What Is The Company Really Asking You?

When you’re interviewing the only thing the company wants to know is, “What can you do for us?” and another variation of the same question is, “What does that mean to us?” these two questions are inside of every question you will get. This is what the company is really asking you.

You have to be able to answer each question you’re asked in an interview with these two questions in mind. So, if you’re asked about your education, the company wants to know “What does that mean to us?” and if you’re asked about your performance at your last or current position the company wants to know, “What can you do for us?” Get it?

When you’re asked about your choice of degree or why you picked a certain school, they really don’t care why you picked that degree or school what they want to know is, “What does that me to us?” In other words, what does that school and that particular degree mean to their company? How can it benefit their company?

When you’re asked about your past positions and companies you’ve worked for, they really don’t care (specifically) why you held those positions or worked for those specific companies what they want to know is, “What can you do for us?” In other words, what does the positions and companies you’ve worked for mean to their company? How can it benefit their company?

You have to answer your questions with these two questions in mind, because this is exactly what the company is trying to find out about you, regardless of the actual questions being asked. When you’re preparing for your interviews and what type of answers you want to give to the typical questions you will receive, always ask yourself first, “What will this mean to the company?” or “How can this benefit the company?” and if you keep your questions with those questions in mind you will ace your interviews.

On the other hand, If you go into an interview and start asking about the hours, vacations and holiday’s, personal days, medical and dental benefits, flextime, pensions, 401K’s, and anything else that has absolutely nothing to do with what you can do for the company, you will bomb the interview.

I cannot stress this enough, what the company is really asking you is, “What can you do for us?” and “What does this mean to us?” that’s it! The rest is idle chatter until they can find out something else about you that could be a benefit to them. Crazy? Maybe, but it’s true. And, believe me, the candidate that brings the most benefit to the company will get the job. Period. I hope this helps.

Good luck to you!