Ask HN: How to answer properly “Why we should hire you” question?

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Feb 02, 2017, 6:42 AM UTC

ashark wrote: post #35

b6 wrote: post #10

I hope I'm not alone in thinking "why should we hire you" is a bit of a dumb question and a bit insulting. If I was asked that, I'd be thinking something like: We're all adults here. We know why you're trying to hire someone approximately like me, and why I'm trying to get the job. Let's be friends instead of you trying to get me to trot like a show pony. This isn't a game show. Or if you think it is, maybe I don't w…

It definitely comes off as 1) "I don't know how to do my job, please explain it to me" or 2) "can you tell me why the salaried employment relationship exists?" I mean, I'd answer (while trying desperately to contain the sarcasm and not to talk to the person asking it like they don't know WTF they're doing) but the answer is always something like "you should hire me if you think I can and will complete tasks that are…

Post by telebone_man » Thu, Feb 02, 2017, 12:09 PM UTC

Post by kafkaesq » Fri, Feb 03, 2017, 8:57 PM UTC

djkrudy wrote: post #75

Humdeee wrote: post #44

I'm a game-changer that can think outside the box. I bring forth a synergy that will leverage my ability to hit the ground running and go that extra mile. Pushing the envelope and reinforcing the company vision statement is what I'm all about. Goal setting and going after the low-hanging fruit is paramount to setting us up as a thought-leader and to pivot in a ruthless, competitive market. I understand that achieving…

As a hiring manager, I would never believe this response, because as an interviewee there isn't a company on the planet I could say all these things about AFTER working there for 30 years, much less before working there. I'd just laugh because anybody who says something like this has no idea how mucked up a simple task can get in the real world. Jeez, are you a second semester business administration UG student?

Post by jjpe » Wed, Feb 08, 2017, 7:34 AM UTC

ryandrake wrote: post #77

awinder wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always asked teams why someone should come work there during the interview process. For one, a lot of employees are not terribly good actors, so you can read the room if you see people stammer through this question. Two, by even just asking that question, you can flip the tenor & tone of an interview by nicely showcasing that: you have options, so you're looking to understand why this is a fit for you and not ju…

That's pretty bold. I would imagine most companies' honest response would be "Well, you don't HAVE to come work here, we have 10 other people interviewing after you." I mean, congratulations if you have options, but in most employer-applicant relationships, there is a huge power imbalance benefiting the employer.