I don’t think this question is as stupid as memes make it out to be. Jobs come with the inherent expectation of money, that’s not really an answer. If its a big corporate job with a lot of money you could even answer “the competitive salary” and still be fine. Furthermore the interviewer also wants to know what’s keeping you at the job. If you’re in high school you could answer “looking for some extra money” and be fine as well. But more likely the interviewer wants to know why you applied to the job rather than any of the others. Even an answer like “I like to eat mcdonalds” is fine or even “I live close by” works
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Lick that boot
How is answering “the competitive salary” not the same as just saying money?
It’s just frustrating to get this from minimum wage jobs where they know damn well you applied to every other place taking applications because you needed ANY job. Like, no, people did not apply because they’re super passionate about getting screamed at by customers for making a burger wrong.
But it’s perfectly OK when a company’s only reason to exist is PROFITS.
Everybody on Reddit acts like they’re doing the interviewer a service by even showing up to the interview and gets offended by the questions that are asked.
Then I see a million posts about “why can’t I get a job?”
It’s hilarious
Look this probably makes sense for white collar jobs where self actualization is important for employee retention. But if the job sucks, and everyone knows it sucks, then no, it’s just about the money.
“So tell me why you want to shovel shit for our company”
“Well sir, you see I really love the smell of fresh manure in the morning”
Why did you even type this?
I can understand that meme for some jobs. If you are looking for an entry level job, you just need a job and you aren’t picky.
Meh. I only work when I absolutely have to and I apply for whatever job is close to the campground we happen to be staying at at the time…money is the ONLY reason I work. And I only keep the job long enough to meet a certain savings goal or until we move on again.
There is nothing wrong with upvoting a post I vehemently disagree with
>why you applied to the job rather than any of the others
Most people applied to all of the others.
I work in a startup environment and have for years. People who are just looking for a job will be gone within the year. You need some interest in the domain, to want the challenge, or to prefer the start up ecosystem to stick around.
The average person in Reddit doesn’t understand that many employers need you to stick around for 3 to 5 years to make hiring and training you worthwhile. Those who stick around for a short time before they realize the job isn’t worthwhile, or that they can make more money elsewhere, are incredibly disruptive.
I think it’s implied that they are working for money. There’s no need to talk it. We all need money.
I think it’s unpopular though I do kinda of agree. It’s not “wrong,” especially if an organization is mission-centric. But I do get why people hate it. When living is expensive, especially if you want to save for retirement properly, and you have to apply to dozens of jobs just to talk to a real person, the passion dies down. There’s only so many companies or focuses that you can be authentically interested in before you have to compromise interest for the reality of paying for things
Are you a manager and/or work in HR? Because it’s a stupid question. People need jobs to pay bills. Period. Your company is not special.
Back when I was trying to get an accounting job, I actually applied for a job at Datk Horse comics. Sure, my job wasnt going to be sitting around reading, but for me it would still be cool to work there.
Other than that, every single application was money. I did not have dreams of doing accounting for a printer company. I went got my degree to get money.
“Just say competitive wages”
Thats just a fancy way to say money. Youre just saying they pay more money. And the majority of the time thats a lie. Im not saying dont lie to get a job. Still play the game. But I know the answer is money. They know the answer is money. Why dance around it being money?
“Because they want to know a more specific answr like I need extra money”
Then thats still money. If they pay competitively, then thry know it. The specifically go out of their way to do it. If they dont, its because they dont care to. At which point when I leave, and they want to know why, its still money.
But the job market is so fucked that people literally only want the job because having a job means they get money
For office jobs, the interviewer and candidate both know the question is bullshit. The real question is “do you play the corporate games”? If you do, you’ll bullshit an answer to the bullshit question. If you don’t, they know you don’t belong in the corporate setting.
I remember applying for a job that I wasn’t qualified for but it was entry level so I figured it was doable. It was an era where no one was hiring. Couldn’t even get an interview for a server or line cook job (that’s where I had the most experience). I was behind on bills, my roommate bailed so I was paying for everything… I was desperate. Somehow I got an interview at this place and halfway through the interview I could feel myself losing the job due to my lack of qualifications. At the end of the interview in an act of desperation I said something along the lines of “look, I’m broke. My roommate just left, I’m behind on my bills, I have student loans to pay. This is the first place in a month where I’ve gotten an interview. Please consider me because I’m desperate and I’ll take whatever pay and work whatever hours you need. I will work harder than any of the other candidates because I need the money in order to not be homeless.” I was hired, worked there for over 10 years; one of the best jobs I’ve ever had. I don’t recommend this for every job interview but I’ll say being honest is always the way to go. Interviewers don’t want to hear the same recycled lines. They want to see the real you.
I didn’t think (most) people didn’t know that; they’re critiquing the underlying premise that we have to either find our actual true match or lie about it level of enthusiasm to feed our families so they can te the to screen for people who will stick around (often while making no effort to be an appealing place to stick around).
In an ideal world, I’m with you, and I think this question can be even more valuable once someone’s hired and you can help them make the most of it. But part time shift work? Honestly, any entry level I’m this economy, where pay doesn’t keep up with inflation? It’s a gross power flex.
