Push vs. Pull?

 "Why do you want to work here?"

Have you ever been asked this question before? Undoubtedly if you have ever applied for a job or attended an interview you would agree that this is one of the first questions you were asked. Although this question seems easily structured, it is one of the most difficult questions to answer. The dilemma: you want to give an honest answer, but you are also concerned that the answer you give may not be the response that the interviewer or recruiter wants to hear. You are worried that you will say the wrong thing.

Employers ask this question to really gauge your interest in their company and the job so how you answer is crucial. They want to also know what you are passionate about and that you understand the position. Don’t lie or say an answer that you’ve found on Google or an answer that you think they want to hear. Answer truthfully and thoughtfully.

This is where you may need to do some soul searching and dig a bit deeper outside of the company and the opportunity to find your reasons. Really try to understand what else is it is that is drawing you to the opportunity i.e. "what is your push vs. the pull." Ideally, your "pull" should be the driving factor for why you want to change roles or essentially apply for a job. Be clear on your motivations for leaving your current company.

Begin by asking yourself the following questions:

1. How does this opportunity align with my overall ambitions, values, and passions?
2. Do I know enough about the company I am interviewing with and its culture to make an informed decision?
3. Will I be happy here and why? 
4. What are some potential risks or some things to consider that might not align with what I am looking for? Are these dealbreakers?
5. Is this an opportunity where I can grown, be trained, and develop?
6. Will I make an impact here? 
7. Am I making this decision based on impulse? Do I have no other choice?

If you have answered positively to questions 1-6 above, you are making a change because you are drawn more to the opportunity (the pull). On the other hand, if you answered yes to question 7, this is probably worth exploring more.

However, let's begin with the positives (your yes’). Some candidates make the mistake by beginning their response from the skills alignment angle to express their interest. For example, "I am interested in the position looking at the job description, I see that my skills and experience are a fit for your requirements..." Not a bad answer, but it's also not the best response. Try and set yourself apart from other candidates and refrain from giving a cliched response that makes you seem one dimensional, and “ordinary.” Instead, highlight your all around fit for the role. From our perspective, the best way to start is by breaking the ice and building rapport. 

From responses 1-6 above you should be able to a craft a response i.e. break things down in a way that shows your excitement and eagerness to work with the new company. Let them see that you can see yourself growing there, contributing. Confidently, being able to align company culture, values, mission statement etc. to your own can help you to create talk tracks that further affirm why this role is important to you. This make you seem like you care, invested, and like you are relatable. This is also a great opportunity to express what you know about the company and that you’ve done your research. After doing this…now you can mention your skills and your background and how this can contribute to the growth of the company and their long-term goals (and yours). 

In a situation where you responded yes to question 7, even if you had a resounding "yes" to others, it's also a great idea to do some self reflection here. Ask yourself:

1. Is my desire to join this new company and to apply for this position influenced by any negative experiences I have had or am currently dealing with in my current role?
2. Am I desperate and have no other options?
3. Am I being lazy in my job search and am just getting tired of looking? Really, ask yourself this.
4. Am I qualified for the job? OR, was I upfront about my qualifications?
5. Am I making a change just for me and see this as a way to add new skills to my resume? 
6. Is this a place where I can genuinely see myself growing and fully investing my time? Will you be happy here?
7. Do I know what the company does and how does what I know align with my background, passions, skills?

Hopefully, after reading this article you're still fully convinced that your decision to leave your current company and applying to a new opportunity is based on motivations that are sincere. If so, you will be able to focus more on what attracts you to the company as opposed to what you are running away from (the push). Ultimately, though, we can blog about this all we want to, because we blog about ALL the things here. However, at the end of the day, you will have to make the decision that is best for you.