How did you hear about this position
How did you hear about this position
How did you hear about this position?
The interviewer would like to know a bit about your job search methods. Primarily, this question is for them to discover how they are attracting top talent like yourself! Your reply can be brief. If someone in the organization referred you, you should disclose that as well so that the interviewer can make the connection and the employee can receive recognition if there is a referrals reward program in place. This question is another opportunity to express your interest and excitement for the role also.
«I saw your position posted on LinkedIn. It came to me as a suggested job posting. Their matching algorithm is super accurate; I have to say! I am so happy that I came across your job posting. Thank you for having me here today.»
«I saw your job posting on Monster.com when searching for administrative assistant positions in the area. The wording of your job posting caught my eye as it’s a blend of fun but also hit a lot of great keywords that made it a match.»
«I heard about your job through an industry connection of mine; you may know him, James Smith. He knows your company director who mentioned this role to him during an industry golf tournament. He prompted me to apply!»
«This industry is small, and I know a couple of your employees because I went to University with them! John Doe and Jane Doe. We hang out on weekends from time to time. When your company announced this opening, they sent me the link to apply.»
«I applied directly from your website. I have a keen interest in your organization and have auto-alerts set up for new positions in my city when they come up.»
«Your position was alerted to me on Zip Recruiter. It’s the only website that I used because the postings are very accurate, and I can filter better than with most job boards.»
«I heard about your role from my previous Principal. When I told him that I was relocating to New York, he did some digging and tipped me off to this role.»
Advice and Examples: How did you hear about this position?
How did you hear about this position?
How to Answer
The interviewer would like to know a bit about your job search methods. Primarily, this question is for them to discover how they are attracting top talent like yourself! Your reply can be brief. If someone in the organization referred you, you should disclose that as well so that the interviewer can make the connection and the employee can receive recognition if there is a referrals reward program in place. This question is another opportunity to express your interest and excitement for the role also.
«I saw your position posted on LinkedIn. It came to me as a suggested job posting. Their matching algorithm is super accurate; I have to say! I am so happy that I came across your job posting. Thank you for having me here today.»
Rachelle’s Answer for an Admin Interview
«I saw your job posting on Monster.com when searching for administrative assistant positions in the area. The wording of your job posting caught my eye as it’s a blend of fun but also hit a lot of great keywords that made it a match.»
Rachelle’s Answer for a Manager Interview
«I heard about your job through an industry connection of mine; you may know him, James Smith. He knows your company director who mentioned this role to him during an industry golf tournament. He prompted me to apply!»
«This industry is small, and I know a couple of your employees because I went to University with them! John Doe and Jane Doe. We hang out on weekends from time to time. When your company announced this opening, they sent me the link to apply.»
Rachelle’s Answer for a Retail Interview
«I applied directly from your website. I have a keen interest in your organization and have auto-alerts set up for new positions in my city when they come up.»
Rachelle’s Answer for a Sales Interview
«Your position was alerted to me on Zip Recruiter. It’s the only website that I used because the postings are very accurate, and I can filter better than with most job boards.»
Rachelle’s Answer for a Teacher Interview
«I heard about your role from my previous Principal. When I told him that I was relocating to New York, he did some digging and tipped me off to this role.»
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How To Answer ‘How Did You Hear About The Position?’
By Michelle Wanjiku
You are likely to come across the question ‘how did you hear about the position?’ in your next interview. Do you know how to answer it? Will your answer guarantee you the position or will it disqualify you? In this article, we give you tips on how to answer the question and a sample answer to help guide you.
When it comes to interviews, setting yourself apart from other candidates is what will help you get the job. You want to be memorable in a good way. So how do you go about answering ‘how did you hear about the position?’
Knowing the motive of the interviewer will help you know how to answer the question, ‘how did you hear about the position?’
According to Melody Mwendwa, an Interview Coach, by asking you ‘how did you hear about the position?’ the recruiter is trying to find out if you took the time to study the role and match their requirements to your own.
