Interview Question: How Did You Hear About This Job?
How to Answer Interview Question: How Did You Hear About This Job?
Why would an interviewer ask you how you heard about the job?
After all, they advertised the job on a few websites which makes the answer obvious. For a question with such a simple and obvious answer, should you be worried that the answer the interviewer is looking for might be different from what you think it is?
Indeed, the answer to this question is simple, yet it is easy to answer unconvincingly or give unnecessary information away. And that could be a problem. Rest assured you will find a solution in this guide.
Discover the different reasons interviewers have for asking how you knew they were hiring. Furthermore, the way to answer this question satisfactorily and some of the things you rather not say are here for you to learn.
Why do interviewers ask where you heard about the job?
Employers always look out for their business and want what is best for it. Hiring candidates who buy into the idea of what the company is about is vital. One of the best ways to know more about each candidate including what attracts them to the job is by asking this question. Here are some compelling reasons you might be asked these questions in a job interview:
For research.
Firstly, what you need to understand about job interviews is that not everything is about you. Sometimes, the employers and interviewers want to do some findings of certain aspects of recruitment and how it affects them.
For example, employers who would like to keep records of recent activities regarding employee data see job interviews as an opportunity to do so. In some cases, employers ask how candidates found out about their job offer to know the demography of their prospective employees.
Seeing how much people are willing to move across the country to work for them is interesting to know. Likewise, knowing how people receive information about them is a positive step for a company to take.
To determine how active you are in your job search.
Believe it or not, employers want to make sure that you can put in a shift even before you start working for them. In a sense, they want to know if you are an active job searcher or the inactive kind. Let’s break it down.
Someone who is actively looking for a job is usually the type that wouldn’t mind starting a new job right now. Also, an active job seeker is always looking for job openings, responding to follow-up emails, and more.
On the other hand, an inactive job seeker sometimes does not look for a job himself or herself. They let others help them out when they can’t. Also, these types of candidates are likely to still be working elsewhere and would need a little time to leave their current job for good. Employers only want candidates who are eager and ready to join them as soon as they can.
For an improved marketing strategy.
If you thought hiring candidates for a job was easy and cheap, you are mistaken. Employers have a budget for the entire recruitment process which is why the recruitment phase is not fun for employers.
For instance, employers advertise job openings on several platforms from online to print media. These adverts cost them money. Thus, employers would like to use the interview process to see where their money is going. When they ask candidates where they got the information from about the job, they pay attention.
If most of the candidates mention one particular source, it means that the platform is delivering on its promises. The answers they get from candidates would help the company to plan its marketing strategy better. Investing more in the best source of advertisement would be a smart way to get results while they save on operational costs.
To find out what made you apply.
At the end of the day, the employer still would like to know what attracted you to the job. In the job description, there must have been certain aspects of the job – benefits, role, work environment, salary – that are attractive.
While being attracted by the benefits and other perks of the job, employers still want to know if there is a genuine likeness for the job. This is why the answer a candidate gives concerning where they got the information about the job is crucial.
Candidates don’t just reveal how they knew about the job- they state their true intentions. Employers can see through it and find out who is motivated for the right reasons and who would easily jump ship for a more attractive offer.
How to answer
As simple as this question is, some candidates have lost a job opportunity for failing to give a satisfactory answer. There are some important steps to take to answer this question well. See the following practical steps to answering this question below:
Go straight to the point.
There is no point in beating around the bush when answering this question. The moment you are asked how you found out about the job, say it clearly. Start by telling the interviewer briefly how the job site is one of your preferred places for job hunting. If you have a method or keywords of the kinds of jobs you were looking for, let them know. It makes you appear as someone who is specific about their job search and knows what they want.
Furthermore, if you found the job advert on more than one job website or publication, let the interviewer know. Give the names of the publications if you remember, but if it was a job website, you certainly should remember. Lastly, if you were recommended and the person gave you the “all clear” to mention them, you may. Other than that, it is unnecessary.
Mention one or two things you noticed about the job site.
