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Comment by WalterBright | Hacker News Reader

Like it or not, when interviewing for a job, you're doing a sales presentation. A good sales presentation doesn't open by saying what you want. It opens by finding out what the customer's problems are, then you demonstrate that you can solve them, then when the customer is sold the price negotiation starts.

If you want to vet a company's benefits and culture beforehand, which is a good idea, do the homework first and research it before getting into the sales process.

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> Like it or not, when interviewing for a job, you're doing a sales presentation

Maybe in the 90s. Nowadays it's becoming very balanced in the way that companies are the ones who are doing a sales presentation as well.

The company buys, the candidate sells. This is proven by which way the money flows - from the company to the employee.

But both have to agree. You're right that a company will have to be willing to offer enough to get the candidate willing to sell.

I recall interviewing a candidate long ago who was only interested in what the company could do for him. He never displayed any interest in the company or what he could do for the company. I recommended no hire.

After all, what would you think if you went to a car dealership and their salesman would only talk about how much you had to pay and how much the dealership wanted your money, and never talked about what the car would do for you?

I understand that I have to bullshit people like you in interviews and pretend to care.

Picking a career you're interested in and company you're interested in makes things a lot easier than having to maintain a phony facade.

A word of caution - interviewers tend to interview people an order of magnitude or two more times than candidates do interviews. What this means is they learn to detect the bullshit. A friend of mine is in the recruiting business. He interviews candidates all day, and has for many years. He told me that detecting bullshitters and liars is a crucial job skill, and he's pretty good at it.

Maybe, but who dreams about envelopes? Yet society would fall apart without someone making them. The same can be said for the vast majority of things most companies make - it needs to be made, but it is in reality boring.

All companies have interesting problems to solve along the way. But most have boring products. I can work for most companies because even though the product is boring I know I will find something interesting. (the exceptions are companies doing something I find immoral)

> who dreams about envelopes?

There are all kinds of people. That said, if envelopes isn't your bag, nobody is making you interview with them. Find something that does interest you. Me, I'd rather be a lion tamer than a tax accountant (yes, I have the hat), but the guy who does my tax accounting loves it.

> I know I will find something interesting.

And there you go.

I don’t have to maintain a facade. Most companies don’t actually give a hoot if you buy into the CEOs blabberings. They care if I can get my tasks done on time and with decent quality. It’s all a part of the Gervais principle

You're right, but people know that someone interested in the work is likely to do a better job. Also, my point is about selling your ability to solve the company's problems rather than focusing on "what do I get".

Besides, why not pick a career that interests you? It makes for a better life.

And they know they need to not hire people who think this way, as it is inevitably cancer for whatever team or product they are on.

Why not find something you actually care about instead of spending all your time and effort faking it?

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