This is a great way for employers to figure out if you are an active job seeker or a passive one. This can sometimes be a reflection of what kind of employee you will be.
How not to answer ‘how did you hear about the position?’
1. Giving a long answer on why this is the only job you want.
The question ‘how did you hear about the position?’ requires a short answer. The recruiter wants to know how you found out about the position. Going into a long explanation as to why you cannot imagine ever working anywhere else is uncalled for.
Long answers that do not really give any relevant information will put off the employer.
Instead say something like; “I found it on Career Point Kenya and because I have wanted to work for the organisation for so long, I was excited to find the opening.”
2. Do not give short one-word answers.
Now it may seem contradictory since the point above says keep your answer short. One word answers may come off as rude so it is best to avoid them. It also does nothing to help you show that you truly are interested in the position.
Answering ‘how did you hear about the position?’ with something like, “through Career Point Kenya,” does nothing for you other than deny you the chance to prove that you are fit for the job.
Tips to help you answer ‘how did you hear about the position?’
The answer you give depends on how you found out about the position.
Ms. Mwendwa also states that, “Apart from stating how you found out about the position, you should also let the interviewer know that you reviewed the job description and point out the important qualifications you posses for the position from the company’s perspective,”
First, you need to start by clearly stating how you heard about the position. Give the name of the website, newspaper or person who told you about the job opening. However, there is no need to explain anything else.
The next step is telling the recruiter why you applied for the job. What drew you to the position? This will show that you truly are interested in the position and are not just applying to get a job.
Now, the next step is to briefly explain why you are qualified for the position. Remember, your answer to the ‘how did you hear about the position?’ question should also show that you are the best candidate for the position.
Lastly, you need to show that you really are excited about the opportunity. Show that you are enthusiastic about the possibility of landing the job.
Sample answer to ‘how did you hear about the position?’
“I heard about this position through Career Point Kenya. After reviewing the position and researching the organisation, I felt that I am qualified for the position and was excited about the possibility of joining your organisation.”
The only way to ensure you have a successful interview is by preparing beforehand. This involves familiarizing yourself with the questions you might be asked and coming up with answers that make you look like the best fit for the position.
Do you have any question on how to answer ‘how did you hear about the position?’Leave a comment below.
Answering «How Did You Hear About This Position» In An Interview
Few Points You Should Emphasize On Your Delivery
Apart from these basic things you have to remember while answering this ice-breaker question, you can use these rules too. They are sure to help you.
Tips For Answering “How Did You Hear About This Position?”
It is wise always to tell the truth in the interview. You do not want to get into serious trouble after being hired, and they found out about your lie. In any case, tell them the truth when you are asked about how you found out about this job position. So, tell them the below answers, whichever applies to you.
All the above are some excellent reasons to tell the interviewers about how you found out about the job opening. This can even help you lead the conversation to explain why you are applying for this position. Although they are different questions, they qualify because they are closely related topics.
So, by giving these answers, you can neatly, easily, and effectively answer the burning question. But you have to definitely avoid few things that may give away a wrong notion to the interviewers.
Some Mistakes You Should Avoid
In addition to the above things, remember always to keep your answers precise. Don’t just go blabbering about the source. If the interviewers want to know more about the source, they will ask you. Think before you speak is the mantra.
Always remember that this question is a simple one. No one will trick you with it, nor will they try to trip you up or catch you with a mistake. Don’t think it is a trap laid by the interviewer for you. It’s just an ice-breaker question. Most often, the interviewer needs something to start the interview with, so they may ask this question. Or they may want to know how you prefer searching for a job.
Example Answers for “How Did You Hear About This Position?”
Now you know how to answer the most common question asked in the interview. It may seem not easy, but it truly is just a simple question. We have some sample answers that might help you put all the points given above and form your own effective answer. These samples are sure to give you some best ideas that you can adapt to your own answers.
