“So, why do you want to work here?”
“I want to work remote, and I need a full time job.”

“I freelance, and I just need more stability.”

Ouch.

Ok, maybe no one says that exactly, but after reading a few thousand applications and interviewing 150+ people, you start to read between the lines.

Applying and interviewing for a new job is a lot like dating online.

Do you want to keep it casual, or are you looking for something serious? Is this relationship about covering basic needs or pursuing mutually beneficial growth?

Remote may be on your list of non-negotiables, but why do you want to work here?

Remote opportunities are on the rise. A FlexJobs and Global Workplace Analytics report found a 159% increase in remote work between 2005 and 2017. WeWorkRemotely saw a 750% increase in remote jobs posted between 2013 and 2018.

There are part time and gig oriented opportunities out there for people who want to keep it casual. Remote can be a great fit for digital nomads and people who just need more flexibility, and there’s nothing inherently wrong with a good old fashioned j-o-b.

When I started my remote job search in 2015, I knew that I wanted to work somewhere that I could learn from smarter people than me while contributing to the development of a business function that wasn’t perfectly built yet. I reviewed 100+ jobs but only applied to 4. For all of the roles I was applying for, I knew that I was a nontraditional hire, and that my work history wouldn’t just “speak for itself.” Does it ever?

Instead, I focused on learning as much as possible about each company and hiring manager so that I could translate my experience into stories that made sense in the context of the roles and companies I was interested in. I spent 1-2 hours on each of the 4 roles instead of 10-15 minutes on 100. I got an interview with every company.

A vague cover letter says to me, you might be the one, but I’m not going to invest the time to figure that out. In a way, it’s understandable; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of August 2019, there are 0.9 candidates for every 1 job opening. Unemployment in 2019 is at a 15 year low. It’s a candidates market; you don’t have to invest the time in each application.

The best cover letters aren’t the ones written to check a box; if you’re going through the motions to fulfill a formality it isn’t going to work. Dating profiles with a minimum level of personality don’t cut it.

Many remote companies are looking for people to be part of a team, to care and contribute. To invest. They’re future forward; they understand and try to meet the needs of their people and want to attract and retain the best. We’ve tried hiring freelancers who are just looking for more stability and people who just want a remote job. It hasn’t worked.

I want to know why you want to work for us because I want you to want more from us than a j-o-b. Not in a maniacal way: you work remote. Sleep in. Go outside. Take off midday to run errands or go to the doctor. Take the time you need to reset. When you are working though, work thoughtfully, work wholeheartedly. Learn, grow, repeat.

There will be hard moments; negative feedback, failed projects, lost customers. If you’re in it, you see and seize the learning opportunity. If you aren’t, you’ll just get pissed off and hate your j-o-b. Onto the next one.

We want to be more than a place to pass time, so we need you to be looking for more than a place to pass time. We want to grow, and to do that, we need you to grow.

When asking “why do you want to work here?” I’m really asking:

What do you value in a workplace?

This shows that you’ve considered what is important to you, and allows us to figure out if we’re aligned. If your number 1 value is autonomy, our teamwork first environment might suffocate you. If you prize perks and monetary reward over learning, our learning first culture probably won’t jive.

What interests you about our company?

This demonstrates that you’ve not only done your homework, but you’ve started to see how what you want/need and can contribute overlaps what we have/give and need. Your interests

What will working here do for you?

The median job tenure for startup employees is just 2.0 years. Chances are, if you aren’t getting something beyond a paycheck from this job, you won’t stick around for long. It’s ok not to have a 5 year plan, or even a 1 year plan, but some sense of purpose is essential. “I am passionate about X and am excited to get more practice,” creates confidence that we can help you fulfill an intrinsic desire, and will get to keep your around for awhile.

Before you apply, think why, and when you prep for your interview, go beyond job skills to what you really want and what the company really wants from you, then commit.

Additional Reading

remote job mistakes to avoid.