Help, I have a job interview tomorrow

[EC]

and the question that always gets me is: "Why do you want to work here? (Or why do you want this job?) I never know what to say, the truth is because the hours are appealing and it has health insurance and benefits, but I feel that isn't the answer they are looking for. Help, does anyone have a sure-fire answer for this?

[progmom]

1. they want you to say why THERE

So, anythiing about how you have heard what a pleasant work environment, spirit of teamwork, opportunities to learn, yadda yadda.

[HereSince1628]

2. Do you feel the job is a good fit to your skills and personality?

Is the job appropriate to you career path...it provides a good experience?

Have you done business with them before and so have some idea about their people?

[tjdee]

3. LOL, I know--"Because it pays money and I need that?"

But what they really want to hear, as the reply above said, is why you want to work specifically for *them*. Make the answer about them, not you ("It's close to my house", etc.).

Tough when they're a small business, though. In that case I'd talk about your interest in the industry, and how their ad/however you found out about them seemed to jibe with your skills and the kind of position advertised. A happy coincidence!

[northzax]

4. because...

my personal beliefs and ethics are in line with those of this company. I look forward to having a job where I can put my heart and soul into advancing the mission of the organisation and being the best representative I can be for X. Given the increased stability and happiness that this position would offer me, I can spend my time concentrating on how best to make Y a better product and focus on providing excellent service to your clients.

Over the past Z years, I have worked in organizations that I believe in, and ones that I do not,it is time for me to concentrate my energies on the things I do well, and I believe that company X will provide me with the best opportunity to learn and grow as a Q.

X is the name of the company.
Y is whatever the company does/makes.
Z is your number of years in the workforce.
Q is the title of this position.

Be prepared for the next big question: where will you be in 5 years? Then spin something like, "in five years, I plan to (name the assistant to the person you will be working for's title) and this experience will set me up perfectly for that." unless you have something bigger in mind.

[YankeyMCC]

5. This is why you need to learn as much about the company

as you can before you go on these interviews.

What they want to here is that you have ambitions and ideas and that you can give some reason why you think your goals will fit with the company's goals or needs.

How can you help them? What will you bring to the team you are joining? (assuming you'll be working with others)?

Of course I have no idea what sort of job you're talking about. If it's a low skill kind of job you might need to shift this a bit to focus on how much you like the company and how hard and responsible worker you are. "I can met the standards of this company." kind of thing. Of course a lowskill job doesn't preclude ideas if you can come up with them.

[tjwash]

6. That's actually a pretty good answer.

And I interview people at my company on occasion. It sounds a lot more honest than those canned copororate-babble message that they teach people at job training programs.

[northzax]

8. so would something along the lines of:

the clean hookers are more expensive so I need the health insurance? be a bad answer?

[tjwash]

9. Why would you need health insurance if the hookers are clean?

nt

[northzax]

10. cause I can't afford the clean hookers, duh!

[tjwash]

12. oh yeah *slaps forehead*

nt

[DemGa]

7. I think on this question,

research of the prospective company pays off. Things like knowledge of the quality of service/products company provides and how you'd like to be a part of that, etc.

[EC]

11. The job is just for an Orthopedic office

Receptionist. My career days are over, I'm trying to wind down and work less hours and less responsibility until I can retire in 10 years or so. My daughter is a Physical Therapists and says they are the best in the area, so I was going to use that. But what is really appealing is that it is only 24-30 hours with health insurance, 401K and other benefits, and that is exactly what I've been looking for, less hours and bennies...

[wideopen]

13. I hire people all the time

and the answer I want to hear is the honest one. This is the interviewer's first impression of you, be honest. I hire people based on honesty and character first and qualifications second.Bullshitters usually don't get a second chance.