Most applicants have a big problem answering this question without making it sound unnatural. On one hand, it’s an opportunity to express your interest in your potential employer’s organization and projects, on the other, it’s possible your previous job wasn’t the best experience in your career and you’d rather not go into details.
Whatever your experience in this matter, being prepared for this question can help you stand out from a (most likely) long queue of applicants. At the end of the day, this question is an ice-breaker for recruiters, because the answer reflects the applicant's character and opens up various avenues for additional conversations.
Why is this question asked during recruitment processes?
Even if the recruiter has your resume, portfolio, and link to your website - that’s all declarative data, prepared beforehand. This means it was most likely carefully crafted, read through, and planned out. This rarely says the whole truth about an applicant.
Precisely because many applicants don’t prepare for this question, it’s a clever way for recruiters to catch them off-guard and push them out of their comfort zone. That’s when answers are most likely genuine, which allows the recruiter to better view the applicant as a human being, rather than a means to an end.
Also, depending on who’s asking this question, it’s good to tailor your approach. If it’s the first interview with an HR representative then a general answer will suffice. If you know you’ll be talking with your potential supervisor and this will be the first conversation, the answer might influence your whole professional relationship for years to come.
How to prepare an answer?
Keeping in mind all the details mentioned above, we’ve prepared a list of recommendations that will allow you to prepare for this question and give you a head start in your next recruitment process.
- FOCUS ON YOUR SKILLS
Your skillset is the result of all your previous experiences - college, internships, day jobs, and part-time projects. It’s worth mentioning how your competencies brought you to where you are today, applying for the job you're applying for at that moment. How do those competencies fit into the job description and requirements?
Any job you’re applying for should be an environment where you refine your current skills or acquire new ones - the recruiter should know you’re aware of that.
- CONNECT YOUR ANSWER TO THE JOB
Whatever the position you’re applying for, tailor your answer to that industry, business field, or a specific area related to the job description. If it’s sales, relate to your negotiation skills. If it’s logistics, it’s good to mention that your goal is to allocate your resources efficiently in a new job. Surface the qualities that differentiate you from other applicants and pitch them!
- BE HONEST
Honesty is the only road to travel when planning a genuine relationship - regardless of whether it’s personal or professional. Lying on your resume, in any way, can lead to very unfortunate repercussions in the future. Being honest, on every level, is the key to building long-lasting relationships. Recruiters appreciate honesty and quite often respond with empathy towards your person.
- BE POSITIVE
Where this might seem futile to many, a smile leads to a smile. Even in the work environment, a positive attitude is welcomed with open arms - in a professional manner of course, but still very welcome!
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