The lack of skilled IT workers is hurting the deployment of emerging technology, according to a new survey from Gartner. In areas from cloud to cybersecurity, this crisis is expected to last for years to come.
The reason for that is because your answer says a lot about all of
the most important things the interviewer will be evaluating: your
skills, your cultural fit, and your interest. In other words, this is
definitely not a question you want to screw up. Here are four common
mistakes and how to avoid them.
1. You never talk about the company.
I recently had a conversation with a recruiter, and she shared this
great tidbit with me about what she considers to be the kiss of death
for interviews. When people answer, "Why are you interested in this
position?" with something about being passionate about programming,
writing, or some other skill with no mention at all about the actual
company, it's immediately a red flag. Think about it this way: You can
bring your skills anywhere. The trick is explaining why you want to use
them for this particular company.
2. You only say what's in it for you.
This mistake is particularly common because, well, this is what the
question is asking for, isn't it? Maybe this job would give you the
chance to learn a lot about marketing, or it's an opportunity to grow
your quantitative analysis skills — that's great, but it's not what your
interviewer really wants to hear. At the moment, the hiring manager
isn't the most invested in what's in it for you; he or she wants to know
what's in it for the company. The solution? Align your interests and
say something about your enthusiasm for using your skills to contribute
to the company's greater goal.
3. You bring up points that aren't relevant.
In the heat of the moment, it can be really tempting to reveal that
the office is actually quite close to your daughter's school or how the
company's flexible hours policy would make it easier to carpool with
your roommate, but don't give in. These are nice perks, but (hopefully)
they're not the only reason why this position is exciting for you. Plus,
you'll be giving up an opportunity to share the more relevant ones.
4. You answer the wrong question.
Have you ever gone on a date with someone who wouldn't stop talking
about his or her ex? Well, turns out this happens during job interviews,
too. Don't be that person who can't shut up about why you need to leave
your old job, stat. Even if the reason you're job searching is directly
related to your previous position, focus on the future. Bring up the
skills you've developed for sure, but no need to dive into the history
of how you acquired them.
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