questions like "you had a x month gap without work, why?" and end up fumbling about. The correct answer is "I'd had a busy period, I'd bought a house, wanted to sort it out, so I did". Even if it's not true they'll never know.
The other thing is practice. Buy a book on interview technique, run through scenarios, have answers ready. The more you do the better you get. It's just a game.
1 - try to sort out what they want, have examples of when you've done it before.
2 - have some questions to fire back, relevant to the role.
You can still drop the ball, I can at least. I recently answered some questions from the POV of a factory-dwelling hands on technical manager, having spent the last 18 months in factory facing roles where the task is to kick arse in the factory and make things happen. They wanted a smoothie in a suit to schmooze the customers. I can do that too, but had I known or taken the time to think I would have modified my replies. Less talk of arse kicking, laying down the law and growling at shift managers, more "working with and influencing my senior operations colleagues to improve our performance ".
I also use 4 words when 2 will do. I have to work at this.
You can still get blindsided by questions like "you had a x month gap without work, why?" and end up fumbling about. The correct answer is "I'd had a busy period, I'd bought a house, wanted to sort it out, so I did". Even if it's not true they'll never know.
The other thing is practice. Buy a book on interview technique, run through scenarios, have answers ready. The more you do the better you get. It's just a game.
rog007 said:
reasons why you want the role ... You really should focus on how you can benefit the company, not how the company or job can benefit you, not as a primary reason anyway.
I know this must seem good when you hear it from an interviewee, but surely its always b
ks and i would feel a fraud coming up with something like this at interview.No-one has ever, ever, wanted a job because the primary reason is they feel they can benefit the company (other than charity workers and such like). (Most) People have jobs to pay the bills, not to help others, and certainly not to help other peoples companies!
jimmy156 said:
rog007 said:
reasons why you want the role ... You really should focus on how you can benefit the company, not how the company or job can benefit you, not as a primary reason anyway.
I know this must seem good when you hear it from an interviewee, but surely its always bks and i would feel a fraud coming up with something like this at interview.No-one has ever, ever, wanted a job because the primary reason is they feel they can benefit the company (other than charity workers and such like). (Most) People have jobs to pay the bills, not to help others, and certainly not to help other peoples companies!
jimmy156 said:
I know this must seem good when you hear it from an interviewee, but surely its always bks and i would feel a fraud coming up with something like this at interview.
No-one has ever, ever, wanted a job because the primary reason is they feel they can benefit the company (other than charity workers and such like). (Most) People have jobs to pay the bills, not to help others, and certainly not to help other peoples companies!
Those willing to shove their nose just that much more satisfyingly further tend to be the lying two faced rats who'll sell you short then happily burn you soon as the next tasty opportunity arises.ks and i would feel a fraud coming up with something like this at interview.No-one has ever, ever, wanted a job because the primary reason is they feel they can benefit the company (other than charity workers and such like). (Most) People have jobs to pay the bills, not to help others, and certainly not to help other peoples companies!
Talking about long term life plans with the mrs leads me to ponder I might have to go back to being employed one day, but its this kind of thing that kills my soul.
battered said:
That's good advice. I have a lot of interview situations, I'm a contractor. The things I've learned recently are
1 - try to sort out what they want, have examples of when you've done it before.
2 - have some questions to fire back, relevant to the role.
You can still drop the ball, I can at least. I recently answered some questions from the POV of a factory-dwelling hands on technical manager, having spent the last 18 months in factory facing roles where the task is to kick arse in the factory and make things happen. They wanted a smoothie in a suit to schmooze the customers. I can do that too, but had I known or taken the time to think I would have modified my replies. Less talk of arse kicking, laying down the law and growling at shift managers, more "working with and influencing my senior operations colleagues to improve our performance ".
I also use 4 words when 2 will do. I have to work at this.
You can still get blindsided by questions like "you had a x month gap without work, why?" and end up fumbling about. The correct answer is "I'd had a busy period, I'd bought a house, wanted to sort it out, so I did". Even if it's not true they'll never know.
The other thing is practice. Buy a book on interview technique, run through scenarios, have answers ready. The more you do the better you get. It's just a game.
Decent advice on the whole but if your articulate enough and have the skills required along with a proven track record all this bulls1 - try to sort out what they want, have examples of when you've done it before.
2 - have some questions to fire back, relevant to the role.
You can still drop the ball, I can at least. I recently answered some questions from the POV of a factory-dwelling hands on technical manager, having spent the last 18 months in factory facing roles where the task is to kick arse in the factory and make things happen. They wanted a smoothie in a suit to schmooze the customers. I can do that too, but had I known or taken the time to think I would have modified my replies. Less talk of arse kicking, laying down the law and growling at shift managers, more "working with and influencing my senior operations colleagues to improve our performance ".
I also use 4 words when 2 will do. I have to work at this.
You can still get blindsided by questions like "you had a x month gap without work, why?" and end up fumbling about. The correct answer is "I'd had a busy period, I'd bought a house, wanted to sort it out, so I did". Even if it's not true they'll never know.
The other thing is practice. Buy a book on interview technique, run through scenarios, have answers ready. The more you do the better you get. It's just a game.
t can be avoided.battered said:
What bullst?
The arse licking perspective. Sorry if it came across wrongly.t? If your invited to an interview your CV has done the job.
Time to express yourself verbally and explain how you will benefit the company wins hands down all the time.
If they don't want you - fine, move on.
battered said:
I'm not suggesting licking anyone's are, just playing the game. You can be the best out there with an ace track record but if you don't tell them what they want to hear then someone else will and he gets hired. That's all.
Yes totally understand, depends on the sector as well. My message is never undersell yourself. Made interview stage, it's not about you any more, or to rephrase It's 'What can you do for us'.
Edited by driver67 on Tuesday 25th April 00:09
jimmy156 said:
No-one has ever, ever, wanted a job because the primary reason is they feel they can benefit the company...
The way I read the OPs post was that he's saying the applicant should talk about how they will change the company (or at least, whatever aspect of it they're going to be responsible for) for the better.In some ways the bigger the company, the easier this is to do, as many aspects of the company's operations will be in the public domain.
This doesn't really work if you're applying to be an accounts clerk, but if you're pitching to be Finance Director then it does.
It's a sales function, let's be honest. Why does a salesman want to sell a washing machine? Because it's his job and he gets a bonus. However if he tells you this he's a mug. He tells you what a great machine it is, washes clothes, big load capacity, fast spin, yada yada, he has one himself, his neighbour has one and says it's the best out there, if you have kids you want this feature, it's the one for you. Bingo. That's all you are doing when you sell your services as an employee or contractor. The buyer wants the best for his money, so you find out what he wants and go about telling him how your washing machine/finance manager/pipe fitting service is the best out there for the price. It's not rocket science, but it is a skill that you have to learn if you are going to be any good at it.
battered said:
It's a sales function, let's be honest. Why does a salesman want to sell a washing machine? Because it's his job and he gets a bonus. However if he tells you this he's a mug. He tells you what a great machine it is, washes clothes, big load capacity, fast spin, yada yada, he has one himself, his neighbour has one and says it's the best out there, if you have kids you want this feature, it's the one for you. Bingo. That's all you are doing when you sell your services as an employee or contractor. The buyer wants the best for his money, so you find out what he wants and go about telling him how your washing machine/finance manager/pipe fitting service is the best out there for the price. It's not rocket science, but it is a skill that you have to learn if you are going to be any good at it.
Sure, i agree with all that. But that would be answering the question "Why should we hire you?" or "What would you bring to the company" not "Why do you want the job?"Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff