You have reached the interview part of the hiring process for your dream job, and that is great.
But to get it right, you need to start off on the right foot from the very beginning and make a great first impression.
To do so, you need to be prepared for a question that will most definitely be asked by the interviewer at the start of your interview – “How did you hear about this job?”
If you are not prepared with an answer, it could start your interview poorly, or even cost you the job.
We are here to help you prepare, in this article, we are going to find the answers for the following questions:
- Why do recruiters ask “How did you hear about this job?”
- What is the best approach to answer “How did you hear about this job?”
And we are going to leave you off with some great examples to help you prepare your own.
So, if you are ready to prepare to start your interview on the right foot, let’s dive in.
Why do recruiters ask "how did you hear about this job?"
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Before we start preparing your answer, we need to find why exactly are recruiters interested in your answer, and what they would be looking for.
If you are asked the questions “How did you hear about this job?”, there are two reasons behind it.
First, recruiters are genuinely interested in your answer, and where did you find the job posting.
It is a standard practice for them to try to reach potential candidates using a variety of platforms and methods, and your answer can help them determine which one proves to be most effective.
The second reason for them to ask “How did you hear about this job?” is where you need to be careful, as that’s where you can mess it up.
When you are asked this question, the recruiter would be focused on whether you are actually interested in the job and the company, or their job offer is one of the hundreds you have applied to.
Recruiters like candidates who have a targeted search for a job, as that shows that you know what you want, and would not accept any job they can get.
You need to show them that you are interested in their job, because that will prove you to be motivated, energetic, and really interested in the opportunity they have for you.
Best approach to answer "how did you hear about this job?"
Now that you understand why recruiters ask this question, it is time to figure out how to get your answer just right.
You can do so in just three simple steps.
Show that you are excited about the opportunity
The first thing you need to do when answering “How did you hear about this job?” is to show that you feel really enthusiastic about both the job opportunity, and the company itself.
You need to make the recruiter feel special, and show them that their company is not one of the hundreds you have applied to.
Consider talking about their employees’ growth and positive work culture, as well as everything that excites you about the job itself.
If you are lacking enough information about the company and the job, take the time to do your research.
Read carefully the job description for the position you are interviewing for, and check out the company website and social media to learn more about their culture and values.
If possible, name-drop
You can do even better with your answer, if you heard about the job from someone who already works in the company.
Name-dropping that person in your answer can serve as a reference for you, as the employer will most likely ask them about you.
Explain why that person thinks you would be a good match to the company and the role, and share what kind of relationship you have.
It goes without saying that you need to speak to that person before the interview to find out what they would share about you.
Be specific
Last but not least, don’t rush through your answer, but rather get into specifics.
Think about all the details, like where did you found the job posting, why did you look there, what grabbed you from the job description, etc.
If you don’t remember where you saw the job listing, don’t panic, just be honest that you don’t remember. Just make sure that you continue your answers with why you are excited about the job opportunity and the company itself.
Example answers to "how did you hear about this job?"
And now, as promised, we will show you some example answers to “How did you hear about this job?” to get you started.
Example 1: You heard about it from an employee in the company
I heard about this job opportunity from John Doe in [Company department].
John and I went to college together and took a lot of the same classes. He told me that I would be a good fit for the position, due to my [list most relevant skill], and I would fit in the team.
When he sent me the job listing, I could see for myself that he was right, as I could check every box from the requirements listed. I am [list skills you match from the job description].
I think I would be an excellent addition to the team, and we can accomplish [mention company goal from their culture].
Example 2: You found the job posting online
I found your job listing when I was browsing [mention job-search platform]. I was looking for the keyword “designer” and found your company right away.
Even though the page was crowded with lots of job listings, yours stood out to me right away.
The job description you had provided instantly told me everything I need to know about the position and what it is like to work here. I would love to be a part of such a team.
As someone who loves my field of work, I am all about design and teamwork, and these are definitely two words that I instantly noticed when going through your job listing.
I can also say that my previous experience is directly connected to the needs of this role, especially my experience in designing complicated web-page designs for various purposes.
Example 3: You found the posting in the company website
I have been paying attention to your website’s career page for quite some time. The moment I saw your job opening that fits my qualification, I applied right away.
The reason I have been looking into your company is that I met a representative of yours a few years ago, whose name I believe was Jane Doe. She worked in your marketing department, and she presented your company as a great place to work, which inspired me to work for you one day.
I believe that if I get this job, I would fit in quite well. I can see from your projects that your company is made up of hard-working individuals who are passionate about what they do. Furthermore, I have the background and experience required for the job, and I believe I can add a lot of value to your team.
Takeaways
We are all done, now you know how to answer “How did you hear about this job?” just right.
Let’s go through the three main aspects of your answer one last time:
- Show that you are excited about the job – make the recruiter feel that you are genuinely enthusiastic about the opportunity and show them that they are not just one of hundreds of companies you have applied for
- If possible, name-drop – if you have heard about the job from someone who already works in the company, you should seriously consider using them as a reference
- Be specific – don’t rush through your answer, but provide the interviewer with all the information they would require
Check out our example answers one last time, and prepare your own to start the interview on the right foot.
Make one that's truly you.
