Interview Q&A: How Did You Hear About The Position?

Employers love asking interview questions like, “how did you hear about us?” or, “how did you hear about the position?”

And they’re looking for a few specific things in your answer!

If you’re not prepared to explain how you heard about this job, it can start your interview off poorly and possibly cost you the job offer (first impressions count for a lot, and employers often ask this VERY early).

So in this article, I’m going to walk you through how to answer, “How did you hear about the position?

Let’s get started….

First things first, why do employers ask this question? They’re asking you how you heard about them because; they want to hire someone who’s being targeted and specific in their job hunt. Employers want to hire someone who knows what they want.

They don’t want someone who will accept any job they can get. They’d much rather get someone who’s excited for their specific job… because they think that person will be more motivated, more energetic, etc.

So you need to make sure your answer shows that you have intent and purpose in your job search. Here is how you frame your answer;

Be excited

Any employer wants people who are passionate about the work they will be performing because it means they will be self-motivated and really invested in the job which they are to complete on a daily basis. Therefore- regardless of how it is you heard about the job- be explicit in detail when it comes to what caught your eye about the position you’re interviewing for and what made you decide to apply in the first place.

Sample answer; “I found this position on a job board. There were several similar positions available- but this one really seemed to stand out as a golden career opportunity. After doing a little research on the company and the requirements of this position- I decided it would be a place which could benefit from my unique set of skills and which would provide me with a great atmosphere in which to grow professionally- so I decided to apply. I’m very excited about the potential to obtain this job.”

Name-dropping

If you happen to have heard about the employment opportunity in question from someone who already works in the company- it may be beneficial to drop this connection’s name. Having professional contacts shows that you have taken the initiative to do some networking throughout your job hunt- and sometimes it’s simply all about who you happen to know. However- in the event that you know the referring employee is in some hot water or otherwise unpleasant standing with the business you’re interviewing with- it might- of course- be better to avoid mentioning the name if possible.

Example; “I heard about this position from one of your current employees- Theresa Doe. She was my coworker when I worked for Company- where I served as a sales representative for five years. She recently notified me that your company might have a few positions opening up- so I did a little research to see what might be available. This position really stood out to me as somewhere where I can use my talents and my skills to the best of my ability and learn a lot more about the industry as my career grows and develops.”

Don’t be vague

When it comes to responding to the “How did you hear about the position?” question, vague one-word answers are a surefire way to show that you have little interest in the position you’re interviewing for. Rather- you should act excited to have found the opportunity in question. In the even that it’s been a while and you simply can’t remember where you came across the job- its fine to say so. Don’t simply make something up in an attempt to make yourself look good, dishonesty won’t help.

Answer; “I have been paying attention to your website’s career page for over a year now. When I saw an opening I was finally qualified for, I applied right away. The reason your company has been on my radar is that you sent a representative to speak during my school’s career day a few years back. I believe her name was Jane. She worked in your public relations department. Her presentation made your company look like such a great place to work, making me inspired to work for you one day.”

Conclusion

If you follow the tips above, you’ll be on your way to standing out and getting a job offer in your next interview… and you’ll have a great answer for when they ask, “how did you hear about the position?”

Nervous about your upcoming interview? Let a professional interview coach help you answer those tough questions!