Interview Question: How did you find out about this job opening?
Let’s take a look at this question. Why would an employer ask you where you heard about a job that they are looking to fill? I believe they do so for multiple reasons. These reasons may include:
- They are paying for a recruiting service to fill their position.
- They are paying the social media team to blast their position out to their Social Network.
- They are paying a job board or multiple job boards to advertise their opening.
- They are curious to see if any of their employees are recommending working at their company.
So why would you care as a potential employee. I know you are probably saying that this
question doesn’t help you at all. It is strictly for the employer’s benefit.
Hold on there, you can answer this question is a way that will showcase you,
your savvy and more. So let’s explore the options above on how they may benefit
you.
The first thing you must understand is that the employer
more than likely is utilizing all of the options listed above. Many employers simply want to know where you
came from. How you found them though says something about you. Also with
today’s technology, they probably know the answer already.
If you found them by working with a recruiter, what does
that say about you? That says that you have taken your job search extremely
seriously, that you were willing to consult an expert to find work, that you
were willing to look at your faults and have someone critique them to make you
a better candidate and that you trusted the process. Also, you were already
vetted by a professional. The process speaks volumes to a potential employer.
If you found the job on Social Media, that tells
employers that you are OK putting yourself out there, that you are somewhat
personable and open to multiple ideas and enjoy communicating with others?
Which Social Media site you found the job also says something about you. If you
found the job on LinkedIn it may suggest
that you think of yourself in a professional manner. If you found a position on
Twitter it may suggest that you are a more direct person, it is what is it
person. Finally, if you found a position through Facebook, it may suggest that
you are a more relaxed very personable person.
If you found the job on a job board that tells employers
that you do things the traditional way? That also says that you will follow
traditional values and traditional protocol in my opinion. What job board you
found the position on also says something. If you found the position on www.Indeed.com or www.Careerbuilder.com
then you are identifying yourself as a person in the general population. If you
found the job on a niche job board that says that you identify yourself with a
specific group which speaks volumes about who you are. As an example, if you
found a position on our site: www.disABLEDperson.com,
you are identifying yourself as a person with a disability. If you found the
position on our other site: Job Opportunities for Disabled Veterans, www.JOFDAV.com you
are telling the employer that you are a veteran with a disability.
If you found the position through an employee referral
what does that tell the employer? That tells the employer that you already
aware of the company culture. You
understand what it takes to work there and you are OK with it. If the employee
who referred you is a trusted employee then the employer will have a sense of
trust in you already in my opinion.
So you see, that question is not a simple one. Every
question asked to you during an interview has meaning and how you answer each
question regardless of how insignificant it seems has importance.
I hope this helps you in some way.
See you next week.
disABLEDperson, Inc.
Anonymous Author
“Ours is simply to serve”