Interviews go both ways. Even though it may feel like it is your goal to win over the interviewer, it is also your interviewer’s goal to win over you. Unless you are beyond desperate for a job, you need to find work that you want to keep doing for years to come, and the only way to do so is by interviewing the company (asking lots of questions) in addition to the company interviewing you.
Yet if you are asked what you look for in a company, this is not the time to try to find out if the company suits your needs by giving a very narrow answer. This is a time for you to impress the company with how much your goals meet its vision – or at least, its opinion of itself.
How to Answer
Make sure that everything you say is something you will find at the company, otherwise they may not see you as a good fit. For example, if you told the interviewer you were looking for a company with a relaxed environment, the interviewer might think to themselves “well, we are pretty fast paced here, so I don’t know if they are right for the job.”
Bad Answer
“I’d like a job that allows me to set my own hours. One that won’t force me to work the 9 to 6 schedule. A job that I can come in jeans and leave when my work is completed…”
Yes, but if they don’t do that, you’ve just alienated yourself.
Good Answer
“For me to love a job, I need to know that they measure and reward success, and that they value each individual employee’s contributions. I also would like to work for a workplace that has a viable business plan, so that I know I am helping the company succeed in both the short and long term. “
Every company will think it values its employees and almost every company will know that it can stick around for a while. If you are turned down from a job because you want a company that looks like it will succeed in the long term, chances are you don’t want to work there anyway.
Take Away Interview Tips
- Make sure your goals match the company’s.
- Don’t use this as an opportunity to see if you are a good fit.
