Page 38 - How To Answer Interview Questions (II)

Job Interview Question 13

Do you know anyone who works for us?

Many times, the answer to this question is ‘yes,’ because many of us find out about jobs or get our
foot in the door with the help of someone we know.

If they ask you this question, it’s probably because they are thinking about asking for references.
Someone they know (such as someone who works at their company) is going to be a much stronger
reference for you than someone they don’t.

If you know someone who works in this company, this someone needs to have an excellent
reputation within the company. If you know that’s the case, then go ahead and tell the interviewer
who they are. They will associate you with that person they love and you will be in a better position
to get the offer. But after you mention this person, bring it back to why you’d be a good fit. For
example:

“Yes, I know John Smith. We’ve worked well together before, and he encouraged me to apply
here. Because of that, I did some research on my own, and the more I found out about your company,
the more I got excited about the idea of working here, because I believe this is a place where I could
really contribute to growth with my skills in X, Y, and Z.”

If the person you know is someone having problems, you might not want to mention them
because you will be associated with their negative qualities. Or, you can mention them with a caveat:

“I do know John Smith, but that wasn’t a factor in my applying here. I applied because I believe
that my skills in A, B, and C are a perfect fit for this job, and the more I have learned about the
company and your plans for the future, the more excited I am about the possibility of working here.”

If you don’t know anyone who works for them, then answer the question behind the question
(they are interested in your references):

“No, I don’t know anyone who works here, but I can absolutely provide you with references, if
that’s what you’re interested in. They can speak to my skill set, work ethic, and value as an X to your
company.”