Let’s think about this for a moment. There are lots of reasons why an individual may want to work with your company. Maybe you offer a fun work atmosphere, a desirable location, or maybe it is because of a compensation plan and benefits package. Some companies even provide all of the above. However, we believe that these reasons, while important, should not be the root reason as to “Why” someone really wants to work with you.

At the end of the day, our experience suggests that the most satisfied employees will be part of an organization where they believe in the foundation of why the organization exists in the first place. Often in interviews, hiring managers justifiably focus on candidate skill sets and quantitative accomplishments. They frequently seek anecdotal stories to exemplify a candidate’s ability to think critically, or work under pressure. While we understand and support that evaluating an individual skill set and track record is important, we also feel that comprehending the behavioral piece around a candidate’s motivation for taking a position may be equally important.

Simon Sinek (marketing consultant and author) was quoted saying, “If you hire people who can just do a job, they’ll work for your money. If you hire people who believe what you believe, they work for you with blood, sweat, and tears.” Yes, people need to have the physical capability to do any given job. However, when someone is mentally and emotionally invested into the core reasons for your existence, then you have a much higher likelihood of achieving increased productivity and loyalty through the natural swings that business can sometimes take.

To be clear, there is no right or wrong answer to the question of “Why”. The idea is to put more emphasis on conveying your mission and evaluating if a candidate has the intrinsic motivation you are seeking. This is another one of the key areas where the team at Anderson|Biro can help. Part of our goal as an executive recruiting firm is to form an in-depth understanding of our client’s central mission and evaluate early on if the candidates we are presenting share a similar mindset.

If you have any questions, please feel free to visit our website www.andersonbiro.com and one of our team members would be happy to hear your thoughts.