Why Do You Want This Job?
Why Do You Want This Job? Is it because any job will do, or is it because this is the job of your dreams? What do you do - you send your winning resume, you carefully dress for the interview, you prepare to answer all of the questions about why you are the best candidate for the job. All of the literature tells you to do this. But is this the job for you? Most interview articles don't talk about when to walk away and not accept the job.
The interview is the time for the employer to decide if you are the right candidate, and the time for you to decide if he/she is the right employer. This should be a critical piece of the interview process for anyone looking for a job. We spend 40% of our waking day on our jobs - so you had better like what you do and who you do it with! Kathy Lee Gifford tells the story of how her dad always told her growing up to find something you like to do, then find the job. Life is too short to be miserable at your career or job. My daughter worked as a server in restaurants all through college. Her number one goal in a work environment was to work with a group of folks who got along well, who helped each other out, were flexible in schedule changes and were good at what they did. She didn't necessarily need these people to become friends, but she did want to like them enough to enjoy working with them every day. This was a large part of her decision to work for a specific restaurant.
So, during the interview, ask some questions that will help you determine if this is the right job for you. You need to be objective about yourself and your abilities - if, for example, you are someone who needs a lot of direction and motivation, be wary of jobs and boss's where little supervision and direction are given. If the job is a management position supervising others, find out the leadership style of your boss to be - are you philosophically aligned? If not, this may be a very stressful position. Is he or she someone you can learn from? You may someday want their job and your boss can be your best mentor. Does the company support your goals and career direction? If not, is there another company that will be better suited to helping you move up the career ladder?
Here are some questions you might want to ask at the interview:
- How do you see us working together to attain the job goals?
- What are the three top challenges that I'll face in this job?
- What are the key measures of success in this position?
- How do the position's responsibilities align with the department's goals?
- What do you expect of me?
Good luck in finding your dream job!
About the Author:
Joan Ridley Lighthouse Resumes http://www.lighthouseresumes.com/ Member, NRWA (National Resume Writer's Association)
Check out these other articles in the Careers category:
Writing a CV
Conduct An Informational Interview
Writing a CV: What to Include
Who Should Write Your Resume?
Retirement: Is It A Career Change Option?
Take Note!