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Tough Interview Question - How did you find out about this job?

How did you find out about this job?

Similar interview questions:
Why are you interested in our company?
Who referred you for this role?
What is it about this job that interests you?
How did you connect with our company as a potential employer?

Why the interviewer is asking this question:
This question is sometimes asked by hiring managers to assess both your motivation(s) for the role fit and any internal connections you may have.

The best approach to answering this question:
If you were referred internally, whether through a formal employee referral program or informally, this would be the time to make that connection. Be aware that there will be a backdoor reference checked on you with your referral, so make sure that person is prepped in advance. If your connection was through your own personal efforts, talk about what it was about the job and/or employer that attracted you to apply.

An example of how to best answer this question for experienced candidates:
"Jane Smith, who works in your Accounting Department, referred me for this role. Jane and I previously worked together at ABC Company and we stayed in touch after she left. We had worked together on a cross-department project and I had always admired her skills and ability to deliver. I respect and value her professional opinion, which is typically spot on. So when she told me that this role opened up and asked if she could submit my information for it, I agreed to move forward. Here is a quick summary of the project where Jane and I worked together at ABC…"

An example of how to best answer this question for entry level candidates:
"I found your company through my online job searching. Your job was posted at CollegeGrad.com and it looked interesting, so I took time to further research both your company and the role specifically. I could see that the role is a great fit for my background due to your requirement for experience with Salesforce automation, which I worked with extensively on my most recent internship. Here are some details about that project…"

An example of how you should not answer this question:
"Well, I applied for something like 100 different jobs online and you were the only one to contact me. So here I am…"

Remember to answer each interview question behaviorally, whether it is a behavioral question or not. The easiest way to do this is to use an example from your background and experience. Then use the S-T-A-R approach to make the answer a STAR: talk about a Situation or Task (S-T), the Action you took (A) and the Results achieved (R). This is what makes your interview answer uniquely yours and will make your answer a star!

Further review: know the answers to these 100 Standard Interview Questions to be fully prepared for your interview!

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