Example answer for active job seekers:
Sample answer: “I actively job searching right now and found your job posting on LinkedIn while searching for Senior Engineer positions. I reviewed the job description on LinkedIn before applying, and it seemed like a great potential fit, so I wanted to apply and learn more about the opportunity to see if it’s a good match.”
Example answer for passive job seekers:
Sample answer: “I wasn’t actively looking for a job change, but a colleague mentioned that she saw you were hiring on your website and said she had heard good things about your work environment. I went to your website and did some reading on the Careers page and liked what I saw, so I decided I should apply and learn more about the opportunity.”
Most of the best and impressive job seekers use one of the above examples’ approaches. There is no way you will talk too much or too little when you follow the above-laid rules. This will show the interviewers that you are careful in your job search and that you are looking for the right job and not just any job that comes along the way. It also shows that your top priority in the interview is to learn more and make a fruitful conversation to find out if this job is a perfect fit for you and if you are a perfect fit for the company. It will show the interviewers that you are not desperately trying to convince everyone you talk to that you will be the perfect candidate for the job. But, you are just trying to learn more and see if it’s a match.
follow what we say, and you will get hired without any further questioning. Hiring managers would want to finish with the interview fast and love the apt answers you give. You are definitely going to stand out and shine!
Related interview questions
If you are looking for related interview questions, the following should be helpful:
How did you hear about this position?
Interviewers often ask this question to job applicants in a pre-screen phone or video interview. They want to know which talent attraction strategies are delivering the best results. They also want to see if you have a genuine interest in pursuing the role rather than simply applying because the job posting came up. The goal of your response is to tell the interviewer how you became aware of the open position while expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Avoid sounding cavalier about the opportunity. For instance, saying, ‘I’ve put in so many online job applications lately I can’t even remember where I heard about this position!’ will likely result in a job rejection.
Instead, you could say, ‘I have been actively searching for suitable roles online using Indeed and LinkedIn. I believe it was Indeed that sent me the posting via email as a recommended job. I read the description, researched the company, and felt compelled to apply. I’m happy I did!’
If an employee of the hiring company referred you to the role, be sure to let the interviewer know. Hiring authorities often give preference to employee referrals since they are statistically a more successful hire.
Start by explaining how you first heard about the job. The most common avenues for job discovery include:
— Employee referrals
— Online job boards
— Emails from job boards pushing out recommended job matches
— Searching on LinkedIn or other popular social media sites
— Visiting the company’s careers page and browsing open jobs
— College job boards or alumni support services
Once you’ve identified how you heard about the job, briefly describe your enthusiasm for the role and the company.
«I learned about this role from Indeed when searching for internship opportunities. The keywords that I used were ‘recent graduate’ and ‘business development.’ I was thrilled to see this opportunity come up and am eager to learn more while showing you how my skills can be a strong match for this internship.»
«The position details were sent to me by a former colleague who knew that I was looking for a role within the oil and energy industry. I believe she saw your job posting on an industry-specific job board and felt that my skills and experiences were a strong fit. I am thankful for the opportunity to meet with you today to learn more about how I can add value to Company ABC.»
«I was referred to this position by your Team Lead, John Doeadeer. He mentioned that Company ABC was searching externally for someone to fill this floor manager position, and he thought of me right away. I am glad he thought of me! The more I learn about this role and the organization, the more enthusiastic I feel about the opportunity.»
«A recruiter from ABC Recruitment firm approached me regarding this role. After meeting with her and reviewing all of the details, I knew this position was a fantastic fit for me, which is when I chose to apply.»
«When shopping in the mall last weekend, I noticed the ‘Now Hiring’ sign in the store window. I came by the next day and dropped my resume off with your assistant manager. Thank you for seeing me so quickly! I’m eager to learn more about the position and how I can contribute to your team.»
«I worked with one of Company ABC’s clients on a major project a couple of months ago. The project manager recently mentioned that the organization was hiring a full-time sales manager. This PM knew that I was looking for career growth and a change. I am thrilled he thought of me for the role, and thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today.»