Lmao I just saw a meme about that
My hooker holes got too raw
When people interview candidates to join their teams and their qualifications and experiences are similar, it often comes down to who they think they would rather work with
And this is one of those questions that helps answer that by how candidates reply
If they say they want to build on their success in the role to then go into management, or help make adjacent teams more successful – then at least they sound more intelligent
Or if they’re the kind of person who hasn’t put any thought into answering basic questions that they often hear in interviews, then they may be passed on
Coming from someone that interviews candidates I would argue that the question isn’t giving the interviewer anything very useful.
People dont say that about actual career jobs. What possible answer other than money would you have for Walmart?
I think it depends. I think if the place pays minimum wage it’s a ridiculous question because the person is clearly just desperate for work because they need to live, but if it’s a more niche position or they’re currently employed elsewhere it’s an ok question.
Im not working for the love of the game OP. Its literally only because I need money to live.
Most people complaining about this question are applying to entry level positions where it is basically and obviously just the money. They are applying to every other company, you just happened to be the only one that replied. For a more senior level role the question makes sense, otherwise for entry level and especially minimum wage jobs it doesn’t.
Isn’t “competitive salary” just corporate speak for “more money”?
I’d imagine a mouth full of boot leather makes it a less insufferable question to be asked.
>But more likely the interviewer wants to know why you applied to the job rather than any of the others.
Chances are they did apply to all of the others.
“So why do you want to work at Starbucks?”
40 year old applicant, “Cos shit didn’t exactly work out as I planned”
If we’re gonna answer questions with bullshit like “I like to eat McDonald’s” then we’re right back where we started. The question is stupid, the answer is stupid, and it’s a giant waste of time
Yeah well you’re not going to get the job is you say shit like that.
I would advise people to not take this advice
It is all about money. I don’t like it but that is what the game is. Sure if you genuinely love a job that is great. But there is nothing wrong with acknowledging the actual transaction happening.
You want loyalty, pay me more. You want the work done? Give me money. They will fire you when their money doesn’t add up. Saying it isn’t about money is always a lie.
The answers you say are ok would not fly in a lot of job interviews.
And if the CEO/board of directors/hiring manager/recruiter is sooo “passionate” why aren’t they doing it for free?
Just give an answer and move on. It’s an interview.
Not surprised at the replies to this one 😂
Which is why more places should conduct behavioural interviews.
Why this job and not the others?
I applied to the others too, this company responded. 🤣
“I only work for employers where the sum of the ASCII values for the letters in their name is divisible by 7.”
It might be a silly reason to everyone else, but it might make the employer extremely attractive to the candidate.
It assumes that the reason the employee gives will also be valued by the hiring manager.
“All I care about is <benefit> at a survivable wage. Give me that and I will do literally anything, no matter how immoral, illegal, or reprehensible you ask me to all day long.”
The answer is and always will be money. I would not be working at all if it wasn’t for that one benefit.
Well I mean, I wouldn’t be applying to the job if I didn’t need money😂
Whenever I hear such questions, I add “except the money” in my own mind to it and answer my second real reason -if there is any- for it.
Why do you apply for this job?
… and so on.
But with modern job posting, people are applying to thousands of jobs, just applying to everything.
You can’t say ‘i robo applied to every job with the word analyst and you’re the one guy to call me back.’
It’s a cliche interview question and the gigantic waste of time for the interviewer and the interviewee.
Of course the person wants the job for the money. We all do. It’s a given. Same with medical benefits and 401k and other benefits.
The better question would be to dig deeper than the obvious with a candidate and ask them besides the money and benefits, why do you want to work here?
Job interviews are a game; you expose the bits of yourself they want to see, like a prized peacock…hiding the rot underneath. I’m goal orientated! I like to exceed expectations! I love KPI’s! My values align with the companies ethos! etc. etc. At no point do they believe you’re some one dimensional worker-humanoid. They know it’s crap. You know they’re full of crap. But you dance away and boxes get ticked and you make them feel like you’re a safe person because if you’re some incompetent psycho, that falls on them.
As for money…what money? You don’t need money. You survive off the thrill of being a good worker, kicking company goals is what nourishes your body.
It makes sense for when you are switching corporate jobs, but I also got that question when I “interviewed” at tjmaxx
A thuroughly unpopular opinion. Have an updoot.
No, it is significantly more stupid than the memes make it out to be. Jobs don’t just come with the inherent expectation of money; the entire fucking point of a job is the money. There is no fathomable reason in the universe for me to go do menial and asinine tasks for someone else unless I was in dire need of the resource they’re offering me to do said tasks: currency. You know this, I know this, and the goof asking the question knows this. Any other answer to this question is complete horseshit made up on the spot or prerehearsed in anticipation of this stupid ass question for the sake of manners because, for some reason, the actual answer to this question is seen as you being rude.
I didn’t elect to work for Walmart because I love grocery stores or because it’s within 10 miles of my home; I went to work for Walmart because I currently make $18/hr in a full time position with an associate stocks program, 401k, and a pretty decent full medical coverage healthcare plan in an entry level position. I’m totally interested in Speedway paying $12/hr part-time 4 days/week with no PTO or other benefits for an entry level position by comparison.
