Dear Reader,
This post is the second in a series about grave interview mistakes. If you missed the first post, Negative Nancy Gets Schooled by a Hiring Manager, you can check it out here.
Let’s Be Honest
Honesty is not always the best policy. Sometimes the “right” answer isn’t the truthful one, especially in interview settings. Take this classic question, for example:
Why do you want to work here?
It seems obvious, yet it has caught me off guard more than once. Because if I’m being sincere, my answers have been:
- I’m tired of the city I live in and want a change of scenery.
- I want a shorter commute.
- I don’t actually care about the work — I just want to make more money.
Admittedly, I’ve given the first two answers in real interviews. The first time was with the founder of a small tech company. He chuckled — maybe the honesty was refreshing, or maybe just shocking — but I still cringe when I think about it. The second time was with a recruiter during prep. They quickly (and bluntly) told me to come up with something better before the real interview. And as for the third? Well, who hasn’t at least thought it?
Finding Shared Values
The truth is, even simple questions can feel impossible to answer when you’re a Negative Nancy. If you’re like me, you don’t see the world through rose-colored glasses, and it takes a lot of energy to project fake positivity. But here’s what I’ve learned: when companies ask “Why do you want to work here?” what they’re really asking is:
Do you understand our mission?
Think about it from their perspective. A small business owner pours their heart into solving a problem and wants to protect the company they’ve built. A hiring manager is responsible for delivering value to customers and would rather leave a role unfilled than hire someone who risks the team’s success. Framing it this way makes it easier to empathize — and to find shared values that lead to an authentic answer.
So, the next time you’re asked this question, remember: it’s about shared values. Ask yourself, “If I were buying this company’s product or service, what would I want as a customer?” Then think about what it takes to deliver that — dedication, solid engineering practices, you name it — and tell the interviewer how you want to be part of it and how you can use your skillset to contribute.
Conclusion
Sometimes the trick to handling tough (or even simple) interview questions as a Negative Nancy is to reframe them into ones you can answer. By stepping into the interviewer’s shoes and empathizing with what they’re looking for, you can give an answer that is both compelling and feels true to you.
— Recovering Negative Nancy