Looking for jobs on a job site is normal even for the inactive job seeker. However, what makes you stand out from the inactive job seeker is your attention to detail during the job search. The user experience of each job site and how they differ from each other would be known to an active job seeker. Thus, as you mention the websites where you found out about the job, give one or two hints about the site.
Mention what makes it stand out from others and how the features make it likable and preferred for you. If they send relevant newsletters or job updates, mention it. Also, if they give scheduled tests, make it known. How those simple features help you in your search should come up in the conversation.
Talk about what drew your attention to the job.
Next, it is time to make the interviewer feel good about the job they are offering. After pointing out one or two things you noticed about the job site, touch briefly on your take on the job advert. What made you want to apply for the job out of the many others available? If you were fascinated by specific areas of the job description, let them know.
How you think the responsibilities would not be overwhelming for you is vital. Also, if you had always wanted to work for the company and jumped at the opportunity, say so. However, it is important to point out that the working conditions, location, and responsibilities were the major factors that drew you to the job. This is because those factors show that you care more about the job than the benefits.
Lastly, if the job is a remote position, you ought to say how that is a deciding factor. Remote jobs have numerous advantages and pointing them out is pleasing to interviewers.
Tell the interviewer how the job fits your goals.
While you convince the employer that you applied for the job for the right reasons, talk about how the job fits your goals. There must be something in the job description that you felt would help you reach certain heights professionally. If the job entails handling certain responsibilities that are associated with senior professionals, it could help boost your CV.
Likewise, if it was stated that you would be working with certain advanced industry resources and tools, it works in your favor. These sophisticated tools would add to your skills and experience which would enrich your professional profile. Talking about how certain parts of the job description and responsibilities would help you become a more rounded professional would please the interviewer.
Reiterate your willingness to work with the employer.
To end your description of how you found out the company was hiring, remind the employer that you want to join them. Seize the opportunity to talk briefly in one or two sentences about how you look forward to joining the organization. Your willingness to work with the employer should be reiterated as that is the primary impression you want to make.
How not to answer
Not only should the proper way to answer this tricky question interest you. How not to answer or what not to say is also part of important things to know. Here are some of the most helpful tips to help you through this interview:
Mentioning the name of an internal source of information.
Name-dropping someone who told you about the job opening is not necessary. Especially when the person works within the organization, it is advised to keep his or her name out of the conversation.
The only exception to this is if you asked the person if they felt comfortable with you mentioning them. Name-dropping someone from the firm when they don’t endorse it might get the person into trouble for some reason. However, if they give you the “green light”, then you may say their name.
You can go through the entire interview process without saying who told you what. Finally, if it isn’t necessary, don’t mention it even when you have permission to do so.
Don’t confuse enthusiasm with desperation.
It is completely normal to get excited about a job opportunity. Especially if it is your dream job, being overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude only means you are human. However, the only outcome of the excitement you feel should be a decent mix of gratitude and enthusiasm for the job.
Sometimes, enthusiasm can be confused with desperation. You ought to be careful not to cross the line between these two different emotions. When you are telling the interviewer how you knew about the job, don’t try too hard to be likable. If you truly have passion for the job and cannot wait to join their organization for the right reasons, they will know.
Don’t make stories up.
When a question such as where you got the information about the job offer arises, a few things come to mind. One of such thoughts is whether or not the interviewer is trying to trick you with the question. This could make you want to make up a more appealing and interesting story to tell. Don’t do it.
Instead, stick to what you know- the truth. The reason is that you never know if a follow-up question would come up after that. Such questions would make you come out as a liar and dishonest person. At this point, we can all agree that no employer wants to hire a dishonest candidate.
No story is more true, factual, or relatable than the one you experienced. Be honest. Don’t attempt to make a story up.
Conclusion
Positivity and transparency are vital to answering this question satisfactorily. When it comes to job interview questions, never attempt to lie, especially when asked how you knew about the job. Although you are to give a concise answer, avoid using monosyllabic words or one-line words. Remember that it is a conversation, not a quiz. With the following important points, telling an interviewer how you find out about the job offer should be easy.
Have you ever been asked how you heard about the job opening in a job interview? Please tell us your experience and what you said (if you still remember) in the comments section below.