Why should I come and work for you?

Interviews can be a very one sided process - The Hiring Manager asking all the questions.

But of course at the very end of an interview, you always get asked "Any questions?" Here is a killer question, that would challenge most Hiring Managers.

I was talking to a friend who has been out of the work environment for many years and is looking for a new career after having children.

She has done her homework extremely well, researched her market, has worked for free with a number of companies in this market to get experience and yesterday she attended an interview for a paid job she thought she really wanted. That was until she asked this killer question:
"My question is why should I come to work for your company, what makes your organisation so unique from a people prospective?”

Apparently the Director who was interviewing her, didn't have a good enough answer. He said they had a great team environment and everyone was happy working there. This is not a reason to work for a company when you are looking for a long term career.

When you are in an interview situation looking for a long term career move and ask this kind of question, you should be looking for how the company develops their employees, what program's and processes demonstrate their commitment to employees, are the employee's rewards in balance with their performance?

The interviewer should be able to demonstrate that their people policies are in line with their business strategy.

Try asking this question at your next interview and see what kind of answer you get. I bet this would challenge most interviewers.

Update: my friend Fiona, doesn't want to go and work for this Technology Company and is preparing her strategy for 3 other companies she has identified as possible employers.