Recruiters consistently tell me that there are three basic questions that all candidates must answer to make it to the next round of interviews and ultimately receive an offer. Just as important as your ability to effectively respond to typical interview questions such as “Tell me about yourself” or everybody’s favorite “What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses,” is your ability to prove to the recruiter that you’re genuinely interested in the company, the position, and to convince him or her why you should be hired over all of the other candidates. Or what I like to refer to as the “3 Whys.”
It sounds simple enough, but I’ve spoken with dozens of recruiters who have consistently told me more candidates get tripped up by ineffectively responding to these questions than with any other aspect of the interview. Instead of tailoring their responses for each company and position, they often settle for a “one size fits all” or “cookie cutter” approach. To keep this from happening to you, let’s take a brief look at each question and explore strategies to help you formulate your response.
- Why you’re interested in their company-Why do you want to work for their company above all others? It’s not enough to say they’re an industry leader or have a great reputation. The same could be said about hundreds of other companies out there. Focus on what makes them uniquely different from other companies. Your answer should typically include something about their culture, reputation, and employees, and how they differ from competitors. Show the interviewer that you have a thorough understanding of the company.
- Why you’re interested in the position-Of all the positions you could have applied for with their company, why are you interested in this one? Maybe you are interested in the job because it is a strong match with your skills and abilities or because it offers a top-flight training program. If that’s true, say so! Your goal is to show the recruiter that you a) understand what the job involves, b) are genuinely interested in that position, and c) are confident that you can do the job. Above all else, you want to convince the employer that you are qualified to do the job and truly passionate about the opening.
- Why the company should hire you-Why should the company hire you instead of the dozens, if not hundreds or thousands of other qualified candidates out there? Highlight your enthusiasm about the job, how you’ll contribute to the company’s overall success, and how your skills, abilities, and past experience relate to the opening. Your goal is to convince the employer that you are the best candidate.
Generic answers won’t cut it if you’re going to stand out from other equally-qualified candidates. In many ways, companies are just like people. They want to feel special, like they’re “the one” for you. They want to know that you’re genuinely interested in joining their team.
Tailor your response to each of the “3 Whys” by calling upon the information you gathered when you researched the company, position, and industry prior to your interview. When you do, you’ll find that you’ve greatly improved your chances of getting to the next round of interviews and ultimately receiving the job offer you want. Good luck!
Nice article.
Its great that you explained such basic things in a great and lucid way.