How To Answer “How Did You Hear About The Position?”

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.

Key Takeaways:

• 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?”

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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:

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:

1. Example Answer From a Recruiter

   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.

2. Example Answer From the Company Website

   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.

3. Example Answer From an Online Job Posting

   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.

It’s similar to questions like “tell me about yourself,” “where do you see yourself in five years,” and “what do you know about our company?”

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.

“How Did You Hear About This Position?” FAQs

1. Should I tell an interviewer if I heard about a job from a current employee?

   Yes, you should tell an interviewer if you heard about a job from a current employee. Employers generally want to know this information and expect you to disclose it. You should always be honest when asked how you heard about a position.

2. Is it okay to say that I heard about a position from an online job listing?

   Yes, it’s okay to say that you heard about a position from an online job listing. This shows that you are an active job-seeker, and that something about the position drew your attention.

   Answering this question gives you an opportunity to talk about why you think the position is a good fit for your skills and experience.

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.

References

1. U.S. Department of Labor – Interview Tips

Author

Maddie Lloyd

Maddie Lloyd was a writer for the Zippia Advice blog focused on researching tips for interview, resume, and cover letter preparation. She's currently a graduate student at North Carolina State University's department of English concentrating in Film and Media Studies.