Job interviews often require candidates to find the right words, especially when employers ask why they should be hired. While some applicants talk about their career goals or interest in the company, one job seeker decided to give a more direct answer. Their response caught the hiring manager’s attention and later sparked a debate on Reddit about honesty during interviews.
Job seeker admits salary was a major reason
The candidate shared the experience on Reddit’s r/careeradvice community after attending seven or eight interviews over the past month. Tired of giving standard answers, they decided to be honest when asked why they wanted the position.In a post titled “I answered honestly to the “why do you want to work here” and hiring manager respected it,” the candidate explained that the salary was a key factor, but they also believed they could perform the job well.Describing their answer, the user wrote, “I’ve done like 7-8 interview as this point over the past month so I’m worn out. I just said f**k it and answered honestly. I literally sighed and said “to be frank with you, it’s because according to the job post, it’ll pay well and I need the money while at the same time I think I can fill your needs in this role and do the job you need me to do and do it well”.According to the candidate, the hiring manager responded with what they described as an “Obama approval nod” and said, “I appreciate the honesty. Most people will try to come up with some unique answer”.The candidate had not heard back about the job when they shared the post, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Reddit users say the answer may not be enough
The post received mixed reactions. Some users felt the candidate missed an opportunity to explain what made them suitable for the role.One commenter wrote, “I too have nodded politely at a similar answer to someone I’d never call back. I think what’s important to remember is that this is a pretty softball question not looking for a ‘unique’ or profound answer.”The user added that candidates could use the question to share something memorable about themselves and explain why they would be a good fit.Another commenter said employers also look for applicants who show an interest in the organisation.“Everyone knows money is the real reason but I want someone who is excited about working for us, and if you can’t find one real reason you’d like to work for the company, I’ll find someone who can.”
Others defend the job seeker’s honesty
Some Reddit users understood the candidate’s frustration with conventional interview answers. One commenter wrote, “No one loves a regular job. We all do it for the money. I understand being tired of fake corporate answers.”A user who identified themselves as a hiring manager also appreciated the direct response but said they would consider other factors when choosing between equally qualified applicants.They wrote, “As a hiring manager, I would have said the exact same response, because I do appreciate honesty. However, if I am presented with multiple qualified candidates, I’d personally select the one that also wanted it too. I hope you get the job, but if it doesn’t work out, I’d recommend giving the BS answer that they want to hear for future interviews.”Disclaimer: The Times of India has not independently verified the claims made in the Reddit post. The views expressed in the comments belong to the respective users.Thumb image: Canva (for representative purposes only)