«I applied to School ABC shortly after relocating to this city. The school is just a few blocks from my home! The location is convenient, and I have heard great things about this school after getting to know a few members of your teaching community.»
Anonymous Interview Answer
«I learned about this role from LinkedIn while searching for full-time opportunities. I believe the keywords were recent graduate and healthcare management.»
Rachelle’s Feedback for the Answer Above
Fabulous! You are super-specific, which the hiring authority should appreciate.
How would you rate Rachelle’s Feedback?
Anonymous Interview Answer
«Current employees contacted me about the opening.»
Cindy’s Feedback for the Answer Above
This is a good opportunity to talk about why the position is a good fit from your perspective. Why did you agree that this was the right move for you? What does the company offer and what can you offer the company?
How would you rate Cindy’s Feedback?
Advice and Examples: How did you hear about this position?
How did you hear about this position?
The Goal
Interviewers often ask this question to job applicants in a pre-screen phone or video interview. They want to know which talent attraction strategies are delivering the best results. They also want to see if you have a genuine interest in pursuing the role rather than simply applying because the job posting came up. The goal of your response is to tell the interviewer how you became aware of the open position while expressing your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
What to Avoid
Avoid sounding cavalier about the opportunity. For instance, saying, ‘I’ve put in so many online job applications lately I can’t even remember where I heard about this position!’ will likely result in a job rejection.
Instead, you could say, ‘I have been actively searching for suitable roles online using Indeed and LinkedIn. I believe it was Indeed that sent me the posting via email as a recommended job. I read the description, researched the company, and felt compelled to apply. I’m happy I did!’
Pro Tip
If an employee of the hiring company referred you to the role, be sure to let the interviewer know. Hiring authorities often give preference to employee referrals since they are statistically a more successful hire.
How to Answer
Start by explaining how you first heard about the job. The most common avenues for job discovery include:
— Employee referrals
— Online job boards
— Emails from job boards pushing out recommended job matches
— Searching on LinkedIn or other popular social media sites
— Visiting the company’s careers page and browsing open jobs
— College job boards or alumni support services
Once you’ve identified how you heard about the job, briefly describe your enthusiasm for the role and the company.
«I learned about this role from Indeed when searching for internship opportunities. The keywords that I used were ‘recent graduate’ and ‘business development.’ I was thrilled to see this opportunity come up and am eager to learn more while showing you how my skills can be a strong match for this internship.»
Rachelle’s Admin Example Answer
«The position details were sent to me by a former colleague who knew that I was looking for a role within the oil and energy industry. I believe she saw your job posting on an industry-specific job board and felt that my skills and experiences were a strong fit. I am thankful for the opportunity to meet with you today to learn more about how I can add value to Company ABC.»
Rachelle’s Manager Example Answer
«I was referred to this position by your Team Lead, John Doeadeer. He mentioned that Company ABC was searching externally for someone to fill this floor manager position, and he thought of me right away. I am glad he thought of me! The more I learn about this role and the organization, the more enthusiastic I feel about the opportunity.»
Rachelle’s Marketing Example Answer
«A recruiter from ABC Recruitment firm approached me regarding this role. After meeting with her and reviewing all of the details, I knew this position was a fantastic fit for me, which is when I chose to apply.»
Rachelle’s Retail Example Answer
«When shopping in the mall last weekend, I noticed the ‘Now Hiring’ sign in the store window. I came by the next day and dropped my resume off with your assistant manager. Thank you for seeing me so quickly! I’m eager to learn more about the position and how I can contribute to your team.»
Rachelle’s Sales Example Answer
«I worked with one of Company ABC’s clients on a major project a couple of months ago. The project manager recently mentioned that the organization was hiring a full-time sales manager. This PM knew that I was looking for career growth and a change. I am thrilled he thought of me for the role, and thank you for the opportunity to meet with you today.»
