No question seems to be hated by prospective job seekers as much as, “Why do you want to work here?”
It is easy to picture this question being asked by a pompous, pretentious executive who is toying with you like a cat playing with a mouse before feasting. A candidate wouldn’t say, “So, tell me why you want to hire me.”
I have interviewed and hired hundreds of candidates, and I avoid the “Why should I hire you?” question. I prefer “What has you interested in our company?” It feels like less of an entitled question than assuming they want the job and is open-ended enough to allow creativity in the answer.
Both parties are still trying to figure out whether they want to dance. Just as a candidate needs to convince a hiring manager that they will add value if hired, a company needs to prove to a candidate that they are the best destination.
One thing is certain. Both parties are interested, even if they are not absolute. Without interest, why would the two bother meeting? No one goes through the gauntlet of an interview process without having some interest in the company.
Finish reading this article on Forbes.com…