Why this role? (anticipating this question in interview tomorrow)

October 29, 2013 12:23 PM

I am interviewing for a middle management position with a less than thrilling division, for a major company I really want to work for.

I am unemployed, but recently held a role with a much sexier portfolio. I fear that the hiring manager may not seriously consider me for this opportunity, thinking that I won’t be happy with such a boring area of focus (note – the portfolio I’m interviewing for is important, just not high profile/flashy).

Other factors: Mobility is likely possible at this company (and is common for this job), there are a couple dozen managers in this capacity at this organization. My main goal is to get in and ideally move to a more appealing portfolio in a year or two. It’s unlikely, though possible, that the hiring manager would move his existing staff around and put me on a more high profile desk given my background– so I don’t want to sound too married to the idea of landing this particular role. It’s also possible that this role will go internal, but that a positive interview with this AVP could land me an interview when another role opens up.

How do you suggest I answer the question – why do you want this role?

posted by walkinginsunshine to Work & Money (9 answers total)

"I want to work for [this company]. [This role] will be a good starting point, because [reasons]."

That naturally leads in to "Where do you see yourself in five years" or a similar question -- you've set up the fact that you like the company, so you can easily plant in their minds the idea of your taking some other role within the company.

You've gotten to the interview part of the process, which puts you at the 90th percentile these days. Now they're looking as much for how you'll fit into the corporate culture as for whether you can do the actual job.
posted by Etrigan at 12:30 PM on October 29, 2013

Make sure that your interviewers know that career growth (and/or development) is a very real goal of yours. There's nothing wrong with that at all, and it lets them know that you're interested in a long view.
posted by jquinby at 12:31 PM on October 29, 2013

You must lie through your teeth and tell the interviewer that this is the job you've dreamed of. Do NOT tell the interviewer that you want to get your foot in the door.

Also, the interviewer may not think that your old division was sexy compared to his dumpy-cow of a division. Find three things to say about the portfolio that could conceivably turn you on.

1. I've always been interested in financial institutions.

2. The Scientific community seems sedate, but I've always suspected that beneath that calm exterior, that amazing things were happening.

3. The government sector is challenging, the rules are completely different and it's an approach I'm interested in learning.

I'm all about being picky, but not about something like this. Get in and blow their socks off even if the sector is Ditch Digging. Expect to be in that position for at least 18 months, and then see what moves there are to be made.

Do interview for the job as though you actually WANT the job. Do be sure it's a good fit for you.

Good luck.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:31 PM on October 29, 2013 [13 favorites]

a major company I really want to work for
the portfolio I’m interviewing for is important, just not high profile/flashy

Maybe just expand on these statements? If you can articulate why the Tucks Medicated Pads division is important, why you want to work for the company overall, and what you would bring to the role, that seems like it should be plenty. I doubt that they're anticipating that you'll answer by saying you've had a lifelong interest in hemorrhoid management, but if you give an answer that takes the job seriously and doesn't come off like "Well, I'm hoping you'll move me somewhere more interesting in a year or so" you should be fine.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 12:33 PM on October 29, 2013 [4 favorites]

[This role] will be a good starting point, because [reasons]."

No company or division wants to hear they are a stepping stone, even if everyone knows it.

Ruthless Bunny's approach is solid advice carved from real world experience.
posted by Kruger5 at 12:40 PM on October 29, 2013 [4 favorites]

Conversely, I got hired into my current job despite stating flat out that I planned on looking around after the 1.5 yrs required for internal mobility in all 3 rounds of interviews. I've had many a chat with my boss about different areas of the firm I'd like exposure too, and with her advice have pinpointed where I'd like to move next when the opportunity becomes available.

Depending on the industry, this may not be as bad of a black mark as some people think.

YMMV. of course.
posted by larthegreat at 1:08 PM on October 29, 2013

I'm not going to wholly contradict Ruthless Bunny and Kruger5, but the place that just hired me cited my vision of how I would use this role to move me towards my career goals (which I could also achieve within their company) as being one of the big factors in my appeal to them. So the above answers are correct in saying that you shouldn't give the impression that this job is JUST a stepping stone, but so long as you convince them that you think the role has value in its own right as well, telling them that the places it can lead on to are part of the appeal is NOT a bad thing.
posted by fearnothing at 1:08 PM on October 29, 2013

Best answer: You're excited about the position because you'll be doing important work for a company you admire and there's lots of potential for growth. It's important to you that your job be one where you feel your work is important, where you personally support the organization you're working for, and where you have the opportunity to develop as a professional -- and this position satisfies all three of those criteria very well, so you see it as being a very satisfying fit for you professionally. Also you've always thought that whatever this position is involved with is actually very interesting -- it's the bread and butter of this industry, it gives you an opportunity to focus on what you see as the core disciplines of your field, it provides you the chance to take something often seen as mundane and show how great it can be if it's done really well, the work is exceptionally important to the clients and/or society, etc.

There you go. Three generalities and one specific of your choice, all perfectly plausible and very nearly true, delivered with feeling in positive, compelling language. Done and done.
posted by Scientist at 3:33 PM on October 29, 2013 [8 favorites]

I'm going to go with NOT lying through your teeth. Tell them you very much want to work for the company and focus on some project or other work being done in the next 6-18 months.

"I'm very interested in contributing to project X, which will help me develop skills, A, B and C and connects to the work I did in project Z at my last company. I think I can be very successful at running this project."

Then, you're not flat out lying, you've set a relatively short-term goal and have set yourself up for something better when that thing completes.
posted by cnc at 5:26 PM on October 29, 2013