Rachelle’s Teacher Example Answer
«I applied to School ABC shortly after relocating to this city. The school is just a few blocks from my home! The location is convenient, and I have heard great things about this school after getting to know a few members of your teaching community.»
15 Community Answers
Anonymous interview answers with our interview experts feedback
Anonymous Interview Answer
«I learned about this role from LinkedIn while searching for full-time opportunities. I believe the keywords were recent graduate and healthcare management.»
Rachelle’s Feedback for the Answer Above
Fabulous! You are super-specific, which the hiring authority should appreciate.
How To Answer “How Did You Hear About The Position?”
Find a Job You Really Want In
Out of all the most common interview questions you’ll hear during a job interview, this one is one of the easiest to answer and hardest to screw up.
We’ll cover what hiring managers really want to know, the best way to impress interviewers with your answer, and provide a few sample answers to put all our advice together.
When answering this question you should state the source, talk about your qualifications, and be enthusiastic about what peeked your interest in the position.
This question usually comes at the beginning of an interview and is meant to be an icebreaker, not a trick question.
The interviewer is trying to hire someone who specifically targeted this position.
You should avoid lying about where you heard about the position.
How to Answer “How Did You Hear About the Position?”
Follow these four steps and you’ll have an effective answer to “how did you hear about the position?”
State the source. This will give your interviewer an idea of how much research you did on the company before applying. Be specific about how you found the job posting. It’s okay if you can’t remember the exact website, but quickly follow up with enthusiasm for the job.
If you heard about the position from someone who already works with the company, it could be helpful to mention their name. Having a professional contact shows that you’ve taken the steps to do some networking during your job hunt.
Mention the eye-catcher. Tell them what caught your eye about the job and made you want to apply. This will show the interviewer that you’re actively looking for a job and that you were motivated by what you found.
Remember to talk about the duties of the position or values of the company you liked instead of just how much money you could be making.
Talk about your qualifications. Mention why you feel qualified for the job and show excitement for the opportunity. You can talk about how perfectly it aligns with your current skill set and long term career goals (if that’s accurate).
Don’t go overboard with your qualifications here, though; there will be plenty of chances during the rest of the interview.
Sound enthusiastic. Employers want people who are passionate and care about what they do on a daily basis. You can talk about what great things you’ve heard about their company culture or focus more on the job responsibilities.
This is usually a question you’ll hear near the beginning of a job interview, so start on the right foot with energy and excitement.
Example Answers to “How Did You Hear About the Position?”
Your answer for this part of the interview says a lot about how excited you are about the job and how they can expect you to perform if they end up offering you the position.
Even though your answer to this question can reveal a lot about you, there’s no need to stress over it. Taking some time to research and prepare can help you form a response that will leave a positive impression on your interviewer and make you stand out from your competition.
Here is an example of what not to do:
This answer went wrong because the interviewee was too vague and didn’t show excitement for the job. Their answer shows the interviewer that they’re a passive job-seeker and care about little more than vacation time and getting a paycheck. Don’t be like this guy.
Here’s how you can spruce up your answer:
I found the job listing on Zippia.com. I found this position through searching for editing positions in the area. I mentioned the job to a friend of mine who works in the editing department. She mentioned that she loves working with the company and recommended that I apply.
What really caught my attention about this job was the flexibility for creative projects. After looking into the company and reading up on your core values, I felt like I would be perfect for the position.
This answer is successful because this person was specific about how they were looking for a job. They’ve shown that they feel qualified for the job, while also mentioning that they have a connection to the company and have done research on them.
The interviewer can tell that they’re an active job-seeker and care about more than just getting a paycheck. You don’t want to be remembered as a lazy person who loves money — or do you?
Let’s take a look at a few more good example answers:
I’ve been working with Jane Rodgers at XYZ Recruiting. When she heard about the open data analyst position, she put me in touch with the hiring manager right away. During our initial interview, I told Jane that I was looking for a place where I could grow professionally and contribute to interesting new projects.
