Question forms part of
Civil Service Question Bank
Project Manager Question & Answer Sheet
Other interview questions that are similar
- What attracted you to apply for this role?
- Can you tell me what you know about our company?
- How does this position align with your career goals?
- Why do you think you would be a good fit for our company culture?
- What aspects of this job are most appealing to you?
- How does this role fit into your long-term career plans?
- What do you think makes our company stand out from our competitors?
- What are your expectations for this position?
- Can you tell me about a time when you used a product or service provided by our company?
- Have you spoken with any current or former employees of our company? If so, what did you learn from them about working here?
What the interviewer is looking for by asking this question
There are probably an infinite number of questions that the interviewer could ask you on the day. Some questions are incredibly common appearing in almost every interview you will have, while other questions you might hear once and never again regardless of how many jobs you apply for.
Fundamentally though all interview questions are really trying to find out one of 3 things:
1 – Can you do the job? (Do you have the skills/experience needed?)
2 – Will you do the job? (Do you have the drive/motivation to get the job done?)
3 – Will you fit in? (Does your personality match the workplace culture? Are you likeable?)
That’s it. Those are the 3 things that the interviewer is trying to ascertain. Every question that is asked of you will fundamentally be trying to resolve one (or more) of these 3 things.
When interviewers ask “How did you hear about this position?”, they want to understand the candidate’s (your) resourcefulness, connection to the company, level of interest, job search strategy, and whether they are conducting a targeted job search. The response provides insights into the candidate’s motivation and potential fit within the organization (i.e. Number 2 & Number 3 above)
How Best To Answer “How did you hear about this position”?
The B-STAR method (Belief, Situation, Task, Action, Result) is usually what we recommend when structuring your answers, however that method is typically more applicable to behavioral interview questions, which ask candidates to share examples of past experiences to demonstrate their skills and competencies. However, you can still apply some elements of the STAR method to structure your response for the question, “How did you hear about this position?”
Here is some advice for answering this question:
- Be honest: Share the true source where you found the job posting, whether it was a job board, company website, referral from a friend or colleague, social media, or another channel.
- Show enthusiasm: Express your excitement for the opportunity and how you became interested in the role or company upon discovering the position.
- Highlight your research: Briefly mention any additional research you did on the company and position after learning about the opening. This demonstrates your genuine interest and initiative.
- Make a connection: If possible, tie your response to something relevant, such as your passion for the industry, the company’s values, or the specific responsibilities of the role.
While not a direct application of the STAR method, incorporating these elements will help you provide a clear, concise, and engaging response to the question.
What You Should NOT Do When Answering Questions
Do not avoid the question.
Do not reject the premise of the question.
Do not give a one-sentence answer.
How did you hear about this position? – Example answers
LinkedIn Example
I first learned about this position through LinkedIn, where I follow your company’s page to stay updated on the latest news and job opportunities. I’ve always been impressed with your company’s reputation for innovation and its commitment to fostering a positive work culture. When I saw the job posting for this managerial role, I was immediately excited about the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience to your team. I decided to research the position further by visiting your company’s website and reading more about the role and your ongoing projects. This only reinforced my belief that this would be an excellent fit for my career goals and aligns with my passion for the software industry
Personal Connection Example
I heard about this position through a former colleague of mine, John Smith, who currently holds a senior role at your company. We worked together at XYZ Corporation and maintained a strong professional relationship after he joined your firm. Over time, John has shared many positive experiences about your company’s work culture, innovation, and growth opportunities. He thought that my skills and experience would be a great fit for this managerial role and encouraged me to apply.
Based on John’s recommendation and my own research about your company, I became increasingly interested in this position. I believe that your company’s values and focus on cutting-edge software solutions align with my passion for the industry and my desire to lead a team in a dynamic, forward-thinking environment.
Other Interview Question and Answers
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