I got in trouble once when I told a confident I was just there for the money. They told my boss and I got a very stern talking to. It was weird now that I look back on it but I was a 20 something then with no backbone.
They just want us to lie. The answer is money 99% of the time. Any workplace that just wants corporate lies isn’t really worth more than the money anyway.
But i did apply to all the others!
Nah it’s dumb as hell for entry level stuff. The reason it’s dumb is because it’s a waste of time. The interviewer knows that you are applying for money. There is an off chance that you’re applying to a job because you like the food or something, or think it would be cool to work in a thrift store. But 99% of the time, it’s money.
So you, there interviewer, usually just need to bullshit an answer. And honestly? That sucks. It really does. Having to say corporate-ass fake shit all the time is stupid. Ofc there are people who do that all the time. But I think the world can do without corporate-ass fake shit. What exactly is this question going to do? What answer do you want?
I wouldn’t say people are offended by this exactly. Reddit seems to think that everyone who dislikes something or is annoyed by something is offended. They just think it’s stupid. And if they’re venting on here about it they’re probably fed up. Job hunting is the pits. I would rather get all my toes snapped off with rusty pliers.
I’m a hiring manager. I’m in the same boat – I wouldn’t be working if not for money either. I try to ask something more along the lines of “Other than money, what are you hoping to get out of this role and this company? What would make US a good fit for YOU?”
What I’m looking for with this question is culture fit. I know what our company offers and what it doesn’t offer. Even more, I know what I’m like as a boss and what my strengths and weaknesses are. I try to disarm candidates a little bit here and get them to say what they REALLY want to, not just what sounds best in an interview.
I want to make sure we’re aligned on expectations and neither party will be left wanting. I’m not looking for robots who will worship the company and make work their life. If I can trust you to get your work done and in exchange you’re hoping for more flexibility? Done. If you’re hoping for rapid advancement, I’d want to be honest that our company isn’t in a place to deliver that right now.
So it’s less “why do you want THIS job” and more “what do you want out of your next job”
Realistically, they want to see which skills you want to develop in addition to supplying them the skills they desire. Example: I wanted to learn how to work a specific GIS program they used to better myself while supplying them with data analysis of the car industry (this happened and I was taught how to use ARCgis about15 years ago).
It’s really not a “money” kind of question.
Entry levels or teen workers, it’s fine to say gain more/better work experience doing people-facing yada yada yada. Make it positive (a gain you perceive yourself making while getting this particular job. Even McDonalds, “I want to gain experience working in a team environment and gain skills working with the public,” is fine.
Nah bro, just wrong… not unpopular. They know why we all want jobs. Just look at my qualifications, work history, ask me a few what-ifs and call me in two days. This “Why did you apply for a career in mopping bathrooms” shit is dumb as hell. You’ll make some white collar bug wigs cream their jeans with that attitude so I guess good on you
Yes it is. But it’s because of semantics and laziness in properly formulating the question.
You obviously applied for the job for the money. What? Are you gonna work for free?
The proper question is “What do you think you can bring to the table” or “How do you think your skills can benefit the company”.
If you’re lazy in the question don’t expect effort in the answer.
Also. Don’t answer with “for the money” if you actually want the job. 😄
You just said “money” in 2 different ways
I think the point of the question is to show you’re capable of kissing ass
Thought about this and I think the best answer is:
I can do this job. And I can excel at it. I’ll do it and just get better at it. I’ve come here with a lot of skills at my disposal. I’ve done a lot of things that contribute to my ability to do a lot more things.
(This might sound dumb. Idk. I’m stoned and drunk)
Depends on the job. Don’t expect me to say “flipping burgers is my lifelong dream!” Those are the employers who need to be practical and understand that 99% of people who work for them are there just for the money.
>Furthermore the interviewer also wants to know what’s keeping you at the job
>>”M.O.N.E.Y.”
“Sorry boss. All of our employees are leaving and besides the stagnant wages that haven’t been updated since 1999 & the abusive work hours without OT pay, we truly have no idea why they keep leaving.“
It’s always about money. Nobody gives a shit what the company does. Gtfo with that bullshit op.
Nope. Bullshit. It’s a ridiculous question. The answer is money. That’s it. Don’t believe me? How many big jackpot lottery winners do you think turned up to work the next week.
I once interviewed for a job doing the exact same thing I was already doing and straight up told them, I’m happy at my job, the only reason I’m here is because you’re offering more money, so you got to make it worth me leaving.
Made negation for salary very easy when I established I’m the prize here, you gotta convince me. Nice 40% pay bump.
Child, please. This was job application 1726 out of 2987 that I filled out. I didn’t apply for this over any other job. I applied to them all because I need to get hired because I need money.
The problem is this makes sense when you’re in some sort of specialized field But when it comes to just like an entry level cashier job or something there’s no need to role play this idea that like this teenage kid has like always been passionate about Walmart and scanning items or some crap like that
Just let him be honest he’s there to make money. I don’t see there being anything wrong with that either