She felt that ABC Firm was perfect for me, and once I did some independent research, I agreed. I was ecstatic to get the opportunity to interview at a start-up where I can really be a part of something new and exciting.
I’ve been refreshing your company’s career page every week for about six months now. The moment I saw a position in my field pop up that I was qualified for, I sent in my application. I’ve been following you ever since you were a start-up, and your advancements in web development are truly exciting.
My background experience in programming languages and my passion for the field would fit in great here. I believe that innovation is everything, so working somewhere that embraces new trends would be a real treat for me.
I found this job posting while browsing Zippia. I was looking for a position as a marketing manager, and your job description immediately caught my eye. The picture you painted about a collaborative, tight-knit team of remote and on-site workers really enticed me to send in an application.
I also noticed that creativity and Google analytics were big parts of the job responsibilities, and as someone with years of experience working with marketing teams, I felt my experience could be a real asset in this position.
Why Interviewers Ask “How Did You Hear About the Position?”
Hiring managers and recruiters ask how you heard about the position because they’re genuinely curious to learn how job seekers are finding them. Recruiting isn’t easy or free, so they want to know which methods are most effective.
The interviewer might be trying to judge if you’re an active or passive job seeker. Being an “active” job seeker means that you’re actively looking for a job.
A “passive” job seeker is someone who will follow job listings that are given to them but won’t take the time to look for a job on their own.
Employers want to hire someone who targeted this position specifically because it shows that the candidate truly wants the job. That person is more likely to bring energy and enthusiasm to the position than someone who’s just interviewing because the opportunity arose.
These questions (and your answers) are designed to see how passionate you are about this position — is it your dream job or just a pit stop on the way to bigger career goals?
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Answering
Compared to most job interview questions recruiters and hiring managers can throw at you, this one is a softball. Still, make sure you consider a few common mistakes to avoid:
Avoid giving vague, one-word answers. Giving answers like this can make interviewers think that you have little investment or interest in the position. It’s best to act excited to have found the opportunity.
Don’t try to make stuff up. If you can’t remember what job board you found the position through, don’t try to come up with something off the top of your head.
Lying is never a good idea, and trying to keep up with false statements throughout your interview will distract you from giving good answers to the rest of your questions.
Be selective when name-dropping. If you heard about the job from an employee who is in bad standing with the company or left on bad terms, it’s probably best to not mention their name.
The interviewer might think that you have the same bad qualities as your contact, which could lead to you no longer being considered for the job.
Don’t sound desperate. This goes for the whole interview, but it’s especially important that you don’t come off as an unfocused job seeker who’s applying all over the place.
Interviewers can pick up on an individual who’s desperate to be hired for any job, and it’s not an attractive quality.
Final Thoughts
This question usually comes at the beginning of the interview, but don’t spend too much time trying to answer this one because it’s not the most important. You want to make a good impression, but also have plenty of time to answer questions about your qualifications and experience.
Remember to be confident. If the interviewer thinks that you’re nervous about such a simple question, there’s a chance that they will think you’re not the best person for the job.
Be specific and be enthusiastic. Even if you don’t care about the job at all, it’s important to pretend you do — even if the only thing that motivates you is getting a paycheck. You’ll never get one if you can’t get a job in the first place.
Lastly, think of some questions to ask about the job. Job seekers who aren’t desperate ask questions to ensure the job aligns with their preferences. Show excitement, but also curiosity, and you’ll stand out with interviewers.
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Источники информации:
- http://www.careerpointkenya.co.ke/2017/02/how-to-answer-how-did-you-hear-about-the-position/
- http://www.algrim.co/184-how-did-you-hear-about-this-position
- http://www.mockquestions.com/interview/Common+Interview+Questions/How-did-you-hear-about-this-position-3322996.html
- http://www.zippia.com/advice/how-did-you-hear-about-the-position/