Page 86 - How To Answer Interview Questions (II)

Job Interview Question 41

If you could choose any company to work for, which one would it
be?

This is a question of fit. Will you fit within this organization?
With this question, they are looking to see how you think, and if you have thoughtfully considered

where you want to work, and what kind of environment you want to be in. It’s a way for them to
understand your character and your thought process. Are you in this for your career, or for just a
paycheck?

Ideally, you want to describe a company with characteristics similar to the one you’re
interviewing with, and talk about the characteristics of this company that are most appealing to you.
Talk about how you are looking for a company that has growth opportunities, that has the same values
and ethics that you have, or that will use your skill sets (whether yours are in Accounting or Sales or
Operations or whatever).Help them see how their company is a good fit for you.

Maybe the company you want to work for is simply in a specific industry (medical, beverages,
transportation, information technology). Are you looking for a small company or a large one? A
public or private company? Profit or non-profit? Government or private-sector?

Say what it is about it that appeals to you: “I want to work for a small company because small
companies generally tend to be more fluid, more innovative, and more growth-oriented, and I think
that’s exciting.”

Stay away from saying anything bad about your previous companies: “As long as a company
doesn’t do X (whatever X was that was so awful), then I’ll be thrilled.” That’s a very negative
statement that indicates you are running AWAY from somewhere, rather than running TO somewhere.
If you are running away, it doesn’t matter so much where you end up. If you are running TO
somewhere, it does. You have a goal. It’s a positive thing.